How to write?
Well, she has done it again. Another very interesting post, this time it is about how to write. More specifically, how to write a book in order to teach the reader. The article is entitled: Conversational writing kicks formal writing’s ass.
If I take two books that I own — Head First Design Patterns (a very conversational book) and An Introduction to Database Systems (a hardly understandable, very formal, academic, mathematical book) — and compare what I have learnt from them, I would have to say that the conversational style definitely works. You probably picked that up already from the comments following the book titles. The database book is written by some ex-IBM guy who seems far to high on himself (he even created his own language for the book instead of using sql!).
So, what did I get out of this article? I definitely need to work on how I write. I need to ensure that what I write is more aimed at my audience and less aimed at making myself look good.
Although, I have to add something to this little conversation. I think it goes both ways. At Environment Canada, there was one employee, who has a PhD, who did not like the Design Patterns books because of its style. It was not academic enough for him. He liked more formal books where they get right to the meat and don’t fool around with all the silliness in the Head First books. I personally believe that, like the author, this individual felt that conversational books where below his level and would therefore make him look bad. So it is not just the authors who are a little missguided here.
That would be fun to have a “switch writing style” button. Unfortunately, part of the reason I use this style is because I’m still a fairly “young” writer. It’s more natural for me and I have a hard time with other styles.
An academic writing style is probably more natural for most people. This is probably because it is what is taught in universities and secondary schools. It is how we learn to write. Unfortunately, old habits are the hardest to break.
The Blogs are turning out to be very well-liked. The increasing speed of blog’s demand will confuse your mind. Why? For what is so? Why does a person like to grow into a blog writer? Bloggers also need nice visitors to read their written blogs,and i hope the same thing for this blog.