Authors… step away from the keyboards. It’s time to meet your newest writing companion: the microphone.
Sure, the pen used to be mightier than the sword. But we all know that’s been (predominantly) replaced by the keyboard in recent decades. Now, there’s an even newer tool in town. The rise of next-generation technology as a 2022 publishing industry trend has caused dictation to emerge as the latest method for writing books.
Simply put, book dictation turns talk into text. By using tools like a microphone or computer application, authors can write more quickly and easily than ever before.
Whether you’re writing a book for the first time or are a seasoned indie author, learning how to dictate a book can save you time and energy. As we know, the indie publishing game is filled with enough challenges – so finding any way to make this process easier is a big win for writers.
If we haven’t convinced you of the power of dictation quite yet, just know that choosing this method puts you in good company. Dictation has been one of the best-kept secrets of popular authors for centuries. Some of the biggest names out there – Winston Churchill, John Milton, Agatha Christie, and even Voltaire – did it.
Thankfully, technology has grown more sophisticated since the times of Voltaire. As we’ll cover in our section on the latest in dictation software, it’s easier than ever to choose this process for writing or brainstorming your next book.
Are you now asking yourself how to dictate a book, and what it takes to get started? If so, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons before you do.
It’s been proven that there are numerous benefits to writing a book by dictation. We’re about to break down the main points for you, but ultimately book dictation is worth considering if you are looking for some much-needed simplicity in the book writing process.
Indie publishing isn’t just about writing. You also have to build email lists, create promo stacks, and embrace the very latest social media trends in the industry. If there’s a way to save time as an indie publisher, we’re totally on board with chasing it! While dictation requires some effort and initial learning, it can be well worth the effort.
Is there anything a writer dreads more than the glaring emptiness of a blank Word document? This can be the antithesis of a motivational writing environment. One alternative method? Skip the screen and use dictation instead. While some authors use dictation to write their book once it’s been fully fleshed out, others use it as early as the brainstorming stage to let spontaneous ideas emerge. You can use a digital voice recorder to let those creative ideas begin to roll.
There’s a reason authors seek out at-desk exercises to keep their mind and body equally strong… Typing is physically grueling. If you frequently use a keyboard, you’re probably familiar with the back pain and even carpal tunnel that can come with it. Book dictation is less likely to create these ailments since it involves gentler physical activity.
Something we love about dictation is that it can be done anywhere. If you’re out on a walk, you can use a phone app to record yourself talking. The same is true for sitting at a desk, riding in the car, or even grocery shopping! Dictation helps make the writing process a bit more mobile than other mediums (like the keyboard).
Unfortunately, there’s no writing method that doesn’t come without setbacks. If you’re wondering how to dictate a book, you may be asking yourself how punctuation comes into play in the process. Luckily, dictation software has figured out a way around this. As you speak, you can utilize particular voice commands to denote punctuation. This won’t come naturally at first, though, since this is not how we speak in our day-to-day lives. Some people go back and punctuate after they’re done dictating a section of writing.
As is to be expected from any software, there’s a learning curve. Some people may adjust more easily and naturally than others to the various dictation tools out there. As we mentioned, though, we feel the effort that goes into learning these tools is well worth the ease that dictation can provide. There are also countless Youtube tutorials for helping you learn how to dictate a book.
If George R. R. Martin had dictated Game of Thrones, some software may have struggled with knowing how to immediately spell names like Daenerys and Cersei. Of course, more expensive solutions on the market (like Dragon Professional Individual) have ways to resolve this and can teach in-app AI how to spell these words going forward. This may not be a problem for everyone but is worth noting for some Sci Fi or Fantasy authors.
If you’re interested in getting started with how to dictate a book in 2022, you’re going to first need a fully equipped tool belt. We recommend stocking your tool belt with some of the highest-recommended dictation software programs. While some of these tools come with a hefty price tag, others are completely free – and likely already on your computer.
Keep in mind that there are two methods for how to dictate a book: speaking in real-time, or recording and then transcribing at a later date. This list includes dictation software that does either/or.
