Make the pieces sound good together. Rhythm, dynamics, harmony — the whole is more than the parts.
Individual correctness isn't enough. Components need to relate, transition, and resolve like voices in a composition.
- Rhythm: consistent patterns that a reader can anticipate and follow
- Dynamics: know when to be loud (explicit, detailed) and when to be quiet (implicit, minimal)
- Harmony: components reinforce each other rather than competing for attention
- Meter: establish conventions, then trust them — don't re-explain what the pattern already says