Comments on: Western Style Writing vs. Eastern Style Writing

By: Aaron Brazell

Aaron Brazell — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:59:45 +0000

Interesting definition of zen, Brian. You’re probably right (as usual, and ad nauseum) :-)

By: Brian Clark

Brian Clark — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:27:32 +0000

Ad nauseum, eh? Such is the nature of blogging… not everyone has been around as long as you have. :-)

And Zen, I think, is better characterized as “Good things come to those who act.” Zen is not about waiting for results, but taking continual right action in the present moment.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:21:13 +0000

This goes beyond “writing.” The same trend you noticed is a root of linguistic anthropology. One example from school days preserved a spot in my memory: Indians living in Britain perform worse on job interviews although they may very well be qualified due to circular and non direct answering of questions.

By: Sean

Sean — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:00:52 +0000

In article writing (1500-2500 words) I’ve always tried to have a good hook at the beginning. Describe the problem you’re trying to solve, if the reader can understand the problem, they’re more likely to continue reading (which makes the publisher happy, which makes them more likely to hire you in the future ;) )

However I’ve run across many articles that do well in the Eastern style you mention. They still do have a strong beginning, it’s just that the story they start out with is not necessarily the same one they end up on.

Sean

By: Leslie Poston

Leslie Poston — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:00:21 +0000

Firmly in the Western Style for me, especially when writing about social media for Profy or tech news for Blorge. Even in my fiction I tend to write with a decided Western flavor.

By: Aaron Brazell

Aaron Brazell — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:13:26 +0000

Igor- thanks for not going in a completely different direction and making me ban you here to. Keep up that track and you’ll be ok. I appreciate the respect and I’m happy to give you the respect too as long as you earn it. This comment is good.

By: Igor The Troll

Igor The Troll — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:04:51 +0000

My writing style there is no begining and there is no end. The post is a story and takes a life on its on depending on the participents involved.

It can be a parable or even a mythological tribulation, of course there are other orotary construcs.