Is there a quicker way to get a story that is in your mind into your computer?

[Finn]

If you are writing a lengthy text that merits a digital version, there are a few ways to get it from your head into your computer. You may find some of the 'new technology' methods mentioned in the following list of interest.

1. Pen and paper
Do you prefer the physical act of writing with a pen on parchment? Me too Gandalf, but I don't like writer's cramp (ouch). As an author, I still need to transcribe handwritten text into a digital format so that it can be edited and shared easily with others . I use a combination of the following methods.

2. Keyboard and touch-typing
Do you skip the ink and go straight to typing the story from your mind into your word processor? If so, do you know how quickly you type? It's easy enough to set up a speed test to find how many words per minute (w.p.m.) you can type. For instance, if you find that your typing speed is 15 w.p.m., would it be of interest to you to double or triple this speed? It's possible to do this by training yourself to touch-type.

I taught myself to touch-type using a software application which I installed on my computer. This trained my fingers to 'know' where all the keys on the keyboard are. I can now touch-type at around 40 words per minute (Dude!). No longer do I have to look at the keyboard while I type. And I can do that annoying thing where I can look over my shoulder and have a conversation with someone while I'm typing :) Unfortunately, I end up typing up the conversation I've just had and not the story I'm trying to write, though :(

Learning to touch-type cannot be done over-night. I used the typing software at the start of each day for 10 minutes and within about 3 months, I was up to 40 w.p.m. Had to be strict with myself to achieve this, though. "If you don't do your typing practice, I'll break your fingers!" "Argghh, okay I'm doing it!"

Did you know? On most keyboards there are small raised areas on the 'F' and 'J' keys. These are the 'home' keys and help your index fingers 'know' where they are on the keyboard, which in turn helps your other fingers to find the correct keys to be able to touch-type.

3. Voice recognition software
The future was here a while ago for voice recognition software and it's getting better (more accurate). You talk into a headset microphone which is connected to your computer, and yes - your speech appears on the screen! It takes a while to adjust to this technology and there are pitfalls which can put some people off if they don't get instant results.

BUT, if you are patient, follow the instructions and enlist some support when you get really stuck, this method can be yield good results - but only if you know what you want to say! I have found that this 'dictation' method using voice software can be quicker than typing, and I am a self-trained touch-typist. This is only after I put in hours of legwork, though: learning how to use the software interface, training the software, teaching it to distinguish my pronunciation of similar words and type the one I want it to ("I said 'further', not 'father' - damn you!"). It's a learning curve and you'll need to rest your voice periodically to avoid straining it.

I have gotten to the point where I can close my eyes and just dictate a page at a time. I then look back at what the software has typed on-screen and do any corrections / train the software as to what it should have typed so it knows for next time (which will save time in the future). This method helps me avoid looking at the computer monitor all the time which makes my eyes sore 8-)

Note: In my experience, the voice software doesn't work particularly well in echo-ey rooms, or near mechanical noise sources. So if you are working in a church full of joyriders, don't be surprised if you get poor results.

I use Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software, but I've heard that there is voice recognition software on Windows 7 pcs which is pretty good now and comes as standard. Check your computer to see if you can find some voice software on it and give it a try.

Tip: invest in a decent microphone-headset! Using a cheap/standard mic will affect the software's performance to accurately convert your speech into text on-screen. I have used the Plantronics 310 to good effect - you don't need to spend hundreds. Check on the software vendor's website to see if they have a section on headset mics they recommend.

4. Digital Pen
There may be a few different digital pen products currently available that work in different ways - its been a couple of years since I used this technology. If you have a tablet pc, it may have a stylus that you can use to write on-screen and a handwriting conversion program.

The digital pen system I used worked like this: you write on special paper with the digital pen (it's like a normal pen that still spreads ink on the paper but has a camera on it). 'Dock' the pen with your computer. Your writing can then be converted / transcribed to text at the push of a button (well, the push of the correct transcribe button within the DP software application which you have installed on your computer, which I forgot to say must be done first).

Note: the accuracy of the text that has been converted is dependent on how well the software can convert your particular handwriting scrawl. You may get really good accuracy, you may not - GPs and anyone else who writes prescriptions can forget it! Only kidding :)

For information, I got about 93% conversion accuracy.

Other

If you have money to burn (please consider giving it to me before lighting the match) you could procure the services of a secretary to whom you could dictate and type up your story. Or you could buy a digital voice recorder and dictate your whole story on to it, then send it off to a Dictaphone transcription service. Or if you have a friend who knows shorthand, you could ask them if they're not doing anything on Sundays for the next 12 months :)

Tip: unless you can easily afford to purchase any of these technologies with impunity, try before you buy. Or get a demo if you can. It's important to get a feel as to whether new technologies will work for you before releasing the funds.

Do you know of any other methods to speed up the text inputting process?

[Steven]

I remember reading that someone actually wrote a whole book on their phone as they commuted to work.

[Greg]

Steven wrote: "I remember reading that someone actually wrote a whole book on their phone as they commuted to work."

Wow! It's not really surprising though. I see kids texting all the time, and their little fingers are just flashes, moving a mile a minute. I only wish I knew, when I was in school, how much of a necessary skill typing would become. Back when I was in junior high, we still thought electric typewriters were pretty new and I didn't see a computer in school until my last year of high school. I took a few lessons online, but my speed is still terrible.

[[deleted user]]

Personally, I type my stories directly from my mind into the computer via my keyboard. My typing speed is fair to good (30-40 words a minute) but what is the true limit is how fast I can imagine the story. One thing that I appreciate in using a computer and keyboard over the old paper and pen way is that I can correct any mistake or change a line quickly and without fuss. No more scratching out words and lines and ending with a nearly unreadable text on paper.

[Nancy]

When I was in high school they still taught typing. Mr. Carvey was one of my favorite teachers. I still have my typewriter. You just never know if you'll need it, LOL.

You'd think with everyone owning a computer now, they would still teach typing but they don't because they think kids will just learn it naturally by just doing it.

[Don]

I have been using a computer to write on since the early 80's. While I did use a typewriter, ironically it was not first and only because teachers at the time frowned on computer printed work (weird eh?) But that was only for a year or two, then they came around.

I can type fast if I get going (about 80wpm but not sustained). But the biggest help for me is the ability to jump around. I use yWriter (or Scrivener sometimes) and with the ability to easily jump around in a book is a wonderful feature. My mind tends to jump around and I will get ideas on other sections as I am working, and I need to jump ahead (or back) and make note of them. Then I can come back later. If I don't then I will likely lose those ideas. I also can correct mistakes a lot easier or move things around with ease if need be.

Nancy, I use to have my typewriter but I lost it in a flood a couple of years ago. Thankfully not much else valuable was lost but of course that was on the floor in the basement....electronic typewriters don't like water. But it does surprise me that they don't teach typing anymore. I didn't take one for quite a while, learning myself. Then I took a class and found a lot of bad habits I had to break. It took awhile, but afterwards my typing was much better for it. It is a shame it is no longer taught. Sure kids today can type, but can they type well? It is a skill that pays GREAT dividends as time goes on.

I know some authors that dictate their books, but that doesn't work for me. As I said, I am a bit all over the place when writing and a transcript would require more time and work to fix than if I just typed it in the first place. ;)