Learn about punctuation in fiction

Hone your writing and editing craft with articles, books, webinars, booklets and audio content dedicated to helping you solve punctuation problems in fiction.

​Scroll down the page or click on an icon to go straight to a section. Want to learn about a different topic? Select the green icon to return to the main library page.​
Picture
RETURN TO LIBRARY
Picture
ARTICLES
Picture
BOOKS
Picture
COURSES
Picture
FREE BOOKLETS
Picture
PODCAST EPISODES

Articles about punctuation in fiction

Scroll down to see what's available in this section.

Free booklet: How to use apostrophes in fiction writing

Apostrophes confound some authors. Not knowing how to use them doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer, but getting them wrong can distract a reader and alter the meaning of what you want to say. This booklet shows you how to get it right. 

Books about punctuation for fiction editors and authors

​Editing Fiction at Sentence Level

Fiction is about flow, rhythm, mood, voice and style. This book, available in print and as an ebook, shows you how to hone line craft so that the narrative and dialogue compel readers to turn the page. Listen to the free audio taster below.

​Making Sense of Punctuation Learn how to punctuate for sense, mood and rhythm

This fiction-editing guide shows authors and editors how to use different types of punctuation in a novel. I go beyond publishing-industry conventions and teach you how to play with punctuation so that your prose is clear but laced with mood and rhythm too.
YOUR EDITS ARE, AS ALWAYS, SO VERY GOOD
I’m just now looking at your edits and, as always, they are so very good. Once again, you’ve retained the essence and helped me deliver the prose sharply.
DAVID UNGER, MYSTERY WRITER

Training courses on punctuation in fiction

How to Punctuate Dialogue

​This self-paced course teaches editors, proofreaders and writers how to punctuate dialogue in a novel according to publishing-industry conventions.

Practice exercises and model answers help you test your skills and knowledge so that you can edit with confidence.

Preparing Your Book for Submission

'The BEST event I have been to on how to edit a manuscript. I learned so much!' – ​SoA @ Home Festival​ attendee
This 30-minute webinar teaches commercial fiction authors 11 pithy line-editing tips that make a substantive difference to writing flow and reader experience.

Get my best advice straight into your inbox

The Editorial Letter comes out once a month. Get my best advice on fiction editing and editorial business building.
Sign up and you'll get my 
​free proofreading checklist – a one-stop resource for reviewing designed page proofs!

Listen to The Punctuation Collection

Listen to these episodes of The Editing Podcast in which Denise and Louise discuss how to use various punctuation marks.