Friday, 5 June 2020

Adventures using dictation - April Taylor on talking to herself.

As some people will know, I have arthritis in my hands. This means I can no longer write 3000 words in one sitting as I used to. It has, as you can imagine, had a significant effect on my writing life and my productivity.

Basically, I decided to switch from Apple to Windows, purely so that I could use Dragon Naturally Speaking. Since I took this decision at the beginning of the year, my writing life has been...let's say up and down!

I had used the integral dictation software in Word, Google docs etc. and some free and very cheap software packages. My experience was less than stellar and not good for my blood pressure. They may be fine for general emails, but writing an entire book. Certainly not. The decision to change took a long time and I was very conflicted by how much it was going to cost. But the time came when it was almost change or stop altogether. That was not viable.

I made the change. Yes, it has been a tad bumpy at times, especially because I write historical crime, which has a whole different vocabulary, even as far as names of characters. And, now, of course, I can dictate on the move and Dragon transcribes my recordings. The landscape in which I now live has inspired the new series I am writing and when you see one photo of it, you will understand why. The freedom to stand in the midst of it and dictate what I see, hear etc. has brought a new dimension to my writing.

You can read about my journey so far here: https://authorapriltaylor.blogspot.com/2020/06/to-dictate-or-not-to-dictate-that-is.html


You can read more about April Taylor here:

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2 comments:

  1. Janet5 June 2020 at 14:46

    We look forward to more of your landscape inspired writing

    ReplyDelete
  2. April Taylor6 June 2020 at 07:38

    Thank you. I now have a glimmering of how Elgar felt while walking/riding the Worcestershire countryside. To be able to climb High Cliffe Nab and take in the incredible views truly did get my creative side going. Looking at the sea and imagining Flemish war cogs hurrying north to Tynemouth Priory to harry Edward II's queen, Isabella as she fled from Bruce's approaching Scots army. Looking over the forest and almost 'seeing' an old monk taking his last look over the landscape he loved before going into the cliff... but that's a story for another time. But I stood there and dictated it before coming back down.

    ReplyDelete

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