Speaking one's writing as opposed to typing

Biscuithd · Dec 11, 2011

Hello, I'm a new member (I'll visit the Newbie section soon) and had a question. Dragon Naturally Speaking is literally burning up the TV in my area with infomercials about their product (their offering provides a microphone and software to perform spoken word to text conversion). Ignoring ALL the technical questions of whether it works or not, I'm wondering about the tools and techniques one needs to learn in order to effectively speak one's writing rather than type.

I've already tried speaking into my Driod while recording (not at all I suppose, unlike using a Dragon and a computer) and on first blush it seems like I need some additional skills I don't have. I can get a sentence or two out, then I need to re-think. Dialog seems stilted. Yet every once in a while, prose that I'm quite happy with appears! Although not nearly as often as when I type. It would seem that my hands and brain are quite trained to work together to produce writing. My mouth and brain (I suppose due to lack of practice) don't seem to be. Although with practice, maybe they would learn?

Anyway, if you've dictated or otherwise spoken your book or your writing, would you add some comments on your experience? (i.e. did you get better over time, did you develop notes (or talking points) to help the process, etc. ) Anything you'd care to share, I'd sure appreciate hearing.

Thank you!!

Biscuithd

escritora · Dec 11, 2011

When I use Dragon, the characters and prose sound the same -- like me. That said, I do use it sometimes because I like the change. Staring at the computer doesn't always inspire. Sitting back with my eyes closed sometimes does.

Biscuithd · Dec 11, 2011

Thanks escritora! So you're saying, close eyes and just talk without filtering. I like it. Right now I'm the kind of writer that wants each sentence to be a finished product.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 11, 2011

The latest version of Dragon works extremely well, and pretty much without any training at all, at least for me.

My problem is that as soon as I turn it on, I can't think of a thing to say. I know writers who use Dragon effectively, who love it, who dictate all their writing using it. I just can't do it. My mind goes blank.

Guess I've been writing too long to learn a new habit.

I have, however, found a good use for it that I should have discovered long ago. I simply can't dictate original fiction into the thing, but I can read my handwritten fiction into it, and it works great.

Ketzel · Dec 11, 2011

One small thing you need to get when you are dictating to Dragon is that your voice can get tired. If your work is really flowing, you many not realize that until you wake up the next day unable to speak. And repetitive stress damage to your vocal cords is just as inconvenient as rsd to your hands. (I speak from unfortunate experience.) If you go that route, take rest breaks and keep drinking water.

dangerousbill · Dec 11, 2011

Jamesaritchie said:
My problem is that as soon as I turn it on, I can't think of a thing to say. I know writers who use Dragon effectively, who love it, who dictate all their writing using it. I just can't do it. My mind goes blank.

Indeed. It's a skill that has to be developed. I was obliged at one point in my career to use a Dictaphone (my secretary made me do it). It took about two weeks of regular use before I was comfortable with it.

Biscuithd · Dec 11, 2011

Thanks for the responses!

I will think about the repetitive voice issue. I teach from time to time and around the third day my voice is a mess. Forgot about that "feature"

I would have never thought about reading hand written stuff into Dragon! That might be the use that pushes me into buying it.

Thank you all!!

Susan Coffin · Dec 11, 2011

I don't use speaking software because my writing skills are much better than my speaking skills. When speaking, I have a tendency to loose my thought in mid sentence and fumble over my words.

CrastersBabies · Dec 11, 2011

I don't use speak-to-write programs, but I do use a digital tape recorder to document ideas and writing that pops up in my head. I have an hour long commute to and from work twice a week, so I use that time to brainstorm.

Sometimes it will be notes. Sometimes it will be entire paragraphs/scenes, conversations, etc.

With vocalizing I tend to get a more raw material that I have to refine--at first. Sometimes, I'll "redo" an entire scene via the recorder, do it multiple times in fact until I get it perfect. Then at the end of the "correct one," I'll say, "this is it. Keep."

Voice-to-writing software intimidates me. I'm not sure how steep the learning curve is on those kinds of programs, how to do grammar, punctuation. I feel like my projects (at present) don't really allow the time to learn that kind of thing. But, I do think about trying it given my wrist/arm issues that I have on occasion.

Architectus · Dec 11, 2011

It makes no difference for me because I know the sentence in my mind before I write it or speak it.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 12, 2011

dangerousbill said:
Indeed. It's a skill that has to be developed. I was obliged at one point in my career to use a Dictaphone (my secretary made me do it). It took about two weeks of regular use before I was comfortable with it.