With a bevy of productivity solutions, Nuance’s Dragon software makes AI speech recognition accessible for any person. For the self-published author, Dragon Anywhere Mobile helps you with how to dictate a book from your own phone. It comes with a one-week free trial, and can then be purchased for $15/month. Not only can you dictate within the app, but you can edit your documents using your voice. Since this option has a free trial period, you can try it out and see if the app works best for you.
Working with a more… flexible… budget? For $500, you can purchase Dragon Professional Individual for your computer. Dragon Professional Individual is commonly listed as the cream of the crop of dictation software.
Speechpad takes the dictation software model and makes it even easier. How does it work?
Speechpad takes a majority of the dictation work out of your hands. All you have to do is record yourself reading your book. The cost associated with Speechpad means it’s likely worth doing with the final version of your book.
Proving that dictation can be both easy and free, Google Docs includes this option for users working out of a Chrome browser. If you have Chrome set up already, open a Google Doc and go to “Tools” in the top toolbar. From there, find the “Voice typing” option and select it. There’s also the “command+shift+S“ keyboard shortcut to do this. This was so easy, our team typed this entire section using Google Doc’s typing tool.
If you’re looking for a free dictation option that’s not strictly for Google Docs/Chrome users, Speechtexter might be for you. You speak directly into the doc and then watch as your words appear on the screen. Speechtexter even has a helpful guide to punctuation commands on the right-hand side of the page. We personally tested this tool out and found it to be just as helpful as the dictation offering within Google Docs.
Going with a paid option, like Dragon or Speechpad, may be more efficient if your book is written and in its final draft. Google Docs and Speechtexter, though, are more than sufficient if you’re brainstorming or in the early days of writing.
Turn on keyboard dictation from your Mac to dictate anywhere on your computer. You can even set up a custom shortcut to begin dictating with the click of a few buttons. This is built into your Mac and is an easy, free option for trying dictation out yourself.
Similar to Apple Dictation, Windows Speech Recognition is the answer for Windows computers and is available on Windows 10 and 11. Looking at reviews online, this is a free and easily accessible tool attractive to anyone who doesn’t want to break the bank with their dictation.
Once you’ve selected the dictation software that’s best for you, you’ll still need to get a few other ducks in a row. Before you begin dictating your book, make sure that you have:
After you’re finished with dictating, you’ll then need to edit. When you’re learning how to dictate a book, remember that this method isn’t foolproof. There will likely be typos or mistakes on the page. More sophisticated dictation software will learn as you continue to use it, though, and AI will get better and better. This will eventually make your job as an editor easier.
If you’re interested in making your writing process easier and faster in 2022, learning to dictate may be a worthwhile effort. It’s never been easier – or cheaper – to do just that. Getting started with some of the free tools listed in this article can help you get your feet wet with dictation.
Have you dictated a book, or used dictation at any stage of your writing process? If so, let us know in the comments below!
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I have been using Rev, and Temi for years with great success.
Dictanote is almost as good as Dragon. Highly recommend it as it's free. With all voice dictation software, you're gonna have to use a monotone way of speaking for improved accuracy.
Thanks for your insight Matthew. So many great tips in the comments here.
Many indie books today are dictated or read that way. Messy, disjointed, repetitive, no context. When you can't see what you've written, go back to check or search you easily lose you place because you don't know where you'v been and therefore won't know where you're going. Dictating is a mess and to be avoided I believe for fiction writers.
I experienced this problem firsthand when I started using dictation software back in 2015. The solution comes with practice and a willingness to self-edit your work.
It took me several hundred articles (I am a copywriter) to get myself to the point where I can dictate in as natural a manner as when I type, but it was worth it.
My speed has increased three-fold, the error rate is down considerably, and my carpal tunnel hasn't flared up even once.
The trick is to know what you are writing before you write it. Outline, prepare sources and quotes, and stick to it!
I recently discovered on my new google pixel phone a thing called Google Recorder. This is an mp3 recorder with a difference. As you speak, it records. It also transcribes into text, *very* accurately. It then uploads the audio and transcript to your Google account at recorder.google.com from where you can download both. No more Dragon or any of the others needed.
