I tried dictating my novel for a week | writing vlog
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- In this writing vlog I tried to dictate my novel for a week! It was definitely an interesting experience, that's for sure...
The writing vlog will include details about how I went about trying to dictate my novel and prepared for writing sessions, the technical difficulties I faced, and and some huge lessons that I learned along the way.
It was not an easy week, but I'm happy for the lessons I was able to learn from it!
What do you think of this writing vlog? what do you think of how I tried to dictate my novel? I'm open to suggestions as I may make this a regular part of my process, so if you've got any let me know in the comments below and I'll get back to you 🙂
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💻 Plotting software I use 💻
Plottr: plottr.com?ref=323 (affiliate link*)
* Long story short, by purchasing a product from one of my paid links you are helping support this channel and my journey to become an author 🙂 I will never recommend any products I don't actually use and don't think are worth the price. Or as Amazon would like me to say, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Have you ever tried dictation? How did it work for you?
I’ve tried but I can’t seem to articulate myself that way.
@My Complicated Life It's different for sure. I've noticed my writing changes a bit when dictating.
Dictation is amazing. I use Dragon Anywhere on my cell phone. No problems with it going to sleep. I average about 1,500 words every 30 minutes.
@@JustinStoner Next time I get hurt, I'll have to invest in some Dragon software. Thanks for sharing!
How is the editing for you?
@@JustinStoner I love that this worked for you. It was disastrous for me when I used it to dictate writing during my commute -- misunderstanding a ton of words, won't recognize external mics or earphones, and wound up creating almost as much work as it saved me just to correct the manuscript. It kills me that they are an industry leader and this was their mobile product -- it seems like the hurdles would be easy to fix! (Anyway, happy writing!)
With Microsoft Word, if you click on settings when the dictate is up, you can set on auto punctuation, it doesn't do all the punctuation but it does help with the constant comma, full stop problem.
Interesting! I've never heard about this. Have you tried it? Does it do a good job??
@@john_writing_ it does full stops and capital letters nicely, it also does commas pretty well, sometimes it mistakes commas for full stops, but personally I prefer to edit punctuation out rather than put it in later. It also doesn't do new lines unless you say so. It's not perfect, but I find it more natural.
@@erinalexander282 I may have to give it a try then. Thanks for the reccomendation!! And thanks for watching :)
Thanks! I can't wait to try it. X
I found getting grounded in what the scene is before dictating is useful such as from Rachel Aaron's book, 2k to 10k. I found that if I pretend I am talking to a trusted friend the story, it comes out easier. I don't care about mistakes, I can fix those later. Just keep going. I have an Olympus voice recorder for when I am out and about that I can upload to my pc and then have Word put it to file. Works pretty good.
I was about to say...
Using a digital voice recorder solves several problems. For one, there's no need for a computer. I recorded my first draft while walking in the park. The lack of visual text keeps the critic/editor's brain from kicking in, and then I copy the mp3 to my computer for transcription.
I Love it. For the first drafts, I have completely changed to dictating. I still do all my other drafts after, normal writing, and build on my story. I find it is crazy how when dictating the story moves in so many ways I didn't plan and suddenly something in a different chapter is connected. I do an outline also to keep me on track, but I love dictation for the first draft. I haven't ever done it on my laptop. I started dictating to myself on my phone when I was walking to work and an idea came to me for a part in my book that popped into my head and I couldn't text and walk so I dictated it to me and sent what I had in email. I need to try out dictating on my laptop with Word.
I despise drafting, so I might give this a try.
My word count has 4x’d since switching to dictating.
Record the audio so you have a back up.
I'm using dictation at the moment and it helps a lot with my focusing issues. I found that being able to fast draft helps my brain keep track of everything and I can come up with better ideas. I recommend you try out Otter AI, a subscription-based speech-to-text app. It's less distracting because you can just record yourself with your phone or a dictaphone and upload it to the site or on your phone (I don't use the phone up though so I can't vouch for it). So you can go to a different room or even for a walk while you dictate which I find helps keep energy up. Also, has an editing function where it will play back your recording while it tracks along with the text so it's easier to edit the mistakes out even if you've forgotten what you said.
The subscription fees are monthly or annual and have recently changed so I think it's a little more expensive now which sucks, but I'm pretty sure you can use it for free and get a certain amount of minutes per month. Not sure if you can upload recordings with the free version though.
