[Jenny Posts: 84 Status: Offline WWW]

I have a picture book that I'm working on and I'm wondering if I need to add punctuation at the end of each line or just some. Here's a sample of what I wrote.

"Magic and wonder await."

Should I go?

Deep breath

Hold the envelope close

I want to go

I will go

Also, if I have a line that's a phrase and not a complete sentence would I skip punctuation?

Any input on pb's written in this style and their punctuation would be helpful. I know there are pb's without punctuation, but I'm wondering if I need it to query.

Thanks again.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,952 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Phrases like this are treated like sentences in a text, so you need punctuation. If an editor later wants you to remove it or it gets pulled at the design phase, so what? You don't want them to think you don't proofread. Having the first two lines end with punctuation sets that up for the rest.

If, as happens in poetry, a sentence ran over th line, you wouldn't punctuate that.

Row, row, row your boat
gently down the stream,
merrily ... .

[Jenny Posts: 84 Status: Offline WWW]

Thank you! This is very helpful.