I'm in the middle of an online writing workshop, and the author/teacher said something I find confusing. She said that when she reads, she doesn't notice "good writing," she instead experiences good writing as a direct line of communication between an author, and her as reader.

I still have certain sections of writing by certain authors resonate in me; I can still remember certain descriptions of action, or setting, or dialogue, as particularly beautiful. And, I absolutely noticed it the moment after I read it on the page.

I get at least a part of what this person is saying. But is it really that unusual for a reader to notice and appreciate prose that sings? If it is, how do we judge our own work? If we're writing the best we can, and strive to be better each time we sit in front of the keyboard-- will anyone notice? Perhaps this is an existential question (tree / forest), lol.

Thoughts?

Edited to Add: First off, thank you for all of the comments below, for taking the time to put forth your opinions and describe your reading experiences. Whether I disagreed, or agreed, all of them helped me find what I believe in, in the murkiness that happens to pass for my post-concussive brain right now. For the record, I don't find that resonant prose, or beautiful prose, or even poetic prose takes something away from my experience of reading. I find that it enhances the story when it's done well. I agree that it's an art form -- and those two comments about same, below, shifted my thinking in that regard.

Of course, it can be badly done. Everything can. Of course a writer can try way too hard to make their prose "beautiful" to them. Of course, the storytelling is as important as the prose. But, for me, I give those two separate things equal weight. Everything I read doesn't have to have sentences that take my breath away. But, sometimes they do. (Chitra Divakaruni's Sister of My Heart certainly does. Also Barbara Kingsolver. And, and....)

I'm not going to stress about this going forward. I'll write as I write, edit as I edit, and pick up my novel again and do my best. And, for the record, no matter my user name, I'm returning to an historical novel of suspense.

Thank you again, so much, for the help. Best of Luck to everyone with your projects.