--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good writing is clear. Talented writing…" description: "\"Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. Talented writing makes things happen in the reader's mind---vividly, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/samuel-r-delany-2591_clear_good-writing-is-clear-talented-writing-i_681564.png" --- # Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good… ![“Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. Talented writing makes things happen in the reader's mind---vividly, forcefully...” quote by Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/samuel-r-delany-2591_clear_good-writing-is-clear-talented-writing-i_681564.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/samuel-r-delany-2591_clear_good-writing-is-clear-talented-writing-i_681564.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/samuel-r-delany-2591_clear_good-writing-is-clear-talented-writing-i_681564.png) > “Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. Talented writing makes things happen in the reader's mind---vividly, forcefully...” [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective writing is clear and error‑free; great writing adds energy and vivid impact that moves the reader. **In simple terms:** Clear writing is good; energetic writing is great. Key Takeaway Strive for clarity and vividness. Themes writing communication creativity Mood inspirational practical Type advice literary When to use this quote - editing - teaching - marketing - storytelling Key Concepts clarity energy impact Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure both clarity and vividness? - When does energy become distraction? A Different Perspective Energy without clarity can confuse; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Energetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energetic/) [Good writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-writing/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. 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If your mind is scattered, your writing is scattered. If your mind is focused, your writing will be clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/writing-means-organizing-your-thoughts-if-your-mind-is-scattered-your/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“If you are trying to decide among a few people to fill a position hire the best writer. it doesn't matter if the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/if-you-are-trying-to-decide-among-a-few-people-to-fill-a-position/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [. . . Then anyone who leaves behind him a written manual, and likewise anyone who receives it, in the belief that such writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/then-anyone-who-leaves-behind-him-a-written-manual-and-likewise/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“I want my writing to be as clear as water I can see through so that what I experienced is told without my being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/i-want-my-writing-to-be-as-clear-as-water-i-can-see-through-so-that/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“Hire great writers If you are trying to decide among a few people to fill a position, hire the best writer. It doesn’t matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/hire-great-writers-if-you-are-trying-to-decide-among-a-few-people-to/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [Short, sweet, and to the point. Clear writing, and therefore clear commands, comes from clear thinking. 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Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I don't think that writing, real writing, has much to do with affirming belief--if anything it causes rifts and gaps in belief which make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/i-don-t-think-that-writing-real-writing-has-much-to-do-with-affirming/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) ## More by Samuel R. Delany > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [What you are will make you what you will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/what-you-are-will-make-you-what-you-will-become/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“People probably do hear watches go tic-tok. But I’m sure my childhood clock went tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic…Why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/people-probably-do-hear-watches-go-tic-tok-but-i-m-sure-my-childhood/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“I wanted to get out, Vyme, to keep going and not be trapped, to be free… only I was cruel. I had the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-wanted-to-get-out-vyme-to-keep-going-and-not-be-trapped-to-be-free/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [A number of things in 'Dhalgren' are just meant to function as mysteries. 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Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Spending practically every minute of your day on pure survival is an absolutely boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/spending-practically-every-minute-of-your-day-on-pure-survival-is-an/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [When what is is congruent to what is supposed, the reaction is functional and the mental processes competent. When what is and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/when-what-is-is-congruent-to-what-is-supposed-the-reaction-is/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everyone-in-a-position-of-authority-is-hysterical-and-everyone-else/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Since I spent eighteen years of my life as a child, and nine years of that life as a pretty sexually active gay child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/since-i-spent-eighteen-years-of-my-life-as-a-child-and-nine-years-of/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) [Explore all 158 Samuel R. Delany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## More Clear quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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