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 ahh, 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

The Joy of Challenge

Writing Practice Makes Perfect

Do you wake up in the morning with a tune rummaging about your head, or repeating a word, phrase, or collection of words? Often these early-morning images seem meaningless and you discard them without further notice.

Phase 1:
For one week - just seven days - keep a notepad and pen next to your bed. Before you throw off the covers (if you need any during these warm nights), write down your "opening thoughts". Sometimes you'll describe an image. Occasionally you'll have a sound that you have to spell out phonetically. Often you'll have a phrase or sentence that doesn't mean much until you come back to it later.

Phase 2:
And that's the first part of this challenge. Keep your notes for one week. Then, and only then, look back over them. Notice how your senses react to words recorded earlier in the week.

Phase 3:
The next part is to take your notes to your computer (or writing pad) and enter them, one at a time, one each for the next seven days. If you wrote down "eggshells" last Monday, put that word into your computer. Now begin to write - whatever comes to mind is what you write down. You may have to write a couple of pages before anything begins to take shape, but keep at it until your head tells you, "Aha! That's what that meant." Be patient. And be aware of your feelings: sad, mad, glad... you know the drill. Connect your feelings with the words.

Be surprised at what you learn - about you AND about writing.