You can speak 150 words per minute. You can type maybe 60. That's 2.5x more words per hour—if you learn to write with your voice.
Writers who've made the switch describe it as transformative. Not just faster, but different. Ideas flow without the mechanical interruption of typing. You can walk, pace, gesture—think out loud while words appear on screen.
Here's how to set up dictation for serious writing work.
Why Writers Are Switching to Dictation
The keyboard is a bottleneck. When you type, there's a translation step: thought → fingers → keys → screen. That translation takes mental energy and creates friction.
Dictation removes it. Thought → words → screen. The gap between thinking and writing closes.
Writers report several benefits:
Higher output: Most see 2-3x word count increases in first drafts. Not because they write faster, but because they write more continuously.
Different quality: Dictated prose often sounds more natural—because it is. You're speaking to an imaginary reader, not pecking at keys.
Physical freedom: No more hunching over keyboards. Dictate while walking, standing, lying down. Some authors dictate entire books while hiking.
Reduced strain: RSI, carpal tunnel, and back pain affect many writers. Dictation lets you rest your hands while staying productive.
The Traditional Problem with Writer Dictation
Previous solutions had serious friction:
Apple Dictation: 30-second time limit. For writing, this is useless. You just hit flow and—timeout.
Dragon: Expensive, discontinued for Mac, requires training.
Cloud services: Privacy concerns for unreleased work. Subscription fatigue.
Modern tools have solved these problems.
Setting Up Dictation for Writing
Step 1: Choose the Right Tool
For writers, I recommend Private Transcriber AI. Here's why:
The dual-AI architecture matters for writing. Whisper handles transcription for both live dictation and audio/video file transcription (MP3, WAV, MP4, MKV, M4A)—accurate even with fast speech. Highly optimized for M-series Macs with exceptionally fast performance. Then Qwen (a second AI running locally) can refine the output.
This refinement step is crucial. When you dictate a first draft, you might ramble. You might restart sentences. You might speak casually when the book needs something more formal.
Instead of editing manually, you regenerate. Same recording, different output. Tighten prose, adjust tone, clean up verbal tics—without re-dictating. Works for both live dictation and loaded audio files.
If you record yourself reading notes or brainstorming on a voice recorder, you can load those files later for transcription with the same AI refinement capabilities.
Everything runs locally. Your unfinished manuscript never touches the cloud.
Try Private Transcriber AI for Mac free
Step 2: Set Up Your Environment
Microphone: Your Mac's built-in mic works but isn't ideal. A decent USB microphone (Blue Yeti, Audio-Technica) dramatically improves accuracy.
Quiet space: Background noise affects transcription quality. Close windows. Use a room without echo.
Standing or walking setup: Many writers prefer dictating while moving. A standing desk or treadmill desk supports this. Or simply pace.
Step 3: Develop Your Dictation Style
Dictation is a skill. These techniques help:
Signal punctuation: Say "period," "comma," "new paragraph" until it becomes natural. Most apps handle this automatically.
Think in sentences: Speak complete thoughts. "She walked to the window period She watched the rain comma wondering if he would call period"
Don't self-edit: Get words out. Refinement comes later. The goal is quantity, not perfection.
Describe actions: Narrate what you see. "John enters the room. He's nervous—checking his phone every few seconds. The meeting starts in ten minutes."
Step 4: Workflow for Drafting
Here's a workflow that works:
- Outline first: Know what scene or chapter you're covering
- Dictate in sessions: 30-60 minutes is sustainable
- Don't stop for mistakes: Keep going. Fix later.
- Regenerate for polish: Use the second AI to clean up rambling
- Edit normally: First draft → revision process as usual
The output isn't final copy. It's a faster path to a workable draft.
Handling Dialogue
Dialogue is tricky. You're speaking as multiple characters.
Two approaches:
Tag explicitly: "Sarah said quote I don't think that's fair end quote period John replied quote Maybe not but it's true end quote period"
Clean up after: Speak naturally, let the AI transcribe, then add formatting in editing.
Most writers prefer the second approach—preserving flow during dictation, formatting in revision.
What About Fiction vs. Nonfiction?
Fiction: Dictation excels for first drafts, especially discovery writing. You're essentially telling yourself the story. Character voice and dialogue feel natural when spoken.
Nonfiction: Works well for explanatory writing. Imagine explaining your topic to a friend. Speak that explanation. Clean it up afterward.
Both benefit from the dual-AI approach. Dictate conversationally, refine to publishable quality.
Common Concerns
"My dictated prose sounds bad"
First drafts always sound rough. Dictated prose needs editing like any first draft. The difference is you produced that draft 2-3x faster.
"I can't think while talking"
This is a skill that develops. Start with easy content—emails, journal entries. Work up to complex writing. Most writers adapt within 2-3 weeks.
"I need to see words as I write them"
You can. Dictate with the window open. Words appear as you speak. Some writers prefer this; others find it distracting and look away.
"What about specialized terminology?"
Modern Whisper handles most vocabulary well. The second AI (in Private Transcriber AI) can also correct specialized terms. For truly unusual words, spell out on first use or add during editing.
The Economics of Writing Dictation
Numbers for perspective:
Typing: 3,000 words/hour (professional typist, sustained)
Average typing: 1,500 words/hour (realistic for most writers)
Dictation: 4,000-6,000 words/hour (after practice)
For a 80,000-word novel:
- Typing: ~53 hours of drafting
- Dictation: ~15-20 hours of drafting
That's 30+ hours saved—on drafting alone. Multiply across a writing career.
Getting Started Today
- Download Private Transcriber AI (free tier has all features, 15-second limit for testing)
- Test with something low-stakes—an email, a journal entry
- Try a short writing session (500 words)
- Experiment with the regeneration feature to polish output
- Gradually extend session length
The learning curve is real but short. Most writers feel comfortable within a week.
The Writer's Secret
Here's what experienced dictation writers know: it's not about speed. It's about removing friction between your imagination and the page.
When typing disappears, writing feels different. More like talking to someone. More like telling a story.
That psychological shift—not the 2.5x speed—is why writers stay with dictation.
Try it. Worst case: you go back to typing. Best case: you transform how you write.