I may just lack the patience to develop the skill. The advantages seem great, if I could do it. I've never given it anything like two weeks, and maybe that's the secret.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 12, 2011

Architectus said:
It makes no difference for me because I know the sentence in my mind before I write it or speak it.

So do I. And I always try to rewrite the sentence in my mind before I write it. But when it comes to dictating, the sentences simply go away.

CrastersBabies · Dec 12, 2011

James, it can be difficult for me, too. But, the more I do it, the better I get. I don't know much about sciency stuff, but maybe it has something to do with accessing another part of the brain? I dunno. I'm curious myself.

dangerousbill · Dec 12, 2011

Jamesaritchie said:
I may just lack the patience to develop the skill. The advantages seem great, if I could do it. I've never given it anything like two weeks, and maybe that's the secret.

I don't use the Dictaphone any more.

I don't think the advantages of machine dictation are all that great. When I use a keyboard, the words are right there in front of me as I type, and guide my writing of the rest of a sentence or paragraph. I don't have that sense of contact with the work when I'm dictating.

My wife has limited use of her right hand, so I've got a copy of Dragon for her, yet to be installed.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 12, 2011

dangerousbill said:
I don't use the Dictaphone any more.

I don't think the advantages of machine dictation are all that great. When I use a keyboard, the words are right there in front of me as I type, and guide my writing of the rest of a sentence or paragraph. I don't have that sense of contact with the work when I'm dictating.

My wife has limited use of her right hand, so I've got a copy of Dragon for her, yet to be installed.

Trouble with my hands is where I see the advantage. I've had carpal tunnel problems, and I'm developing arthritis.

And I've always wanted to write like Barbara Cartland, who apparently dictated her723 novels while stretched out on a divan, wearing a feathered boa.

Why the divan was wearing a feathered boa, I'll never know.

Really, though, it does seem dictation would save some serious wear and tear on my hands, and I've found so many writers who swear by it that I'd really like to master it.

Old Hack · Dec 12, 2011

I've used Dragon for years and love it: but I usually write longhand, and then dictate into my computer; or I dictate into my high-quality voice recorder while I'm out walking the dogs, which results in somewhat wordy but not completely bad work.

However, I've got a new toy: AceCad's digital pen. My handwriting is pretty clear and easy to read; I write using AceCad's pen, on any paper I like which gets clipped into AceCad's clipboard, and when I'm done I connect the clipboard to my computer using a little USB cable, download it to the software included, and it recognises it all and turns it into a word-processing document. It's really accurate (although when my writing gets more scribbly it's less so), easy to use, and almost unobtrusive during the writing process.

I think it's great.

Biscuithd · Dec 13, 2011

Thanks for all the replies! I may try to see if I can develop the speaking skill for my writing. I do like the idea of speaking my hand written stuff into the computer.

James...the divan didn't want to catch a chill.

FOTSGreg · Jan 30, 2012

I've been using Dragon 10, a digital recorder, and a Pulse Smart Pen for about a year now. I love them all, don't use them half as much as I should,and always get great productivity whenever I do.

It is true, for me, that whenever I use DNS I have to think about the punctuation a little bit harder. That can stop or temporarily stall my writing at times, but overall DNS and Dragon Dictation (for the iPad) work great. I'm still in the process of trying to figure out how to make FlexT9 (the Android app from Nuance that's supposed to do the same thing as DNS or Dragon Dictation) work on my LG Android phone.

WriteMinded · Feb 26, 2012

I'm much too visual and tactile to do any serious writing with such a program. I do use a small recorder that uploads contents to the computer. But that is just a handy gadget for when I'm afraid I'll forget one of my many brilliant ideas before I'm able to get to the keyboard.

Jesica · May 13, 2012

Biscuithd said:
Thanks escritora! So you're saying, close eyes and just talk without filtering. I like it. Right now I'm the kind of writer that wants each sentence to be a finished product.

That can be a hard habit to break. But you'll be far more productive in using DD to get the words flowing and the story fleshed out, then going back and polishing.

Speaking one's writing as opposed to typing

Biscuithd

escritora

.

Biscuithd

Jamesaritchie

Ketzel

Leaving on the 2:19

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

Biscuithd

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

CrastersBabies

Burninator!

Architectus

Jamesaritchie

Jamesaritchie

CrastersBabies

Burninator!

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

Jamesaritchie

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Biscuithd

FOTSGreg

Today is your last day.

WriteMinded

Derailed

Jesica