How do you know if you're a good writer?

I always look at it like this, if someone doesn't know they are a good writer they have no business publishing and expecting people to pay them money. So it's about confidence too. Anyone who is doing this professionally should believe in their skills. I don't think it's hard to know if you are a good writer or not. All writers have weaknesses but it doesn't mean they aren't talented. I know I am a good writer. I work hard at it and continue to learn as I go. I was also trade published with a big five publisher and other presses. So that gives me some validation that I can write or else I wouldn't have ever gotten contracts. I also look at my readers and fans who keep buying my books and claim they enjoy my writing, etc. And, yes, I also go by my own opinion. I've been reading books a long time and my writing is just as good and even better than some authors who might be selling more. It's not said as arrogance, mind you but confidence. I really don't understand anyone dedicating years to this business (as have I) and not believing in their talent. If I didn't feel I was a good writer, I wouldn't be publishing. I care too much for the written word and for readers to do put out junk.

It is easier to tell if you got the chops if others validate you so that is a part of it but I think most of us have commonsense to know if we are good writers or not. Just like I've seen authors who say they know they aren't the best writers in the world but still have talent, you just know. Sooner or later you will know if you're good or if you suck because people will tell you. That's a big way you know.

For example, people rag on EL James and says she's terrible and though I couldn't get through one page of the book, she can't be that terrible if her books have garnered millions of dollars, movies and has become a literary phenomenon. She might not be the best writer in the world, but she's got some talent or she wouldn't be where she is. It sure is funny that the main people who make fun of EL are romance writers who have done everything under the sun to emulate her success. Without EL the billionaire romance boom of the last three years wouldn't be here. Sure, we always had biillionaires and alpha males but it was Christian Grey that made these types of romances more popular than they ever have before. So some romance authors ridicule her but turn around and try to make money off something she made famous in hopes to become as big as she has yet none of them have.

EL is not the only big author who people claim are horrible writers. It's the same with Meiner, Brown, the Hunger Games woman, and every other mega-selling author people wanna dog but they sell millions all over the world. You don't get a certain level of success with just luck alone. So for every big time author people claim aren't good writers, they're doing something right. Luck might make someone check out your first book but it doesn't make an author as big as Patterson or King. There is some talent in there too even if not everyone sees it. My point is, even though some might call these authors hacks, I am sure they all believe they are at least decent writers because of their success. People can say they can write better than all these people if they want but these people are making gazillions off their work and if you criticize them but aren't doing the same...talk is cheap. You might be better than these people but they have millions of fans backing them up. If you've sold millions of books all over the world you can say you're a darn good writer all you want whether folks agree or not. 

Just like we can tell if others aren't good writers, we can tell if we aren't either. Your style of writing might not fit some people but it doesn't mean it isn't good.

I can see though how it can be hard to tell for those who start off in indie publishing. Maybe except for editors or beta readers in the beginning they don't have readers to go by so I can see how they might not be sure. But still, if you read at all you can judge your work by other books and can kinda tell if you are on the right track or not. 

Ask someone you're sure is a good writer to tell you.