I’m learning to use voice recognition software, specifically Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 - preferred edition. While it’s frustrating to plug away at it in the beginning, I can see the potential for it to increase my productivity significantly, once I get more comfortable with the commands in various applications.

Now I just need to find a headset with a chord long enough so I can do yoga and write at the same time!

Seriously, though… not to sound too “writerly,” but it’s forcing me to re-think how I write. After 20 years of working as a published writer and editor, my patterns and habits are deeply ingrained. In my early days of writing, I thought a lot about process, but in recent years I’ve grown very comfortable in my own skin, and haven’t thought much lately about the how of the work.

After using Dragon for a few days, here’s what I’ve learned: I like to edit as I go. Sounds simple enough, but speaking a document is very different; you have to slow down mentally, and envision the sentences in your mind. This is much different than typing a phrase, backing up and revising it, jumping around in a document… you get the picture.

Stephen King has his pen and paper (yes, he really has written first drafts by hand!) and talks about his old-school (but still abundantly successful) process in On Writing. I prefer the keyboard, and I think once I master Dragon I’ll prefer not to use the keyboard. (I’ve always felt like my fingers just didn’t go fast enough to keep up with my brain!)

But until I reach mastery, I would love any advice on offer regarding “process.” Any tips on retraining the brain? And if you’re using Dragon, I want to hear from you for sure!