Handy tool for a busy writers

Have you ever been walking down the street, driving a car, or otherwise unable to write or type something when you're on the go? Maybe you just like to think out loud. For one of these or a variety of other reasons, I'm sure you've lost a thought or two to the ether because you didn't have the time or chance to write it down. Or, if you did, your hand (or thumbs) couldn't keep up with your brain. This happens to me frequently and I'm one of those freaks who is thankful I had typing class and types around 75 wpm.

Dragon Dictation is a pretty cool hack for those situations.

You've heard of dictation, though I doubt you've done it. It's the archaic practice of having someone else write or type what you're saying. They do it on Mad Men. Maybe there are some people who still get to do it. Sometimes I dream about it, just because it seems cool.

And even though that little dream may never come true, I have started using Dragon Dictation for those times. 

1. In the car: I get a lot of free brain roaming when I drive, especially long distances. Having the freedom to just talk and having a decent written record automatically created is wonderful.

2. Laying in bed: I'm also a poet, and a lot of great ideas come to me as I'm drifting off. It's kind of fun to see how evening mumbles come out over a dictation app.

3. Pacing my pretend office: I work at home and definitely do not have a secretary. But I can pretend I do with this app and pace my "office" and dictate outlines or e-mails. This is mostly just for fun, though.

4. Rough drafts: It's a fantastic way to do a brain dump of all your ideas for your new book when the idea of trying to write them all down is daunting. Then you get to be the editor who is starting beyond the first page.

Have any of you used dictation apps?

Image courtesy of Dragon Dictation download page.