So I got some dictation software for Christmas. So far, I’ve written about 5000 words with it.
When I first opened it up, I thought that at the very least I’ll use it to update the blog. But honestly it turned out to be a lot more accurate than I thought, and so I just dove right into finishing my zombie story.
It isn’t 100% accurate. But then again, neither are my fingers. I can’t tell you how many times I write something and think to myself, “That was a really clean copy.” Then I get to the proofreading stage and find all kinds of crap that I did wrong. But still, by fingers are more accurate than the software.
Short story collection.
So I’ve got a rough draft of my zombie story, my short story collection is hovering around the 25,000 word mark. Going to put the zombie story first in the collection, since it’s the longest story in there, and I’m also going name the collection after it. I have to admit that I’m being a bit shallow in deciding to put zombie story first. I like the story. It is good and I think after a few more drafts, it may even be very good. But I can’t help but notice that zombies are particularly popular right now, and because of that, and since I happen to have written one, I think it’s just a good idea for me. I don’t know if it is the best story of the bunch, but to be honest, I’m fond of all of them.
As soon as I get the cover art, I’m going to send it to the Kindle Singles Program and see what happens. If they don’t accept it I can still put on the Kindle. But if they do, it’d be a whole heap of free advertising for it to show up at the Kindle Store when people first log into their devices. So I’ve got my fingers crossed
Movies and characters.
Rented the new Batman movie this weekend. I had already seen it in theaters but I wanted to see it again. I feel like a little kid, but afterwards on the way to the grocery store, I couldn’t help but try my best Bane voice. I suck at it. I suck at doing voices period. The only voice I can do well is Elmo. But come to think of it, someone should dub Elmo’s voice over Bane’s in the movie. How funny would that be?
I’m going to correct it when I edit this blog, but just for example sake, I tried to say syncing the words up, and the dictation software said seeking the words out. That’s the kind of stuff I have to watch for now. Kind of makes me nervous. Copyediting in general makes me nervous, and the notion that now I have a bigger burden of it…
(I had to take whole sections of this blog out. It is unusually inaccurate today.)
Well, at least I’m upping my words per day. If I write on my morning commute, my lunch break, and my evening commute, I have about 3000 words to edit in all.
Also, just a little while ago I said zombie, it said “tight the needs.” It isn’t this bad normally. Maybe I’ve got the microphone positioned wrong. Or maybe there is more road noise than usual. Some redneck with the truck lift kit and a deer decal on the back of his truck just flew past me with no muffler. Gotta love that.
God, it took 18 minutes to edit the blog for errors. I need to go reread my zombie story again. I’m sure there are a ton of errors I missed.
Which dictation software is it that you’re using?
Dragon by Nuance.
I like it so far, but I need to spend time with it when I can actually see the screen. I’ve been setting it up beside me in the car and dictating while I drive. I have a feeling that it would go better if I could catch the errors while it is making them. Supposedly, according to the literature that came with the software, that will teach the program to learn the ins and outs of your speech pattern better.