Traci Ashbe Dark Epic Fantasy Author

What does a “good” story look like?

You probably know the difference between a story of high professional quality and one that’s so-so at best. But you might not always be able to put into words exactly what those differences are. Is it the writing quality itself? The story? The emotional relatability? All of the above? Something else?

Yes, there are very specific guidelines that technically lay out all the things a “good” story should have. But sometimes even when a writer follows this outline point by point, a story can be good … but not good “enough”?

Here lies the dilemma we all face but don’t often consciously consider: Even if you end up writing a good story — and you know it checks off all the boxes — how do you know if it’s actually good enough to publish?