From KMW: I’ve always loved writing by hand. There’s something about the feel of pen on paper that just makes the creative process click for me, especially when outlining and brainstorming. However, between the wrist pain, bad posture, and the fact that I can’t read my own handwriting half the time, I’ll admit there are certain downsides—just as there are to typing. I’ve dabbled with dictation off and on over the years, but I always hit the same wall: it just didn’t feel like “real” writing. If I wasn’t typing or scribbling, was I actually creating?
But as I read Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer’s guest post this week, I had to rethink that a bit. She breaks down some of the myths and mental roadblocks around dictating fiction in such a grounded, compassionate way that it made me realize something kind of obvious (but also kind of profound): storytelling was originally oral. We had voices and listeners long before we had keyboards or pens!
So if you’ve ever felt curious about dictation but haven’t been sure where to start (or, like me, have gotten frustrated after trying it), I think you’ll find Sarah’s approach refreshing. She’s been where you are, and she’s mapped out a path forward that’s both practical and encouraging. Enjoy!
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Have you ever read about an author who dictates 5,000+ words while taking a walk and thought to yourself, “If dictation is so amazing, why isn’t everyone doing it?”
Maybe you’ve tried dictation. You opened a voice app, started talking, and… froze. It felt awkward. Disjointed. The transcription was a mess.
After working with hundreds of authors making the transition from typing to speaking their words of fiction, I know this story well. It was my story when I first tried dictation. And failed. Again and again.
Dictation is one of the most misunderstood tools for authors, yet one with potential for powerful transformation in your author life.
In This Article:
- 4 Myths About Using Dictation to Write Fiction
- How to Get Started With Dictating (Even if You’ve Failed Before)
- The Next Step: Making Dictation Effortless
4 Myths About Using Dictation to Write Fiction
As someone who has dictated 14 books and trained hundreds of authors in how to dictate fiction, I want to say this: dictation isn’t a magic shortcut that will solve all your writing challenges. But it tackles a great many of them.
And dictation can absolutely be learned, just as you learned how to handwrite and type. I want you to get there without getting overwhelmed.
Let’s start by eliminating common myths around dictating fiction.
Myth #1: Dictation = Talking Fast = Writing Fast
When you think about dictation, speed is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Speed is what drew me and countless authors to give it a shot.
Dictation can help you draft faster. I doubled my writing speed from 1,500 words of fiction per hour to 3,000 words, and with less strain on my body.
But when you only see dictation as a way to supercharge your productivity, you might experience frustration and even disappointment before you’ve trained yourself to do it well.
Dictation isn’t a race to speak as fast as you can. I talk slower when dictating fiction than when I’m having a conversation.
If you find yourself slowing down to dictate, that’s normal. In fact, I encourage it. Take your time. Pause. Breathe. When you’re ready, tackle the next sentence.
Speed will come with practice.
But dictation isn’t just writing faster. There are health benefits since dictation frees you from your desk.
It can also help you break through mental blocks around your plot, develop better dialogue, and get words squeezed into the little spaces of life: doing the dishes, sitting in the car pool line, or walking the dog.
While dictation can lead to faster drafts, I’ve seen these other benefits outweigh speed.
Myth #2: “I Tried Dictation, It’s Just Not for Me.”
This is the one I hear most. It was the myth that held me back for years.
Maybe you tried dictation while walking. Or you spoke your story into your phone one morning and felt completely disconnected from the words. Maybe the transcription came back such a mess, you decided it wasn’t worth the hassle.
I hear you. My first shot at dictation, I thought I was on to something. In 2013, I posted on social media how I dictated a few words of fiction, and how it could be epic. And it was.
An epic failure.
I couldn’t get past the mental and technical hurdles of speaking my words instead of typing.
I went through it all: staring at a blank screen with an equally blank imagination. I stumbled over words, dreaded hearing my voice, and had no idea how to clean up my transcriptions.
I didn’t know what I was doing and made a mess of everything.
Dictation just wasn’t for me.
But then I realized something: I needed to train myself to dictate just like I trained myself how to type. You need to dig new neural trenches in your brain to allow the words to flow through your mouth as naturally as your fingertips.
