Thread: Speak the novel- then transcribe?

I was thinking about recording parts of my novel like dialogue and such then having it transcribed into hard copy?

Thoughts?

I wouldn't do it. Spoken English is very different to solid prose. Even with dialogue, what actually occurs in conversation between humans is very different from dramatic dialogue. The reality is that dramatic dialogue should be purposeful and deliberate and much of what we speak is circular, halting and inconsequential. You might catch a few interesting insights by doing it, but you'll have to do a whole lot of editing between the transcription and the finished product. I'd argue you'd be better off starting from scratch.

It really depends what purpose you're looking to serve though.

I actually used a speech to text program in MS Word to transcribe hard copy into virtual. My original unfinished manuscript was typed out on an Ollivetti typewriter and I am a slow typist.

Anyhow, I eventually gave up after spending way too much time either repeating myself or editing stupid little errors. Sometimes I went over a paragraph and drew a complete blank say, "What the hell is this?"

I finished transcribing it manually and finished the first draft a few months after I abandon the speech program.

All in all, I think the finished piece was better.

Thanks- I figured something would be lost. Good writing is hard.

If it wasn't, we would all be doing it by now. =)