A whacky crazy way to “write” your memoir
You can speed up your writing (write more words per hour), focus on organizing your thoughts, and never get tendinitis or bursitis in the hand with this whacky, crazy “writing” method:
Instead of “writing” your story, “talk” it. Speak it out loud, as if you were telling a friend your story over lunch with a glass of wine.
Here are 3 methods to do this:
1 — Record your memoir into your computer or smartphone and find someone to transcribe the recording.
Lots of people at fiverr.com do this, or you could use someone from GMRTranscription.com. You’ll get back an electronic transcript, most likely a word document, that you can edit and polish for your final draft. (You’ll want to establish up front when you send your mp3 recording what document format they’ll provide.)
2 — On a PC or a Mac, use voice-to-text software.
You can use Microsoft Word’s dictation option, or you can buy “voice to text” software, like Dragon.
I’m on a mac, and I personally use Word’s dictation option.
Here’s how that works: In your top search bar you click on Edit, and in the drop-down menu, you click on Start Dictation. It may take a second to kick in, and you’ll hear a “ding” when it’s ready.
I find that the dictation “robot” responds best if I speak slowly, articulate each word, and maintain a monotone speech, as if I were indeed a robot speaking.
When you’re finished, do the same Edit/Stop Dictation clicks.
The keyboard shortcut on a mac is to simply double-click the fn key to both start and stop.
In order to use Word’s dictation option, you will need to have some version of Microsoft Office installed on your computer.
Dragon Home Version 13 PC Speech Recognition Software is a popular option. This voice to text software comes with tutorials to make it easy to start.
With any voice to text option, you’ll need to speak the words for punctuation: period, comma, open quotes, close quotes, new paragraph.
When you can “think out loud”, often you’ll find the right words come more easily.
You’ll reap the added benefit of “hearing” your memoir. Your words will sound more natural, told in your own style of speaking, so that your memoir will be “written” in your own voice.
Of course, you can use this method also to write a novel, a how-to book, a magazine article, a blog post, or even an email.
Give this wacky, crazy way to write your memoir a try and see if it’s right for you.
