Val Dumond

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Welcome to my website and my world!

Since I was nine years old, I've been a writer (scratching words on paper). My enjoyment of music kicked in about the same time. It took many years to realize that words without music sound tinny and hollow; music without words feel incomplete.

Words speak to the mind.

Music speaks to the soul.

But ah, to combine the two - that's the fun!

This site is created to help you put words to your music - and music to your words.

Please poke around... there's lots to learn. Browse on your own path or take a shortcut to:

• articles written by Val - find out what's on Val's mind now!
• the grammar quiz
• my new book, Just Words
• the introduction from my book, Grammar For Grownups
• the first chapter in Grammar For Grownups
• writing tips
• request a presentation

You've Been Challenged!

Who doesn't love a challenge! (Notice the punctuation. That's not a question, but a statement.) Whatever! The challenge this month is for writers who like to play around. One of the best ways to improve your writing is to plunk yourself down and write. Play with a piece of writing to find a way of writing that suits you - that comes easily and transmits the message you want to send. In fiction, this can take several forms.

Writing has to be fun and it has to be about something that is important to you. If you don't have a message, you have no business writing. What's your message? Don't know? Want to find out?

Here's a fun Challenge for May:

My writing classes had a field day with the assignment to write a scene from a fairy tale, using only dialog. Rather than telling the stories, they showed us what was going on. And some of them were splendid: gritty, lively, evocative, edgy, inspiring, and vivid (meaning "full of life").

Now you try it. Choose a fairy tale; select a scene; re-write it, using dialog only. I'd love to see the results. Send them to me at Val@valdumond.com.

Here's a brief example:

"Hmmm, that ginger smells so enticing. What are you baking?"

"Some gingerbread cakes for John's lunchbox next week."

"Do you realize you take better care of him than you do yourself?"

"He's all I have. Since we don't have children... Oh, Patsy, I'm so lonely."

"I'm sorry, Dolly. I didn't know you weren't able to have children. I thought that was your choice."

"Oh we can have them. I guess John doesn't want to be bothered with kids. But that doesn't help when I get to feeling blue... like I'm missing something in life."

"What's that you're doing? Doesn't look like a gingerbread cake."

"I thought I'd make a gingerbread boy - you know, just a form I can talk to and..."

"I think I hear someone at my door. I have to leave now. Let me know how your gingerbread boy turns out."

(Talking to self)" Just a couple more details. Raisins. Yes, raisins for coat buttons and eyes. A bit of frosting for the mouth and nose and... "

"Ooh, that tastes good!"

"Who said that?"

"Me! Look down! You gave me a mouth and now I can speak."

"Oh my goodness gracious... I think I'm going to faint."

"Nah! You wanted a boy, and now you have one."

[You finish it!]