Why Are Some Writers Ditching Punctuation in Their Books?
Where does this trend come from, and will it last?
I recently came across an article about authors not using certain punctuation marks—quotes, specifically—in their books. It made me want to learn more about why writers were choosing to forgo quotation marks in their works.
Like many writers and readers, my first instinct when reading about this trend was confusion. Why wouldn't an author use quotation marks in their work?
According to the article in The Walrus, "Some of the best and buzziest contemporary writers—Sally Rooney, Ian Williams, Bryan Washington, Celeste Ng, Ling Ma—render their dialogue free of quotation marks. The reasons vary, but more writers are dropping speech marks to explore distances between readers and narrators and even to eliminate hierarchies."
Visually, dropping the quotation marks is a minor change, but the lack of quotation marks can take some getting used to. However, some authors who choose to ditch the quotes feel that removing these marks eliminates a barrier between the characters and the readers. Other writers remove quotes because they feel the quotation marks add a sense of formality or conformity to their writing. By not including quotation marks, these writers are subverting their readers' expectations and inviting them into a new experience.
As a writer and editor, the idea of using quotation marks to indicate dialogue is something that's been drilled into me. Write in complete sentences. Use proper punctuation to clarify what is meant. Make the writing legible to the reader.
When I took a moment to think about the rules I've learned, though, I realized pretty quickly that writers frequently break writing rules. Many modern poems purposely exclude punctuation. This stylistic choice gives poetry a loose feel and allows poems to have multiple interpretations. In other genres, writers use shorthand for certain terms that previously would have been looked down upon. I've used short, abrupt sentences that are technically incomplete to convey tension in my own writing.
Hey, you might be thinking, leaving out a period or comma in a poem isn’t the same thing as leaving out quotation marks.
And yes, that's true; there are different stylistic choices an author can make that impact their writing, and removing quotation marks is definitely a more unconventional choice.
What do we think about this decision as members of a publishing company? Would we suggest authors avoid using quotation marks?
Would I read a book without quotation marks and other technical and grammatical elements? Yes, and I have. In high school, our English class read The Road by Cormac McCarthy. The unorthodox style mirrored the sparse world the protagonist experienced in McCarthy's post-apocalyptic world. It took me a while to get used to, and I initially wasn't sure that I'd like the book. However, The Road became one of the most impactful books I've ever read. It taught me so much about how the mechanics of writing can impact the way a story feels to the reader. I was amazed at how so much could be conveyed with such stark language, and yes, the format of the book, including the lack of quotation marks, was part of that.
On the other end of the spectrum, I've also read beautiful poetry without quotation marks (and other punctuation marks). The lack of punctuation tends to be more commonplace in poetry, so I normally don't find it to be too distracting; I typically also don’t hear as many people criticize this loose style in poetry, either.
With that said, would we suggest that our authors avoid using quotation marks, though? In most cases, probably not. We always encourage our authors to be creative and expressive in their writing, but we also want readers to understand what is written. Since we primarily publish children's books and self-development books, this unique writing style would likely confuse most of our authors' readers.
But who knows...maybe we'll find ourselves suggesting that an author abandons quotation marks one day.
What do you think about authors not using quotation marks? Is this something you would consider in your writing, or are you a stickler for rules and conventions?
If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, and Jean—would love to help you with creating your book. If you'd like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don't work together, I'm happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:
https://www.kwepub.com/consultation
We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.
Write on!
Kim Eley
KWE Publishing
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”
–Mary Lou Cook
Register Now for October’s Free KWE Publishing Webinar with Melody Morris!
More than 80% of Americans say they want to write a book. According to a study of 2,000 aspiring writers, more than half claim to have a good idea, yet only fifteen percent have started writing. Six percent say they're at least halfway through, and eight percent have finished. Why aren't more writers successfully publishing their books? Many are held back by fear and mindset. The good news? You can address your fears and create a new mindset!
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We hope to see you there!
Sixth-Grader Austin Davis’ Book Published by Morgan James!
As an associate publisher of Morgan James Publishing’s children’s books, I love having the opportunity to help get amazing stories for kids into the world! Recently, I had the opportunity to work with Austin Davis, a young author from Delaware, who published his amazing children’s book, Dogs Vs Bears, with Morgan James Publishing!
Austin's never known the truth—that his stuffed animals come to life whenever he leaves the house! Every time he goes to school, his bedroom becomes a brutal scene of battling teddy bears and stuffed dogs. Minion, leader of the bears, fights fiercely against Woof Woof, the dogs' commander, over who will reign supreme.
But after years of fighting, the bears and dogs discover a new threat. Will they be wiped out by an invading species, or can these two groups put aside their differences and face it together? The future of the fortress—and Austin's realm—depends upon it!
Congratulations, Austin! You can read more about his amazing story here, and you can purchase his book by pressing the button below.
Author Event Recap: Grief Is Grief Book Signing!
Author of Grief is Grief: A Journey Beyond Comparison, Jeanie Phillips, had her first book signing this past weekend at her church, Great Bridge United Methodist Church, in Chesapeake, Virginia! Jeanie celebrated her book’s publication and shared her amazing book with her community.
Jeanie Phillips' world was shattered when she lost her daughter-in-law, son, and mother within fifteen devastating months. Grief became her constant companion, forcing her to navigate life without some of her closest loved ones. Later, she encountered grief again when her husband, Claude, passed away; only a few short years later, so did her second husband, John.
In Grief Is Grief: A Journey Beyond Comparison, Jeanie shares how she survived the deaths of those she loved with strength and resilience as she realized that healing came through community, faith, and love, not comparing her experiences with grief with the journey of others.
With grace, humor, and honesty, Grief Is Grief: A Journey Beyond Comparison shows readers they don't have to "move on" from their grief. Instead, they can move through their grief, honoring their loved ones while embracing
Check Out the Eighth Annual Platform Builder Summit!
If you’re a woman in business, consider checking out The Platform Builder® Summit - VIP Experience! Sharvette Mitchell, creator of The Platform Builder framework, shares, “We believe that every emerging women business owner and leader has the potential to grow their business by shining a spotlight on their expertise. With the right marketing tools, resources, and support, you can achieve your goals and take your business to new platforms! Reserving your VIP seat at The Platform Builder® Summit is the next step in that direction. This summit is designed for 40 VIP guests only (there are no general admission seats). We look forward to hosting you at this all-VIP Experience!”
The summit will be held on November 8th and November 9th at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. One of our authors, Jean Tillery, will be speaking at the summit, along with a host of other brilliant speakers!
Resources:
Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!
Getting the right advice when it comes to writing a book is important, and hearing from others in the industry is often one of the best ways to learn more about publishing and writing. However, there’s a wealth of resources that exist in the world, and sifting through everything to find what you’re looking for can take a lot of time. The podcast First Draft is one of those resources that you don’t want to miss. This podcast will teach you so much about writing and publishing (plus, you’ll hear about some amazing books from talented authors!).
Hosted by author and journalist Sarah Enni, First Draft is a fantastic podcast that focuses on the craft of writing, great books, happenings in the publishing world, and so much more. Even though the podcast is currently on hiatus, there’s a backlog of amazing episodes to listen to, many of which feature interviews with some of the most knowledgeable minds in publishing! We especially recommend their miniseries “Track Changes,” which talks about how a book goes from an idea in your head to being sold on bookshelves.