I came back to dictation in 2020. I released the pressure on my brain to dictate fiction. I started practicing by dictating my morning pages and text messages. Then I experimented with apps and methods until I found what worked for me. I stopped expecting it to immediately “feel right.”
Slowly, it started to work. I found my rhythm. I dictated a full (backstory) scene. Then a full chapter. Then a full novel.
Now, dictation is how I write my first drafts. I write faster and enjoy the process of creating fiction even more than when I typed (much more enjoyment through the “muddy middle” of a first draft where I always got stuck when typing).
Myth #3: You Need Fancy Software or Equipment
Back in the day, your only option to dictate fiction was to hire a private secretary or transcriptionist at hundreds or thousands of dollars per novel. Then it became more affordable with the entrance of Dragon Dictation at under $1,000 for unlimited novels.
I’ve never used Dragon to dictate my novels.
Nowadays, you don’t need expensive software to start. You likely already own what you need to dictate fiction at little to no cost:
- A smartphone or computer
- A free transcription service (the one built into your device works just fine)
- A quiet space (optional, but helpful)
Yes, there are other tools and methods out there (I dictate on my phone directly into my Scrivener iOS app. You can get a free mini-course on my methods here.). But when you’re starting out, I found it’s best to keep it simple. In fact, adding too much tech too soon is one of the fastest ways to get overwhelmed.
Start easy. Get comfortable with the feel of speaking words and having them transcribed. Once that’s second nature, you can develop methods and experiment with tools that fit your process and lifestyle.
Myth #4: Dictated Drafts Are Too Messy to Be Worth It
Yes, dictated drafts are messy.
But so are most first drafts.
I’ve developed a cleanup process that’s fast and gets my dictated drafts reading as well as a typed first draft. It’s still a mess to deal with in the editing phase, but I’m starting with the same type of messy first draft.
Dictation helps you let go of perfectionism and get your messy first draft on the page so you can edit it later. When you type, it’s easy to backspace, rewrite, and tweak every sentence endlessly. Dictation makes that harder, which helps you get to “the end.”
Instead of editing as you go, dictation invites you to get the story out of your head and onto the page. The refinement comes later, during revision.
How to Get Started with Dictating (Even If You’ve Failed Before)
After working with hundreds of authors on making the transition from typing to speaking their words, I’ve found three keys that make all the difference:
1. Embrace the Discomfort
Dictating fiction will feel awkward. As the sign over my desk says, “I know I’m in my own little world, but they all know me here.”
To speak “their” worlds out loud feels more vulnerable than typing. At least at first.
But remember, discomfort is a sign of growth. It’s a sign of learning. Lean into that feeling, knowing that’s what will get you to the other side in developing the skill of dictating your fiction.
Give yourself permission to be a beginner.
2. Start With Low-Stakes Scenes
Instead of launching into dictation in the middle of your current work-in-progress (WIP), remove the pressure from your brain by picking a scene you can write with a familiar character’s backstory. Have fun with it. Let your imagination run free while you speak your words.
It may come out looking more like a scene outline than an actual scene. That’s okay. You are training yourself to speak fiction instead of typing it.
Everything is progress.
3. Set a Timer
I have a power habit I call 5 Minutes of Fiction. This helped me get back into writing after a recovery sabbatical I took in recent years.
As I’ve taught this habit, writers have shared with me how it’s helping them practice dictation. The main idea is that you dictate for just 5 minutes every day.
It can be on a “throwaway” story, backstory, flash fiction, or your current WIP. Set a timer or check the clock before you start, and only go for 5 minutes. Don’t judge what you wrote. Just move on with your day (which may be typing the rest of the words for your writing session).
I created the 5-Minute Fictation™ Club for authors to tackle this habit together.
Once you start, you’ll be surprised at how confident you begin to feel each time you do your 5 minutes.
The Next Step: Making Dictation Effortless
I’m a big fan of finding ways to make things easier and more fun. Effortless.
That’s part of what dictation has done for my author life, along with a host of other benefits. It’s why I’ve developed ways to make learning dictation as effortless for you as possible.
