Borders Journal Archive4

11/13/06

Tonight, my friend and I discussed the differences between our writing styles. My friend, Heidi, likes to write technically – articles and analysis papers that are very organized and are very much line-of-thought writing. She likes to write her feelings, and her thoughts on life, but she writes it logically, and with organized thought.

I am not that way.

We decided that I am more of a poetic writer. Instead of thinking about, or analyzing my emotions and then writing about them, I use the writing as a medium in which to analyze and figure out what I’m feeling. I use descriptive words, and dramatic language. I am abstract to the extreme. I write about concepts instead of ideas. My writings can almost pass off as poetry than stories or papers. I describe, describe, describe.

As we were discussing this fact, the question was inevitably posed: Which style of writing is better? Is it better to state your ideas plainly, or work out your ideas with your reader? Is it better to be straight and to the point, or to wallow in the question and enjoy the sense of asking why?

For myself, I have to say that the abstract is always better. The abstract allows you to think more and explore the world around you. The abstract is freedom. The abstract is the question, not the answer, and the question is beautiful.

For my friend, she enjoys the straight-forward approach much better. She likes to feel quickly, to analyze that feeling, and to come to a conclusion on it. She prefers the answer. The question is just a way of getting to the answer for her. She is very goal oriented, and I think that’s why. I also think that’s why I prefer the question. Because I love the experience more than the destination. I love the journey.

But that still doesn’t answer the question of which one is better. But then again, I rather like the question better when it is unanswered.