Post to the Host:
I am a college student and I write a lot because my mind stores up things. So I write about everything. But I still don't know if I like how I write. I have no real critiques except from the dog, but he never goes into details. How do you know if something is good or not?

Nathaniel C.
Carrollton, TX

You don't know, Nathaniel, but you can guess and one good way to measure your work is to read it aloud. Read it to yourself. You'll be able to hear the awkward or pretentious parts and detect gaps in the narrative and problems of logic. And then, after you rewrite it, try reading it to somebody else. Somebody other than the dog. They probably won't even have to say a word—you can hear what's wrong yourself. The basis of writing is one person telling another person a story, and it's always good to go back to basics.