What distinguishes an average author or writer from an above-average one?

I can’t count the number of times that I have got into a conversation with someone who calls themselves a “writer”, and then stares at me with a blank look on their face when I talk about using active voice in writing. Needless to say, I don’t bother to read their work.

Assuming all the spelling/grammar is correct (or poetic), then active voice for every sentence puts the work well above average. Beyond this, every other suggestion people give for writing may also help.

I especially enjoyed Stephen King’s “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft”.