I don’t believe in capitalization, except for the occasional proper noun or for ensuring clarity. I think that punctuation does the heavy lifting in a piece, and you can tell where a sentence ends and begins with correct punctuation. Therefore, capitalization is an antiquated, unnecessary rule. I do, however, follow this convention in my professional writing and here in comparative analyses so as not to distract from the content. In my experimental fiction and other creative endeavors, I will do away with capitalization and let the work stand on its own.

On the other hand, I love punctuation! Punctuation can change the meaning of your words, just by its mere usage or lack thereof.

A well-written piece of writing is like a musical composition. The length of the notes, how they’re strung together, the time signature, and the rests all relate to an aspect of language. The length of the notes relates to the length of the words chosen – whether they are short and to the point or long and full. How the notes are strung together mirrors the way words in a sentence are strung together. The time signature defines the whole piece – how fast-paced or slow and methodical a piece is played or read. The rests are the essential punctuation marks. Punctuation tells the reader where to place emphasis, where to pause, and how to clarify meaning – it relays a world of information. Everything comes together fluidly to give the recipient a unique experience.

A carefully composed piece of writing transports the reader beyond the confines of the page and launches them into new realms of understanding and appreciation.