Dictating the Process

An entire world of possibility is before us, and writers who saw typewriters disappear now see them as a novelty. It is as if they feel nostalgia can fuel creativity.

Technology disrupts. The writer’s work-flow is not impervious to this. While moving from a typewriter to a computer may have been difficult for some, it is less of an issue than it never was.

There is a new technology that is opening new doors of productivity for writers everywhere. And even though the benefits are obvious, many do not want to adopt it. In the last five years, its effectiveness and accuracy have increased many folds.

Dictation opens doors for writers who are uncomfortable when approaching a blank page or screen. Some do not have luck with the blank page. They become cowed and think they cannot write. But it is less intimidating to speak.

Our voices, like our words on a page, are reflections of our thoughts. Words give our ideas definition and a solidity they lack while still in our imagination.

Dictation using programs like Dragon NaturallySpeaking 15 or the dictation icon on your telephone will accustom you to the idea. Punctuation is an issue. But that too is easily overcome with practice.

The technology is by no means perfect, and dictation does require a certain amount of editing. But when it comes to first drafts and getting your thoughts onto a page there is no better way. It is quick and dirty as all rough drafts should be.

Later in the writing practice, when the editor’s hat has been placed on, reading your work aloud has always been a useful practice to hear the flow of your words. With dictation, now the author can kill two birds with one stone and see not only the grammatical errors but also how the story progresses; this also helps with organization. The development will present itself. Keeping track of a long narrative is difficult, and dictation is a way to keep yourself away from the weeds.

The only rule for creativity is that it is highly personal. History is a guide and not a rule. Use what works for you, and try all of the tools now at your disposal.

Shakespeare most likely would have had a blog, and dictation would have made writing in iambic pentameter all that much easier.

Yes. This blog post was dictated, and it did not even touch the subject of transcription. That is the real game changer.