Have you ever tried using a voice recorder to "write" your book instead of typing it out?
Pros of Using a Voice Recorder
- You can "write" your book wherever you are, whether you're exercising, cleaning the house, or running errands.
- Talking is faster than writing, so you can get your ideas down quicker.
- You're not staring at an intimidating blank page.
- You won't get distracted from creating by editing errors or typos.
- Because it's a different form of creativity, it may help with writer's block.
- You can use it just to brainstorm and record your ideas or to actually dictate your novel.
Cons of Using a Voice Recorder
- You may be too distracted by other things you're doing to actually record quality material.
- Choosing the right technology and setting it up can be difficult.
- You may do better writing out your thoughts than speaking them aloud.
- Switching from typing to recording make take some practice.
- Sometimes the software you use to convert your audio file to text misses or omits words.
- You generally have more clean up to do in your document.
Voice Recorder Technology
You can do a variety of things to record yourself.
If you're on the go, you can carry around a handheld recorder or even your phone. You can even use a Bluetooth earpiece so you don't have to hold your device to your mouth. There are many free apps out there that have neat features such as skipping silence and muting background noise. One such app that also works with Bluetooth (not all do!) is Parrot. Most apps allow you to save your recording as a MP3 or WMA file that you can then email to yourself so you have it ready on your computer.
If you're already at your computer, and just don't feel like typing, you can record yourself with a microphone or headset. For both PCs and Macs, you'll need to first enable this feature in your computer settings before you can use it in any program.
On your PC, turn on Speech-to-text recognition by going to your computer Settings -> Options -> Ease of Access -> Speech Recognition (if you don't see this last option, try searching for it in the search bar of your settings). Click Start Speech Recognition and follow the steps to set up your microphone. You can also take a tutorial and train your computer to understand your voice better before using this feature in Microsoft Word. A microphone bar will appear at the top of your screen. You can click on the microphone to start recording, and it'll transcribe your speech into whatever program you have open (including Microsoft Word!)
For a Mac, go to System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Dictation, and turn it on. In Word, you'd then go to Edit -> Start Diction. The words will appear on the screen as you speak, and there is no need to convert a previously saved audio file to text.
Recording on your computer is a good way to start training to use audio so give it a try.
Speech-to-Text Software
Once you have your recording, you may choose to listen to it and transcribe it yourself. Or you can use technology to transcribe it for you! One popular software is Dragon Naturally Speaking, and it's better than a lot of programs out there, but it does cost a significant amount. If you're looking for a more economical way to "speak" your books or want to give it a try before you invest $$$, Google Chrome has FREE software that can transcribe your recording. Just go to your Google Drive, create a new Google Doc, and from the tools menu, choose voice typing. Then play back your audio file. (Your audio file will need to be loud and clear.) You can also speak and watch it type for you.
Have you used a voice recorder to brainstorm or write your book? We'd love to hear what you've done in the comments below.
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I never done that before. Might be interesting, although I can type fast.
I do a podcast on iTunes but would luc to write and narrate an audio blog/book.
Is there any thing u could help me with?
Cheers
Hello, I wrote my first book, who can I contact to have it typed up.
I type manuscripts, Janet...RedPenEditsbyBLU.com
i HAVE MY BOOK ON A VOICE RECORDER, AND WOULD LIKE IT TYPED.
Tyrone, please contact me privately: BLU @ RedPenEditsbyBlu .com (don't include any spaces in the email address).
I did contact you. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Please be sure to check your email later this afternoon. Thank you.
Friends urge me to write my memoirs or such. I’m 83 & sitting long at my MacBook Air is hard on my back, so I use I-phone a lot. I have a few things written in a book chapter & on a website I could just read into it. Composing the rest would be slow with silences, “do-overs”, & corrections. I know perfectionists should just write on through without stopping to do all that, but go back later to revise. I have some Texas sound & use Japanese words some. You look and sound helpful. Any ideas for me?
good
I have my book recorded on a voice recorder, and I would love to have some assistance on getting my book transcribed from my voice recorder.
Hi!
