Poorly written but good story

[Matthew Hughes]

I'm not sure if there is much of a difference in style vs presumed quality. Style is what it is, but quality in prose...I'm lost on that one. How would you define prose quality?

All kinds of things go into an evaluation of quality. Word choices, where the author has picked the precisely right word to match meaning and tone or just gone for the first one that came to mind. Non-repetition, unless it's repetition for effect. The rhythm of the prose, or indeed if it has any rhythm or instead just lies there. Juxtapositions and contrasts for comic or other effects. Knowing when to use open-quote dialogue and when to let the narrator paraphrase. Knowing what to put in and, far more important, what to leave out. Depth of characterization. Appropriate pacing. Knowing when to use active voice or passive voice and why. Allusions and famous quotes reworked for new purposes.

That's off the top of my head. There's lots more. Lots and lots.