The Wall Street Journal had a great article last Friday: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. Since the article is subscription only, I’ll feature one writer per day here, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article.
Today’s writer is Richard Powers, whose books include Plowing the Dark and The Echo Maker.
Richard Powers, whose books are often concept-driven, intricately plotted and stuffed with arcane science, wrote his last three novels while lying in bed, speaking to a lap-top computer with voice-recognition software.“It’s recovering storytelling by voice and recovering the use of the hand and all that tactile immediacy,” Mr. Powers says of the process. “I like to use different parts of my brain.”
Voice-recognition software. That’s interesting. Takes talking into a tape recorder to the next level. But he has a point, reclaiming story’s roots as oral tradition.
I have visions of me throwing the voice-recorder into walls as it gets my words wrong. Still, don't knock it till you've tried it.
I loved Powers' book "Gain" but have never been able to get past page 50 of any of his other books. "Gain" is one of the most desolate books I've ever read.
As to the voice recognition, I believe the software would probably be more accurate than the transcription of my horrible penmanship. Still I can't imagine myself doing all that talking.
As I wrote on the thread about Nicholson Baker:
I've been experimenting with voice recognition software. You speak into a mic & it automatically types the words into your document.
I'm a terrible typist and have been tryng to keep it to a minimum. If I ever make it big first thing I'm going to do is hire an assistant to type up all my shit! LOL.
The sofware works OK, still makes lots of mistakes which I have to correct by hand.
I use Dragon Naturally Speaking by Nuance. I think 10 is the latest version. Got it off Amazon for about $40.
To add…
I think if a person is more verbal, has a natural gift for gab, this might be ideal for him/her.
I find I have to write the draft out in long before I dictate since I'm not that great at talking on my feet or off the cuff.