LOL Oldboy is the one movie I watched as a teen, and loved but never wanted to watch again. I still think about it from time to time when I think of a good film.
*Not sure if I double-posted but I might have, sorry
I would love to be able to use it during walks in the future, so I may have to check that out. Thanks for the reccomendation!
Also, I love oldboy its one of my favorite films of all time! Although I've watched it like 4 times already 😂
"Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination." :D
Anyway, tech issues are the bane of starting to use tech. It looks like you are getting a lot of value out of the dictation even with your tech issues. Remember that this is something that is supposed to help you be more healthy, not drive you into insanity. Using a recorder (even an app on your phone type thing) and then using a transcription function might be of help, but I mentioned that last week. I really enjoyed this episode.
As for me, I'm still currently reading The Rhythm of War. I'm also reading "Conquering Writers Block and Summoning Inspiration" by K.M. Weiland.
I'm happy you enjoyed this one!! I'm still not 100% sold on dictation, mostly because of the tech issues, but I did actually try out the app you mentioned. It will be in next week's video :)
Also, I feel you on STILL reading the Rhythm of War, that book is so long. It took me forever to finish even though I was enjoying it the whole way. Have you read Mistborn or other Sanderson series?
I really want to be an author, and while ive heard friends praise the way i can make new characters, make them feel for the characters, and get invested in their stories, ive had a hard time putting words to paper. when i first started writing as a hobby, i was cranking out 1600+ words daily in my off time, and just looking at the statistics, i managed to write over a hundred thousand words. but, as my skill increased, my ability to write slowed down as i started to be more deliberate with words, which could actually lower the enjoyment of my writing, making it feel like a step by step explanation and not a story. ive slowly started writing again, and after a lot of attempts to write, i think i have the story. dictation feels like one of the next steps i need to help get the words of my first draft down. thanks for making this video :)
thank you for sharing your experience ❤
I'm happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching :)
I definitely want to try dictation next month for NaNo! Also I'm so sorry your back is still bothering you! I'm also in the #badback crew. Hope it starts to feel better for you.
If you do try it out, I'll have a few more lessons in the next video about it too :) It's a different feeling for sure, but it's helped me to feel a lot better and recover much more! Thanks for watching :)
I’ve never tried dictation but I am curious so this video was really useful.
I'm happy you found it useful! Hopefully you will avoid some of the same mistakes I made 😂
Technical problems can be so discouraging: my sympathies. But the writing as an actor aspect is close to where it’s at😊
I have use dictation but not consistently. I have so much writing to do so I need to do it more.
Dictation or not, you can do it! Thanks for watching :)
Not sure if it is just a Mac thing, but does your computer have “hot corners?” It’s a setting where if you put your cursor into an assigned screen corner it will keep the computer from going to sleep. Just a thought 🤞🏻.
Thanks for the great video.
Ah that's a good thought, and yes it does! Unfortunately I figured out that its word not the Mac. If the screen goes dark without sleeping, word will stop the dictation. Still, thanks for the suggestion, it may still work!
And I'm happy you enjoyed the video :)
Thanks for sharing! =)
I'm happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching :)
Word also has an app with dictation function.
Do you think it works better?? It would make filming impossible though😂
Did you refer to notes as you spoke aloud, or make up everything on the spot? I'd really like to try dictation for my stories!
I took notes like I describe in my 2k to 10k video. I talk about it in this one too🙂
lol you want to give us more details about the novel, you know you do, deep down haha, :P
Deep down yes, but I don't want to spoil anything😂 Maybe when I write the marketing blurb I can share the whole thing.
What software/tech did you use for dictation?
Just the built in dictation from Microsoft Word. And a lavalier microphone to get more accurate audio.
What editor is that @1:56 ?
It's called Plottr, it's been very useful for me so far. If you'd like to check it out, you can find more info here: plottr.com?ref=323
(Plottr does support the channel from purchases through my links, but I was using the software for a full 1+ years before that 🙂)
@@john_writing_ Thanks! This is the first I've heard of it. I'll use your link to sign up!
@@faithfaraday I you find it as useful as I have :)
Dude has resting "who farted?" Face.
What software is that?
4:30