If you’ve tried dictation and failed, or if you’ve wanted to try but felt overwhelmed, I’ve created something for you: a free Dictation Quick Start Guide for Fiction Authors designed to help you take your first steps in dictating your fiction.
As one author told me,
Dictation can free you.
Let it free you to live your best creative lifestyle.
In Summary
Dictating fiction isn’t a magic fix, but it is a learnable skill that can transform your writing process by boosting your word count and freeing you from your desk. If you’ve tried dictation and felt awkward or overwhelmed, you’re not alone and you’re not doomed to fail. With the right expectations, a simplified approach, and a bit of patience, you can develop your own voice (literally) and discover a writing method that works with your lifestyle instead of against it.
Key Takeaways
- Dictation isn’t just about speed. It can improve your health, productivity, and even creativity.
- Initial discomfort is normal. Like any writing skill, dictation requires practice to feel natural.
- You don’t need fancy tools. A smartphone and basic transcription software are enough to start.
- Messy drafts are part of the process. Dictation helps you overcome perfectionism and get words on the page.
- Ease into it. Start with low-stakes scenes (like backstory) and short 5-minute sessions to build confidence.
- Training your brain to speak fiction is possible. Dictation is a skill anyone can learn with the right approach.
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About Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
I’ve thought about dictation. But when I, try speaking the words aloud, not as dictation, but just as an exercise, I find the story doesn’t come as easily as when I write it. It tends to be curtailed and bland. I suppose this would improve with practice.
There can be problems with words too. Homonyms in particular. I know a blind writer who uses text to speech, (and vice versa) and quite often wrong words are used. Similarly, in videos where the subtitles are done directly from the speech to the writing.
I suppose these can be corrected during the editing process, but I know I’d find it annoying.
But maybe I should give it a go.
I hear you on all of this! I’ve baked in a “clean up” process to my dictating that goes fast, and yes, dictation overall gets better with practice. Errors are annoying but they become less so, especially with the ease of getting words down on the page to begin with. It takes time to make the adjustment, mentally.
I like to write by hand and then dictate what I have written by using Dragon. I’m a Mac user and so I use Parallels to let me get into Windows and from there I can use Dragon.
That’s great! You may also want to try your built-in dictate function on your Mac. That’s what I use when I need to transcribe handwritten notes.
Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Sarah!
I appreciate you having me on!
Tbh I have actually never thought about dictating! What a novel idea. I can’t say I’ll make the leap but when if/when I get stuck with my next novel I’ll definitely give this a try!
Love that you learned about dictation for the first time through the article here, Pamela! Happy to help when you get ready to make the leap.
Tbh I have actually never thought about dictating! What a novel idea. I can’t say I’ll make the leap but when if/when I get stuck with my next novel I’ll definitely give this a try!
Such an exciting post today! The thought of dictating my novels never, ever even occurred to me. The closest I’ve ever come is ‘scribbling’ notes on my smartphone, those brilliant phrases and ideas that come to me at the oddest times. Now I’m very curious. 5 minutes sounds so doable and intriguing. My concern at this point is loosing that reassurance and satisfaction of being able to immediately see those words in black and white, that infatuation with the written word. Now I can begin to picture myself developing a new attachment to the verbal storytelling by the fire, or under the stars. That has it’s own kind of magic…I’ll have to try it! Five minutes…
Oh, I love this, Colleen! We sometimes think to dictate text messages, but not fiction. And yes, 5-minutes is incredibly doable, it’s helped me so much in staying consistent with my writing through tough times.
On your concern, you can do the “live transcribe” option, meaning that as you speak your words, they appear on the screen. That way you know they are being captured. And it’s such a joy to see our words appear right away, isn’t it?
Feel free to reach out to me as you get started under the stars and by the fire!
I tried dictation (Dragon Naturally Speaking) a few years ago. I’m not uncomfortable with the sound of my own voice because until recently, I was a radio presenter. The software was accurate. What put me off was the ancillary stuff – new paragraph, full stop, comma, spelling names. I lost my train of thought many times.
However, I have been thinking about it again, not least because I’ve developed painful arthritis in my fingers. I’m not sure I can write naturally (despite the software name) while having to speak punctuation.
