If there is a universal truth among freelance writers, it’s this: the more you write, the more you make. However, most writers face a physical upper limit to the number of words they can pound out on a given day based on typing speed, mental fatigue, and old-fashioned wrist pain. For the sake of your wrists (and your wallet), there is a solution that can double your writing speed and spare you the need to invest in a wrist brace: dictation.

Benefits of dictation

According to the National Center for Voice and Speech, the average speaking speed for a fluent English speaker is around 150 words per minute. That’s four times faster than the average typing speed of roughly 40 words per minute. Even the world record holder for typing speed, Barbara Blackburn, only managed to write 212 words per minute for a short time (and 150 WPM over 50 minutes).

Your keyboard would not last long under an onslaught of typing like that, and neither would your hands. Dictation allows you produce work at faster speeds—while rarely laying a finger on the keyboard.

Effective dictation

All dictation is not created equal. Tapping the microphone icon your smartphone and quipping a message to a friend is not the same as writing a full-fledged article with the power of your voice. Auto-correct can be your best friend or your worst enemy and, when writing an article with a lot of technical jargon, you may need to correct numerous misspellings and misunderstandings.

Fun fact: My dictation software once interpreted something I said as “superman corn.” I have never figured out what I actually said.

There are a few steps you can take to improve the quality of your dictation, and save hours of editing after the fact.

1. Plan out the article.

Take a few minutes and write up a quick outline of the topics you want to cover. Most people take the time they have to think for granted while typing. That time vanishes quickly while dictating.

2. Speak slowly and clearly.

You do not need to speak like a Furby with dying batteries for your software to understand you, but you also shouldn’t jabber like an auctioneer on the stand. The most important aspect of dictation is to enunciate and clearly pronounce each sound.

3. Don’t forget to punctuate.

Your dictation software will not know when a sentence ends, so get comfortable with the idea of saying “period,” “comma,” and “quotation mark” out loud. It can feel awkward at first but, once you get the hang of it, the only danger is letting the habit creep into normal conversation.

4. Edit.

When you finish dictating your article, you will need to edit the finished product. Keep an eye out for syntax errors; the dictation software tends to use the word closest to what it hears. Spellcheck might not catch the mistake.

What you need to get started:

You don’t need fancy equipment to start dictating. In fact, you can begin dictating with just your smartphone, although I recommend investing in a dedicated headset. In my experience, smartphone headphones have too much interference to understand what I say correctly.

Google Docs, iOS, and Windows all have built-in dictation software. While it doesn’t perform as well as something like Dragon Nuance, it has a major advantage: it’s free. Try dictating something like an email and see how you feel about the process, then expand to a full article. Even if you do not dictate all the time, it is a great alternative when you don’t feel like typing.

Dictation isn’t for everyone. It’s not a feasible option when working in a coffee shop, or if you have to work in a corner of the living room while you wrangle children. But, if you have the time (and the quiet) to sit down and learn how to best utilize it, dictation can have a huge impact on your word output and your overall productivity. You can even use it to brainstorm article ideas. Speaking turns off your internal editor and helps you make connections you might otherwise miss. Give it a shot and see if dictating your words works for you.

Do you dictate your writing? Share your experience with us in the comments box below!

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Patrick Hearn is an Atlanta-based freelance writer. When not seeking out the latest and greatest technology or finding ways to get more work done, he can be found searching for the city’s best cup of coffee. Find his work at www.patrick-hearn.com.

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