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 FictionHow to Get Started With Dictating (Even if You’ve Failed Before)The Next Step: Making Dictation Effortless4 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 computerA 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.

Download it (free) here.

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 TakeawaysDictation 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.Wordplayers, tell me your opinions! Have you ever trying dictating your fiction? Does it sound helpful? Tell us in the comments!

The post How to Start Dictating Fiction (Even If You’ve Tried and Failed Before) appeared first on Helping Writers Become Authors.