I need to do something, though.
I feel you on needing to do something. Many authors I work with are training themselves to do dictation as the only way to continue writing because of health reasons.
Good news: with a lot of the software today, they offer auto punctuate so you don’t have to speak it if you don’t want to.
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions as you go forward!
Thanks, I didn’t know that current software will auto punctuate. That would help a lot.
I just found the voice recorder on my computer! This will be fun to play with, and surely a distraction. I appreciate looking at the myths and seeing how to subvert them. While I’ve never considered this as a way to write (until now), I agree that dictation can be learned, and can be a valuable tool. I love what you said about giving yourself permission to be a beginner. That removes a lot of pressure. Thanks for this post!
Joan, yes to all of this! I’m cheering you on as you explore dictation. I’m here if you have questions while you get going!
After staring at a blank page, trying (and failing) to keep working on my outline, I started talking to myself about all the things I *wanted* to put on the page but was too nervous to commit to. Then I started thinking “it’s a lot easier to talk about my outline than it is to write it, maybe I should try dictation.” And the next day, this post pops up in my email. Coincidence or fate?
I’m still in the very early stages of general sketches and brainstorming, but this article convinced me to give dictation a try, especially when my hands are frozen but my mouth is free. Thanks for all the helpful tips!
This is so cool, Chris. Yes, outlining a novel by dictation is so. much. easier. I dictate all of my outlines now. Glad this was helpful, feel free to reach out as you get going!
I’ve dictated dialogue before. Was helpful. When I played it back, I heard what worked and what sounded contrived. Never dictated a scene. Usually handwrite everything first. Dictating other aspects of the story may be beneficial once you get comfortable with the process.
I was forced to dictate. I stumbled over my sleeping German Shepherd Dog. He was uninjured. My right as in writing hand flopped over. I broke both bones just above the wrist. I dictated my first novel into Microsoft 2007. It got the job done. Life improved greatly after I bought Dragon and learned how to use it. I have stayed with through version 15.61. I have balked at paying Microsoft the inflated price after they bought Nuance out.
Now, though, I have devolved into writing my drafts with a really good fountain pen. The activity slowed my mind down to the point that the text is far better than with any other method. I dictate the hand-written version into into an audio file, and use the Dragon transcription feature to go to text.
I do pretty well with dictation. It is part of my arsenal..
I have
I have thought about dictation for a while now, since having an initial diagnosis of suspected Rheumatoid arthritis, still under investigation.
At the moment I can still type and am able to write by hand. Mostly I type when ideas are coming fast (I was a trained typist in a former life) I write by hand when I need to mull things over, it slows me down. However, with this ongoing health problem I have to face the fact that if the current condition progresses to RA at some point I will not be able to physically write by hand or indeed type.
I suppose my question is can you dictate a whole novel and how techinically difficult would that be?
Google and AI are always eavesdropping and scraping ideas. My concern is, those raw draft fiction ideas I’m dictating might be recorded by Google and used against me as evidence of “wrong-speak” or “wrong-think” in the future. The dictation might also be used to train AI models to write fiction. Australia has recently introduced strict laws about saying things that might offend someone too. Author beware.
KM, Just wanted to say thank you for sharing Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer’s post. It really shifted my thinking on dictation. I shared it with my own readers over at my Substack (Writ in Fire and Steel). Appreciate all the value you continue to put out.
https://writinfireandsteel.substack.com
I have dictated my stories for many years. Talking into my iPhone, and before that a small digital recorder. It’s particularly useful for scenes with a lot of action and dialogue. Once I get going, the story just unfurls.
I started doing this long before transcribing software. I sent voice files to a woman who transcribed for me and returned Word docs. She was much better than software at understanding my garbled talk, taking out “uh”s, formatting, getting names right. Thus my editing effort was lightened. She chided me on my heavy breathing when I recorded while walking in the hills.
I always write by hand. I have a notebook similar to Stefan Salvatore’s (leather, unlined). Once I’m done, I dictate my notes using WhatsApp’s voice-to-text and then use OpenOffice just to fix any typos or errors. Works great!