Val Dumond

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Publishing, Editing, and Writing Services Offered by Val Dumond

"Ism" Editing

Are You Turning Off Your Reader?

Biased writing can exclude many readers that may otherwise be interested in what you're writing. To assure that your work is inclusive, pay attention to the views you project.

• Sexism: Sexist words indicate the illusion that men are the norm and women are the also-rans. Sexist words reflect attitudes that women are things rather than people. Sexist words are often stereotypes held over from prehistoric days. Sexist words demean women and can lead to violence against women.
• Racism: Take a good long look at racist language and you may conclude that race is a crock - an invention of people who want to feel superior. However, racism is a very serious - sometimes deadly serious - failing of society. All Africans are not dark-skinned; all people with dark skin are not Africans. And why call dark skin black and light skin white? The printed page is composed of black marks on white paper. Skin looks nothing like that.
• Ageism: The language of ageism will make itself equal in the end. Young people grow old and learn what it's like to be put out to pasture. Older people remember what it was like to be young and foolish.
• Ableism: Show me the perfect body and I'll show you a statue or a painting, not a real life human body. All of us humans have defects here and there - warts and moles and bones that healed wrong, muscles that don't work, hair that falls out, chins that droop, and tummies that are the wrong size. Be merciful!
• Classism: The most efficient way to feel superior is to show others how much money you have accumulated, how large a house you own how fancy a car you drive. Someday. You'll figure out that money doesn't guarantee class. Some of the classiest people I know have very little money. Some of the richest people I know have very little class.

In short, to assure that your readers won't be insulted or demeaned by what you write, think of people who are not like you as... people:

• People with disabilities (not disabled people)
• People with or without money (not rich people or poor people)
• People who are older or younger than you (not fogies or whippersnappers)
• People whose skin is darker or lighter than yours (not black people, not white people, not even African American people)
• People who cannot hear or see, people who require a wheelchair (rather than deaf people, blind people, or disabled people)
• People who identify as women or men, people who have different genitals or sexual preferences than you (rather than "the little woman," "the girly-man," prostitute, gigolo, fag, or queer)

We are all PEOPLE! And when you want to identify your race (or when you are asked to identify your race in some form) think HUMAN RACE.

For more about inclusive language, pick up a copy of Just Words - The Us and Them Thing.

Run It Past Me!

People from other countries who wish to do business in the US are invited to use my services as a translator from Poor American English or Boggled American English into Proper American English. Even the British have trouble explaining some of their words to Americans.

Writers of short stories, promotional brochures, resumes, or letters often run them past me before sending them off. I provide same-day turnaround for the short stuff and will inform you of my fee before accepting the job.

Send me a copy of your message and ask for an edit, proofreading, or translation. I will contact you with my fee and time constraint. Most times, I can provide a 24-hour turnaround.

Publishing Services

Ready to Publish Your Book?

Writing books and publishing them have come a long way since the days of quill pen and papyrus. Still, the process is rudimentary: put the scribbles onto a medium and duplicate them. Only now we scribble on computers and print with electronic impulses and high-speed rotary presses.

Because writing has become a game that many people play, the rules are changing so fast that it's hard to keep up. Thirty years ago we typed out a manuscript, wrapped it in brown paper and sent it to the publisher who immediately sent back a check and ten bound copies of the book!

Times have changed, and so has publishing. Find out more information about the publishing services I offer to the authors of today HERE.

Writing Services

Writing Your Family or Company History

Where did we come from?

How did we get here?

Don't you wish your grandparents had written down what they knew about your family?

Don't you wish the founders of your company had written down their early experiences?

Don't wait another day to record the early details of your family or your company. Let me do some digging and staring on your behalf to produce your written history - anything from a brochure with 30 or 40 copies to a glitzy coffee table book. More information HERE.