Punctuation for Writers: A Thorough Primer For Writers Of Fiction And Essays [Paperback]

Harvey Stanbrough (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0971534411 | ISBN-13: 978-0971534414 | Publication Date: August 2003 | Edition: Revised edition

True to the name of the Thorough Primer Series for Writers, Punctuation for Writers is a concise, thorough, one-two punch. The first section explains the rules of punctuation, including how to break those rules intentionally to achieve a particular effect. In the second section, Stanbrough puts punctuation in perspective with a brief but thorough and witty grammar refresher.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Harvey Stanbrough has eschewed the conventional means of grammar to present a guidebook that gives writers exactly what we need." -- Robert Yehling, Author, Full Flight and Divine Fixes

"I don't think I've ever met anyone who cares more about helping writers improve their craft." -- Suzanne Spletzer, Executive Director, Author’s Venue

"If any word magician can make punctuation problems easy to spot and solve, Harvey Stanbrough can." -- Robyn Conley, Book Doctor and Author

From the Author

As the author, I strongly recommend you look for the 2nd Edition, either in print or in a Kindle Edition, right here on Amazon.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 73 pages
• Publisher: Central Ave. Press; Revised edition edition (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971534411
• ISBN-13: 978-0971534414
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,218,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harvey Stanbrough was born in New Mexico, seasoned in Texas, and baked in Arizona. After having survived a 21-year civilian-appreciation course in the US Marine Corps, Harvey managed to sneak up on a bachelor's degree at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales in 1996. Harvey has written and published nine nonfiction ebooks on writing as well as Punctuation for Writers and Writing Realistic Dialogue & Flash Fiction in print. His comprehensive poetry collection, Beyond the Masks, was nominated for the National Book Award and has received rave reviews, and he's published three other poetry collections. Finally, he's published four short story collections, several magic realism short stories, and twenty-some other short stories in various other genres with more coming all the time. In all, his works have been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, the Frankfurt Award, the Pushcart Prize and the National Book Award. Harvey spoke at writers' conferences around the country for several years, but now he teaches writing mostly in private seminars in southeast Arizona. He hopes soon to make his seminars available via live webinars. Visit his website and blog at http://HarveyStanbrough.com, and take a moment to drop by http://CantinaTales.com where one of Harvey's magic realism characters, Juan-Carlos Salazár, tells stories of the fictional town of Agua Rocosa, which sits precisely at that spot on the horizon where reality folds into imagination.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Jewel of a Primer, April 23, 2011

By 

Lucretia Fligner-Hall - See all my reviews

This review is from: Punctuation for Writers: A Thorough Primer For Writers Of Fiction And Essays (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful resource I think every writer ought to own.

To me the overall gist of Harvey Stanbrough's book is that punctuation marks play a vital role in writing because they convey sensory impressions that direct readers toward the author's intended destination. By sensory impressions I mean that when we come to a period in text, we don't think intellectually "period," instead we feel the sensation of a pause in our internal reading process. Therefore, just as it is with road signs, if these marks are unclear or wrongly placed, accidents can and do happen. If you've ever participated in a writing workshop, then you probably know what I am talking about.

Outside of this book, I have never heard of anyone presenting this information in this way before. Sure, we all know that punctuation affects us as readers, but not all writers know precisely how or why. That is exactly what this book is about, bridging that gap between knowing and doing. It outlines the significance of what we know and can experience as readers, and shows us how to use that knowledge as a tool to improve our writing.

One more thing I like about this book is how the author encourages writers to be mindful of their readers. Stanbrough's book gets to the real "why" of punctuation: Why, for lack of attention to a comma or semi-colon, would we want to risk annoying or confusing our friends, the readers?

Yes, it is a small, simple, straightforward little primer, but it is a gem.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Punctuation, June 8, 2005

By 

Jean Coggins (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Punctuation for Writers: A Thorough Primer For Writers Of Fiction And Essays (Paperback)

Punctuation for Writers was just the book I needed! Harvey Stanbrough gives a refresher crash course in punctuation usage and then takes us beyond punctuation to how that punctuation will affect the reader. This depth of punctuation has been a new concept for me.

Thank you, Mr. Stanbrough, for making it easy for us.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The answer to a writer's prayer., March 31, 2005

By 

Charles Bailey (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Punctuation for Writers: A Thorough Primer For Writers Of Fiction And Essays (Paperback)

This is the book for writers who didn't pay attention in English class at school, and that includes me. It's concise, and the author says he wrote the book for writers, not teachers of English, and I bless him for it. I have Strunk and the other experts but I've learnt more from this book than the others combined. I can actually understand what the author says, and I think that says it all. Don't miss this one, it's the best investment you will make.