Week 8 – Dictating for Writing Speed and Typing for Quality


Current projects

Another week down!

I’m the kind of person who is constantly looking for ways to be more efficient in what I do. I want to write books faster, with great quality, while always improving my craft. Basically, I want to get better with every book. Getting “better” is a thing that happen naturally. The more we do something, the more proficient we become. As for speed, that’s a different story.

Even a fast typer can only type so fast, so I’ve played with dictating. I now have a love and hate relationship with it.

Typing a first draft ensures I have a pretty clean manuscript to work with when I’m done. Dictating means I have to go through everything I’ve dictated before I can call it a proper first draft. Is it faster, more efficient? I’m still trying to figure that out.

Dictating definitely means I get out more words during a session, but they are messy words. Then again, I got more words done for Once Soulmates this week because I dictated for one writing session. We’ll see how I do the following week with more dictation, and then maybe I’ll be able to answer that question.

Queen of Werewolves – The Lost Princess of Howling Sky Book 3

I’m still lagging on my word count here. I think it’s because I have a million things I need to do for my author platform that I’ve been avoiding, so I’m going to give that a little more time. Lower word counts are to be expected until then.

That said, I got in 14,640 words this week. A big scene I’m terrified of is coming up fast. That might be another reason why my word count is lower than I wanted.

We’ll see how next week goes.

Once I take care of all of that stuff I’ve been avoiding, I’m hoping I’ll be more consistent. By the end of this year, I want consistency in production and releases. It must be obtained in a healthy, sustainable way, though.

If all goes well, 2020 will be the first year where I’m doing this writing thing for the long haul.

What I’ve been doing so far will ensure I die before the age of thirty.

It’s gotta stop.

Once Soulmates – These Immortal Vows Book 3

As I said earlier, one of my writing sessions for Once Soulmates was done by dictating. I got out 1,200ish words in 25 mins of telling this story out loud to myself. Because of that, I got 3,419 words done for the first draft this week. That’s more words than last week!

(Note: I’m only counting the words when I’ve gone through the dictated material so it is presentable as a first draft.)

This book is coming along steadily. Slowly, but steadily.

Conclusion

This week was decent in terms of productivity. I’ll talk more about that stuff I’ve been avoiding when I get it done. Or something. Until I have some insight to share at least.

I hope your week was good! Tell me what you did to take another step toward your goals.

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