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Ever wondered if you could write your novel while taking a walk? In this episode, Mary shares her honest experiment with dictation writing—how she wrote nearly half of her latest manuscript (around 50,000 words) using nothing but her iPhone and daily neighborhood walks.
Mary breaks down her journey from being "dictation curious" to discovering a writing method that increased her productivity without sacrificing quality. She shares the exact tools she tested, the surprising learning curve, and whether dictated prose actually sounds different from typed writing.
If you're a busy writer struggling to find time for your creative work, this episode might just revolutionize your approach to novel writing.
✅ The best dictation app turned out to be free (iPhone Notes app)
✅ Dictation can produce significantly more words per hour than typing
✅ Speaking punctuation becomes automatic after about a week
✅ Extended silences while walking actually improve the creative process
✅ Dictated prose can be indistinguishable from typed prose in the final draft
✅ Dictation allows writers to maintain other important life routines while still being productive
Next week: How Mary is ethically using AI as a novelist, including post-dictation editing techniques.
Love this episode? Subscribe to First Draft Club and leave us a review! Your support helps other writers discover the show.
By By Mary Adkins | Author & Book Writing Coach4.9
114114 ratings
Ever wondered if you could write your novel while taking a walk? In this episode, Mary shares her honest experiment with dictation writing—how she wrote nearly half of her latest manuscript (around 50,000 words) using nothing but her iPhone and daily neighborhood walks.
Mary breaks down her journey from being "dictation curious" to discovering a writing method that increased her productivity without sacrificing quality. She shares the exact tools she tested, the surprising learning curve, and whether dictated prose actually sounds different from typed writing.
If you're a busy writer struggling to find time for your creative work, this episode might just revolutionize your approach to novel writing.
✅ The best dictation app turned out to be free (iPhone Notes app)
✅ Dictation can produce significantly more words per hour than typing
✅ Speaking punctuation becomes automatic after about a week
✅ Extended silences while walking actually improve the creative process
✅ Dictated prose can be indistinguishable from typed prose in the final draft
✅ Dictation allows writers to maintain other important life routines while still being productive
Next week: How Mary is ethically using AI as a novelist, including post-dictation editing techniques.
Love this episode? Subscribe to First Draft Club and leave us a review! Your support helps other writers discover the show.

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