The children's novel Charlotte's Web by EB White is not only a popular story of friendship, but also offers an illustration1 of that which White considers good writing. Writing is like producing fabric or creating a web, as it is something that requires skill to weave and make. Although Charlotte's Web is presented to children with the aim of providing them with a touching story of friendship and a foundation for strengthening their reading skills, the novel also explains what it takes to be a good writer. The characteristics that White exemplifies as characteristics of good writing in Charlotte's Web are that good writing takes time to reflect, is well planned, is persuasive, is concise, integrated, and flows. Great writing, like anything of true value, doesn't happen in an instant. Diamonds take time to form, people take time to grow, knowledge takes time to learn, and good writing takes time to reflect2. It should incubate in the mind until it is ready to hatch, just like an egg.3 In Charlotte's Web, one of the main characters, Charlotte, demonstrates that writing is something that takes time to think about. In response to Wilbur's question, “How will you save me?”, Charlotte replies, “I really don't know. But I'm working on a plan” (p. 63)4. In this, Charlotte establishes that when someone has an idea, they may not always know where it will end up or how they will get there. Therefore, Charlotte shows that it is necessary to take time to think about how to formulate one's argument and write, just as she must come up with a plan to save Wilbur. In addition to taking time to think about a topic and how it will be explained, good writing must be well planned. It is easier to use paper, make fabrics and spin webs, writing follows the same principle. If the writing isn't tightly woven with smooth transitions, ideas can fall through plot holes. Thus leaving to the public the ideas and concepts that the writer intended to convey. All in all, writing is a skill that must be developed in order to write well. Writing is something that takes time to think about and plan, is able to persuade, is concise and well woven. These elements are revealed in EB White's Charlotte's Web as characteristics of good writing. The fact that Charlotte's Web explains how to become a good writer allows children to develop good writing habits at an early age. Charlotte's Web, a manual for writing, hidden in a captivating story of friendship. Works Cited White, E. B. Charlotte's Web. New York: Harper, 1952. Print.