Dictation: A Journey to Creative Freedom in Writing

I’ve always enjoyed talking to myself. Not in the chatty, social sense, but in the way I process ideas. When I’m brainstorming, when an idea is swirling in my head, or when I simply want to be creative and spontaneous, I talk to myself by recording and transcribing my thoughts. It’s not crazy; it’s cathartic.

Recently, I’ve discovered something transformative: dictation. I never realized how powerful it could be in my writing journey until I started using it properly.

Staring at a blank screen is painful. It’s depressing. It’s discouraging.

You know what you want to accomplish, but suddenly, you’re paralyzed by ‘stage fright’. The blinking cursor mocks you. I’ve come to understand why authors experience writer’s block. Is it a lack of ideas? Or is it the unspoken pressure to hit a word count or simply start? For me, it’s the latter.

I’ve always walked and talked to myself, using apps like Voice Memos or Notes. Recently, I’ve fallen in love with Voicepal. This app not only lets you dictate and transcribes your audio, but also asks clarifying questions and sparks inspiration to make you think deeper (more to come on this in the future, but you can find a discounted affiliate link to the app here). I thought I was just getting ideas out of my head, but over the past few weeks, I’ve realized it’s more than that.

Dictation isn’t just a brainstorming tool; it’s a way to create a first draft without the pressure of staring into the abyss of a blank screen.

So how, exactly, did I come to this conclusion?

The Podcast That Changed Me

I’m a podcast junkie. Whether it’s during my commute or while running errands, I’m always listening to something that relates to a recent interest or hobby.

Lately, I’ve been diving into writer podcasts, and that’s how I stumbled upon The Creative Penn by Joanna Penn. One episode featured Kevin J. Anderson, a prolific author known for his work in the Star Wars and Dune universes. For reference, Anderson’s website can be found here.

I didn’t know what I was expecting from the episode, or why I even selected it to my queue. The more I listened, I realized a flower was blooming before my eyes.

Come to find out, Anderson is a passionate dictator. He combines his love for hiking and the outdoors with his writing process – dictating his first drafts, chapter by chapter, after he meticulously plots out his chapter outline and summaries. He forms his prose while walking, infusing his narratives with the inspiration of nature.

It was a lightbulb moment for me.

Why couldn’t I do this? Was I already ‘kind of’ doing this?

I’ve always walked to clear my head, jotting down questions or ideas for my book, blog posts, or work projects in my Notes app. But I never thought of dictating a full draft.

Now, as I walk the Silver Comet Trail, surrounded by chirping birds and the smell of the river, I’m dictating this blog post.

The decision: It’s a game-changer.

The Doubts

However, one of the biggest misconceptions I had was that dictation isn’t writing.

Is dictating really writing? Does it negate my identity as an author? I realized this was impostor syndrome creeping in. My ego was telling me I had to do things the traditional way.

What I didn’t consider is that storytelling has always evolved over the course of human history. From oral traditions to written language, from stone walls to typewriters to laptops, the medium changes.

The essence of narrative communication remains the same. After reading Anderson’s book and listening to hours of podcasts, I understood that storytelling has evolved over centuries - from cave paintings to quills, typewriters, and now dictation. Who’s to say dictating isn’t writing?

Dictation is just another tool in the writer’s toolbox.

One of Anderson’s points resonated deeply: Why do we need to be stuck behind a desk to write? Why can’t we take our office outdoors? Why can’t we maximize our time - on commutes, during lunch breaks, or even while running errands?

As a busy dad with two young boys, a beautiful wife, and a full-time job that all require my attention, time is my most limited resource. Dictation allows me to maximize that time that I do have. It’s efficient, effective, and fulfilling.

After hearing Anderson’s podcast, I went down a rabbit hole. I listened to 15-20 hours of podcasts featuring him, bought his book On Being a Dictator, and read it in one sitting. I was inspired. I had just finished the grueling first draft of my book the traditional way, and now I realized there’s a better way.

When The Muse Speaks

The universe kept nudging me.

Yesterday, I received a weekly newsletter from Ness Labs founder Anne-Laure Le Cunff discussing the science of thinking aloud. It’s not just a way to get ideas out of your head; it reinforces learning, retention, and creativity. She highlights that, by speaking your thoughts, the action does 3 things: reduces cognitive load, improves clarity of thought, and strengthens memory.

You can read more and subscribe to her weekly newsletter here. https://nesslabs.com/thinking-out-loud

Hearing your thoughts out loud sparks innovation.

What excites me most is the freedom. I can write anywhere - on a trail, in my car, or even at the playground with my kids. I can draw inspiration from my surroundings and maximize my time. Technology has made it easier than ever. Tools that incorporate AI transcription have advanced drastically over the past few years, allowing me to focus on the creative process.

Dictation also helps mitigate distractions.

When I’m dictating, I’m not checking social media or falling down research rabbit holes. I’m fully present with my thoughts, keeping the car moving forward versus shifting between drive, reverse, and park. And while I’m still learning to eliminate filler words and speak more clearly, I know it’s a skill that will improve with practice.

I feel that dictation will also make my writing more conversational and personable. I’m not worrying about vocabulary or pulling out a thesaurus. Nor am I going back to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation or any other editing woes. I’m articulating my thoughts clearly and authentically. It’s also made me more productive.

I can produce more content, more words, and ultimately, more output.

Just Keep Swimming

I’m new to dictation, so self-doubt still creeps in as I am still in the infancy stages of adoption. I feel less pressure when brainstorming but dictating a first draft feels daunting. I know it’s a first draft - it doesn’t have to be perfect - but the perfectionist in me struggles.

Still, I’m improving. My thought process is speeding up and I’m getting better at capturing my ideas in real time.

Dictation continues to transform my workflow. I can write anytime, anywhere. I’m no longer tied to a desk or a keyboard. I can maximize my time, be more productive, and create more content.

It’s given me the freedom to express my ideas in a way that feels natural and authentic.

As I continue this journey, I’m excited to see how my writing evolves. Dictation isn’t just a tool; it’s a mindset. It’s about embracing creativity, breaking free from traditional constraints, and finding new ways to tell my story. As this evolves for me, I will look to share my experience - including tools, resources, things that work, and things that don’t.

If the content I produce by use of dictation and transcription helps even one person, it’s worth it.