Val Dumond

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Articles on Writing, Grammar, and Publishing
by Val Dumond

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Val writes articles on grammar, the art and science of writing, and publishing, for budding writers and seasoned authors alike. These articles are not only informative and educational, they're entertaining - written as only Val can. Enjoy this latest of her articles:

On Being a Forfatter
by Val Dumond
©2007

I like to keep up with what "they" are saying about me, so I enjoy a Google (noun) service that alerts me to the places my name and books pop up on the Internet. Most of the time, it just tells me that another library is carrying my books.

So how excited was I to receive a note that another library system was carrying my books? I dutifully followed the Internet address, but was dismayed to see these words in big black bold letters atop the screen: Forfatter: Val Dumond! Oh dear, what did that mean? Then I saw other clues - most of the words were written in another language. (I don't say "foreign" because it isn't foreign to whoever wrote it.)

Immediately, I returned to google (verb) the meaning of "forfatter" in English. The word seemed to be German. I was close. "Forfatter" is the word for "author" in both Danish and Norwegian. Whew! Sigh of relief!

The page where I discovered this wonderful information included several definitions of the word "author", as well as quotations from noted authors. I had always believed that the difference between "writer" and "author" was a matter of being published: when a writer publishes work, the "writer" becomes an "author". Maybe.

One definition: "the beginner, former, or first mover of anything: hence, the efficient cause of a thing; a creator; an originator". I like this one: creator.

Another: "One who composes or writes a book; a composer, as distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler". Well, I knew that!

A quote from Buddha: "Every human being is the author of his (sic) own health or disease." So, there is a wellbeing issue to being an author, as well as a maleness!

From Benjamin Disraeli: "An author who speaks about their own books is almost as bad as a mother who speaks about her own children." I wonder how many books he sold. Probably a few because of his government position. And notice that nonsexist pronoun.

Mickey Spillane: "Now I'm not an author, I'm a writer, that's all I am." Talk about modesty!

My favorite comes from Jose Bergamin: "Who learns most from a good book is the author". Now there is a truism. Writing a book is an education in itself. In fiction, it's an exercise in combining imagination (what-if) with realism to reach a level of writing that tells a compelling story, stretches the belief system, and entertains. Nonfiction writing usually uncovers information fresh to the author, combines it with what already is known, and offers insight to a reader, to whom the entire subject may be new. The research alone often is more fun and more enlightening than the writing.

My own definition of an author is "someone who has a message to share and does it with as great a respect for words as the author has for the reader." And you can quote me.

Just in case you need to use this sometime, the Dutch have four words for author: schrijver, bedenker, auteur, schepper. Toss that bit of info to your friends at your next party.

If you need to look up the definition of a word, get quotes, and translations, check out this address: no.librarything.com. It's especially helpful to forfatters!

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