At this time in my career, I need to start publishing work. As a Digital Designer, at times is best for me to verbalize my ideas. That’s besides going through the design process. But writing about a project is very different and I need to publish to get ahead in my academic career. I’m open to suggestions please. I would love a digital device that i can talk my ideas to and later upload to my mac for digital editing.
Than you in advance!
Hi pls let me know the name of the voice recorder used for wrting books
HI CATIA IM LOOKING FOR A SMALL RECORDER TO TRANSCRIBE TO TEXT,, IM ON THE GO AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO RECORD THEN TRANSFER IT TO TEXT TO WRITE A BOOK,, I HAVE SEEN THE DRAGON HARDWARE. I THINK ITS TO COMPLECATED FOR ME,,, IS THERE A RECORDER I CAN RECORD THEN PLUG IT INTO A PRINTER TO TRANSFER TO WRITTEN WORDS? YEARS AGO I WROTE A BOOK, CALLED SATANISUM UNMASKED AND I HAD A GHOST WRITER, DOTTIE GEORING. BUT THAT WAS IN 92. THINGS HAS CHANGED, EXCEPT MY SPELLING,,,LOL DO YOU KNOW HOW TO HELP ME AND MAYBE EVEN HELP GHOST WRITE MY BOOK?
I want to start writing my book. I would like to be able to carry around a voice recorder and dictate into the recorder whenever I get inspiration. I want my dictated book to be in Word document format. So I don't want the hand recorders that save it as MP3. Is there any hand held product that will do speech recognition and save it as Word?
Thanks,
M
I never done that before
Really interested in writing my life story which would require multiple tomes! Can you help me doing that! My life could be a huge interest for people... everything in there...
Hello Catia,
I have an amazing true story to tell which involves everything from wild sex to heavenly visions to demonic infestation and everything in between. I have begun this book more times than I care to confess, but now, after the passing of my young son, I believe I am ready to follow through from start to finish.
Here is my dilemma; I am physically disabled but able to walk and drive as long as I take my medication. I am seeking a hand-held or table or body mounted recorder but have absolutely no clue as to what would work best. I cannot sit for long periods of time so this would need to be accomplished while I am supine.
I must use a recorder as my arthritis is too severe to write for any extended length of time.
I would rather not use a computer as I would prefer to record all of my ideas and then hire an editor to piece it together.
Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.
Just FYI, I am a Stanford grad and hold a second degree from Chapman. I have worn so many hats in my lifetime to support my music habit that I could probably open a haberdashery. I was once a Capitol Records vocal artist and met Nat “ King “ Cole and performed on the same shows as Bob Hope and other legendary celebrities.
Thank you and have a lovely evening,
Suzanne Bierce Conant
I want to write a book and i want to do some recordings..the thoughts jump in my head at any given time.
I want to be able to tape it...i know absolutely nothing about writing a book ...i know its a wonderful book i. My head...need help please yeah is it it would be greatly appreciated all help is welcome thank you so much
Sarah, I am very new to this. Was never a writer, but what I have is somewhat different. I know THE FATHER gave me these writings. I am not a scholar nor did I go very far in school. But these treasures are fron the Creator. I had a heart attack and am not well enough to pay for publishing and I am not tech savvy. I am reaching out to anyone that may have a way to help me get all of these writings out there. They are very much needed. GOD wants them out there. Can you help. Thank you.
CATIA, I am sorry I called you Sarah. I had just got a message from a friend that is trying to help me. I am just putting things out there to get these letters, prophesies and prayers the FATHER has given me in print for all to hear and read. They are already written. Just need help getting them in print. Thank you very much
Need help publishing
I want to write a book. I was told to tape record my words and have someone
type it. What tape recorder for my project is best? And do you type from a taped
script?
I want to know about ecave recording for my book Sarah
Any tips and ideas on recording my story and what to use thank you
Hi Catia,
I started writing a memoirs book the old fashioned way (handwriting) and hired an editor to enter my info. Then I discovered my iPone has a recorder that I could email and print out, but it was way too slow.
Can you recommend a device I can tell my stories and then have the ability to email and print out? I looked in Parrot but it kept defaulting to Pandora.
Help...please.
Sincerely,
Doug