Summary

An author experiments with dictation software to increase writing efficiency, aiming to write 5000 words in a day and potentially a novel per week, while noting the challenges and benefits of this method.

Abstract

The author of the article describes an experiment with dictation software to enhance writing productivity. Inspired by authors like Chris Fox and Ryan Frawley, who dictate large volumes of text weekly, the author attempts to replicate their success using a 6th generation iPad and a free dictation app called Dictate. Despite initial struggles with pronunciation, punctuation, and structuring thoughts, the author manages to produce a significant number of words quickly, albeit with a need for extensive editing due to the conversational style and lack of punctuation. The process is seen as a way to reduce strain on the wrists and back, and the author notes that with practice, dictation could streamline the writing process by combining research and composition into one task. The article concludes with the author acknowledging the potential of dictation software, even with its learning curve, and suggests starting with free software to test its effectiveness.

Opinions

Dictation software has the potential to drastically increase writing speed, with the author hitting 1634 words in 13 minutes.
The process of dictation feels natural and allows for multitasking, such as walking or doing research.
There is a significant adjustment period to dictating, including learning to speak punctuation and structuring thoughts effectively.
The author is skeptical about the need for professional dictation software, finding the free version sufficient for initial testing.
Editing dictated text is anticipated to be more time-consuming due to the conversational tone and absence of punctuation.
Dictation could be a beneficial alternative for writers experiencing physical strain from typing.
The author believes that with practice, issues such as rambling and using filler words can be minimized.

How Dictation Can Make You Write 5000 Words Today

Can a guy with a funny accent become prolific — the experiment.

Hello guys! I’m experimenting with my writing. I’ve heard about this method from authors like Chris Fox, who writes 5000 words an hour. I usually need a whole day to hit that number, and half of my text is usually pure garbage.

I’ve been ruminating this idea for months. Ryan Frawley’s post is the straw that breaks the camels back. He dictates 50,000 to 70,000 words per week. In perspective, a 200-page book has that much text. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is about 45,000 words. You can dictate a novel per week, in theory.

I’ve never used voice-to-text software before. But after reading Ryan’s story, I’ve found Dictate. The app has good reviews and it’s mostly free.

I’m not a native English speaker, and I have an accent of sorts. But English has been my working language for the past five years. And I’ve been living in the US and the UK lately.

I’m writing a lot, and my wrists and my back are taking a hit. I’m trying to remedy the pain with Yoga and stretching, but maybe it’s time for a fresh approach.

This whole story is dictated on a 6th gen iPad, without headphones. The internal mic is picking up on my words without major issues. I don’t see any general spelling errors, but the fact that you have to dictate punctuations is annoying. Most of the text is without a single dot or comma.

I’m planning to try the headphones later today, as I see the potential benefit of using them. Dictating stories while hitting the gym or walking in nature requires headphones.

I’m 45 minutes into this experiment, and the first 40 minutes are lost trying to start. I dictate a few hundred words and retract when I lose the train of thoughts. It takes me seven failed attempts to start writing seriously. The eight attempt comes a bit more structured.

I outline five talking points and a general sense of direction. This story has three parts: exposition, development, and recapitulation. I’m using a classical music structure for a sonata. The exposition is supposed to open up the topic. Development is the juicy middle. And recapitulation is an altered version of exposition, offering a sense of resolve.

For now, dictation feels different, and my ideas flow differently. I’m using a lot more words and diluting the text, but churning out paragraph after a paragraph is a breeze. The editing part is going to suck because I’m not pronouncing punctuations. I have a nasty wall of text in front of me.

Saying punctuation doesn’t come naturally, and I’m past the point of trying to get it right in this story. We don’t pause to announce a dot or a comma in a regular conversation.

The upside is that I have 800 words down, and it’s been only seven minutes. The speed is incredible, but the rewrites might take forever.

Talking is messy, and I often lose my train of thought and repeat certain points. I believe I can structure my approach better with a bit of practice.

I’m probably going to have to cut at least 500 words out of this post. But the speed is just unbelievable. I see how individual writers churn out 5000 words an hour.

The voice of this post is supposed to be easy-going and conversational. I’m yet to see if that makes for an easier read. Writers can screw up syntax in trying to simplify their writing, and it comes off as stilt and unnatural.

The editing is what makes your writing shine. And that’s even more true when using a speech-to-text software. I have 700 redundant words by now.

Dictation proves to be an exciting way to write ideas down. I’m not straining my wrists, and I can walk around the house while writing.

Three areas need improvement right off the bat:

Structure
Pronouncing punctuations
Rambling

Practice should help with the above issues. Surprisingly, I have fewer spelling errors when dictating. Another benefit is that you can dictate as you do your research. Technically, you’re able to merge research and writing into one task.

If you take 30 minutes to study the topic, with dictation, you can write the whole story along the way. The process is frighteningly fast, and I can see myself trying with different stories.

It’s been 48 minutes since I’ve started. Take the first 40 minutes out of the equation, and that leaves us with 8 minutes of real work. I’m 1370 words into this piece. One thousand words usually take 40 minutes to write— an hour with research.

I’m using a lot of filler words I wouldn’t use when writing. I’m adding ‘so’ and ‘Uhm.’ My lines are considerably longer too. I’m using more words to describe stuff. Hopefully, rewrites can fix that.

I’m not thinking about buying a professional dictation software just yet. The free version is incredible. I’m going to copy this text into Grammarly to make sense of this experiment. Google also has a free software worth considering. Ryan Frawley, the guy who started the fire, recommends Dragon — a $300 software. The paid app makes sense if you’re dictating professionally, but this method might not be for everyone.

If you decide to go down this road, I recommend starting with what you already have. The free software is good enough to test the waters. The program has no issues with my accent.

Dictating time: 13minutes.
Word count: 1634.
After edit: -675 words.
The dream: write a novel while hiking or working out.

Toni Out.