Great tip David!
I’m planning on writing my book but as an a descriptive artist I can’t type fast enough and loose my “flow” of my narrative so I’m looking for a way to record my stories and then be able to read and edit later
This takes me back to the early days of newspaper reporting where we'd make a few quick notes while on a story, find a public phone box, ask the operator for 'Copy' and then read the story over. The copy takers were usually men, they could spell, (certainly better than me) and we had basic instructions. eg Stop, par, single quote, double quote, close quote ....
I have recently found this works perfectly dictating onto my MacBook and more recently onto the iPhone 13. Again, both of these can spell!😂
So your brain is already trained for this. I find it so hard to get into that mode! I've found the built-in Apple dictation is better than Dragon, but I'm just not wired to write out loud like that, on the fly. Any tips?
Either way, thanks for the cool story. You've definitely seen a lot of changes in how we write!
I was forced to use dictation when I developed RSI in my fingers. Along with my writing, I ghost write averaging about 90k words per month. I'd been resistant to dictation because it felt awkward, but at that point I had no choice. Starting from day one, I produced twice as many words in the same amount of time and since then have averaged 3500 to 4000 words per hour.
I use Dragon to digitally record, usually when I'm on a walk, and have the software transcribe the audio. I don't like talking into my computer, but when I do, I use Dragon with Notepad to avoid issues between Dragon and Word, or us MS's built in voice recognition with the new version of Word, which is pretty good.
Dictation is definitely different from typing, but once you figure it out, it's fast, and once you edit what you've dictated, it comes out about the same as if it was initially typed. The trick is knowing what you want to "write", overcoming the awkwardness, and enunciation.
All this is Greek right now, but think you have the right of it.
Hi Jenna, could you clarify a point? If using an Apple iPhone, what is the program I speak into, and will it transcribe into a format a publisher can use- like word or scrivener? I’m new to this. Many thanks! Janet
It would certainly help to exercise my voice! Lockdown has been dreadful for my vocal chords, even though I've got through a lot of typing. Next time... dictate!
I haven't found anything good on my phone. I think and speak in discrete chunks and then the software stops listening.
I am dictating this on my iPhone in my notes app.
There’s been some discussion as to which dictation program is best for a fiction writer. I am a fiction writer and I use my phone and my laptop with an external screen. I’m running windows 10. I didn’t buy any extra apps or programs to do the dictation.
“I am a indie writer and I do all of my books on dictation through dictation.” As you can see I left the error that I made. That way I don’t have to stop in the middle of my dictation and edit my manuscript. I made the air and then I immediately said the correct words. When I read this back I’ll know exactly what I need to do. I will go back and delete the extra word and type in the word ‘error’ to correct that.
“I can simply say the words for the punctuation marks I need ie: ?,!,:,;,,,. and the app will put in the punctuation that I desire.
When I want to do dialogue it’s as simple as saying the words ‘begin quote’ “ and quotation mark appears. It’s like magic. At the end of the dialogue I simply say ‘end quote’ “ and there it is.
If I want to go to the next paragraph I simply say ‘next paragraph’ and pop we’re on the next line. It’s quite fun actually.
So far I haven’t been able to figure out how to do a section break so I do those manually. But I taught myself how to do all of this.
One caveat here… (I just said dot dot dot - and ellipses appeared) and the app puts it in. When I leave voicemails for my loved ones these days, at times I accidentally verbally punctuate them and then I say Love Lyn at the end. Oh well my families always thought I was nuts and now I’m just proving them right. LOL
I don’t know where I’d be without the ability to dictate everything that I write. I’m a writer who has arthritis and a lot of pain from Lupus and various other crap. Lots of back issues. Dictating, as has been said in the article, can help alleviate some of that and be done anywhere—when I’m making supper, when I’m resting in bed, when I’m watching TV, when I’m painting, when I’m grocery shopping, you get the picture I’m sure.
I use Grammarly to help me with editing.
Hope this helps.
Love Lyn
Warmly, Lyn
I'm just starting out. Thank y'all for all of this information.