In his early writing, Zinik was influenced by his older friends and mentors, Alexander Asarkan (1930-2004), a mail-artist and theatre critic; and Pavel Ulitin (1918–1986), who used cut-ups technique in his avant-garde prose.
In Zinik's early works, his older friends and mentors, Alexander Asarkan (1930-2004), a mail artist and theatre critic; and Pavel Ulitin (1918–1986), who used cut-up technique in avant-garde prose, had a significant influence.