avatarAnnette Miller

Summary

Annette Miller shares her experience with using Google Docs' dictation tool to enhance her writing productivity by saving time, reducing distractions, and separating the writing and editing processes.

Abstract

Annette Miller, a freelance writer and Cofounder of Enriched Couples, discusses the benefits of incorporating dictation into her writing workflow. She highlights the cost-effectiveness of the tool, noting her minimal investment in a headset-microphone that has lasted years. The dictation tool has significantly improved her writing speed by allowing her to focus on vocalizing her thoughts without the distraction of editing as she goes. This method enables her to work in a stream-of-consciousness manner, effectively silencing her inner editor, Judith, until the editing phase. Miller emphasizes the freedom and flexibility dictation has brought to her writing process, especially after transitioning from academic to more creative forms of writing. She advocates for the use of dictation as a practical and efficient alternative to typing, suggesting that it can be a valuable tool for other writers as well.

Opinions

  • Miller is enthusiastic about the dictation tool in Google Docs, particularly its free nature and the minimal cost of the necessary equipment.
  • She believes that dictation greatly enhances writing speed and reduces the temptation to edit while writing, thus improving focus.
  • The author has found dictation to be a liberating experience, allowing her to write in a more natural and conversational style.
  • Miller suggests that dictation can be a useful technique for other writers looking to increase productivity and creativity in their writing process.
  • She notes that a good quality microphone, even one built into a smartphone or laptop, may eliminate the need for an external headset.
  • The article conveys that dictation helps delineate the writing and editing processes, which are distinct tasks that benefit from being treated separately.

What I Learned About My Writing From Using Dictation

Save time, reduce on-screen distractions, and delineate between writing and editing.

Photo by Soundtrap on Unsplash

Google has a solution for everything:

  • Search
  • Maps
  • Assistant
  • And, Google Docs Tools
Screenshot by Annette MillerDo I Need a Therapist? Answers From a Psychotherapist

While working on the article above, I discovered the fresh breath of air that is a built-in dictation tool within Google Docs.

First I’ll point out one of the biggest reasons I love it — it’s free.

Admittedly, I invested $20 around the time I started using this gift from the writing productivity gods for a basic headset-microphone. That headset has lived a long, happy life. It’s still kicking! I picked it up at Meijer, but I’ve since realized I can use my Google Pixel headphones just as effectively.

This productivity hack has been a major boon to my writing speed. When typing, I often get distracted by two things — Chrome tabs and my inner editor.

Using a headset allows me to focus entirely on getting words on the page without rethinking them as I’m capturing them. With a headset, it’s okay if what I say sucks. I’ll edit it later! The headset means I’m not looking at what I just spoke aloud — and shows up magically on the page.

Instead of second-guessing every word, sentence, paragraph, and section, I can simply work in a stream-of-consciousness. For me, that works.

I can tell my inner editor — I’ve nicknamed her Judith —to shut up and go away.

As fellow writers know all too well, writing and editing are separate skills and tasks. The headset allows me to get out of my own way while writing.

Judith can wait her turn!

When I began writing as a freelancer in 2017, I had a steep learning curve to transition from academic writing to editorial and consumer writing (fare thee well, APA style!).

On the other hand, it was freeing to have a degree of flexibility I never had before in scholastic assignments, research summaries, or even business writing. Creativity and writing are natural bedfellows, but I had little prior experience finding — and writing in — my own voice.

I had no idea that writing in a free-flowing fashion was even an option. As it turns out, this is a very productive way for me to work.

The headset I bought at Meijer nearly 5 years ago has held up to my daily abuse. The thing cost me $20. No big investment is needed. In fact, you may not need a headset at all if your mic quality is good enough on your laptop (or if you use your phone).

Dictation saves time, reduces on-screen distractions, and delineates between writing and editing mode.

What more could convince you to stand up, start talking, and stop typing?

Annette Miller is the Cofounder and CEO of Enriched Couples, a financial therapy platform that uses psychology to guide couples through unifying their values, financial priorities, and future goals.

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