Beyond Writing Faster: 3 Surprising Benefits of Dictation With Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer

Have you ever had a brilliant story idea pop into your head while doing the dishes (or in the shower), only to lose half of it when you get to your computer? 

Or maybe you've stared at a blank page, fingers hovering over the keyboard, wondering how to tick off that word count you set out for the day.

Well, what if I told you there's a way to capture your sporadic ideas, hit your daily word count goal with less stress, and improve your health—all without typing a single word?

That's the power of dictation for fiction writers, and it might be what your story needs.

And that’s why I invited Sarah Elizabeth Sawyer to the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast to talk about this very topic. 

Sarah is an author and digital course creator who's published 19 books—11 of which she wrote entirely through dictation. She now teaches other writers how to "fictate" (her clever term for dictating fiction) and hosts The Confident Fiction Author podcast to empower authors to live their best creative lifestyles.

Whether you're battling perfectionism, struggling with time constraints, or dealing with physical limitations that make typing difficult, dictation offers a surprisingly effective alternative to traditional writing methods.

Let me walk you through three surprising benefits of dictation that go beyond just writing faster.

Benefits of Dictation #1: Improved Health and Mobility

We've all heard it—sitting is the new smoking. As writers, we spend hours hunched over keyboards, often in less-than-ergonomic positions, right? 

What's fascinating is that many authors only discover dictation when physical necessity forces them to find alternatives to typing.

Sarah explained during our conversation, "I have so many authors that come into my trainings because they have chronic illnesses and arthritis…” 

For these writers, dictation isn't just a ‘writing faster’ hack—it's the difference between continuing their author journey or being forced to abandon it altogether.

And even if you're not experiencing physical challenges, dictation offers significant health advantages that can prevent issues down the road. 

And here’s why:

• Less sitting time: Even if you dictate at your desk, you'll likely finish your writing sessions in half the time.
• Write while moving: Take your story for a walk! Many writers dictate while walking outdoors or pacing around their homes.
• Reduce repetitive strain: Give your wrists and fingers a break from typing to prevent repetitive stress injuries that plague many writers.
• Multitasking opportunity: Exercise and write simultaneously—"You can get an hour of writing and an hour of walking in at the same time," as Sarah puts it.

I've worked with many writers who found dictation not just helpful but necessary as they navigated conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or injury recovery. For them, speaking their stories opened up possibilities that typing had closed off. 

Benefits of Dictation #2: The Natural Flow of Storytelling

Think about it—humans told stories long before we wrote them down. There's something fundamentally natural about speaking your narrative out loud. 

Sarah points out, "We all start that way, right? We all start with being able to tell stories before we can even write them." 

It’s something that comes very naturally to us. And that’s why dictating your novel may just be the missing link to enhance your writing in several ways:

• More natural dialogue: When you speak your characters' lines, you often pick up whether they sound authentic.
• Voice embodiment: You can "get into character" as you speak, adding subtle vocal inflections that inform your writing.
• Reduced self-editing: Many writers self-censor less when speaking than when typing, leading to more authentic first drafts. 

• Improved flow: Speaking your story can help you maintain narrative momentum without getting stuck on word choice. 

This approach connects you to the ancient tradition of storytelling in a way that typing simply can't replicate. Many writers discover their authentic voice more easily when they literally use their voice.

Benefits of Dictation #3: Mindblowing Time Management

For most writers, time is the most precious and limited resource. I know that struggle all too well—trying to squeeze writing sessions between other responsibilities can feel impossible.

And that's the beautiful thing. You can write faster with dictation, which makes it a time management superpower when life is busy and you only have a few hours a week to focus on your novel. 

Here's a perfect example Sarah shared with me from her own experience:

"The first time I successfully dictated fiction was a backstory scene. It just downloaded in my brain all at once, but I had a sink full of dishes and needed to be out the door in 20 minutes... I hooked up my phone, tried dictation while doing dishes, and had over 1,200 words in just those 20 minutes!"

This kind of flexibility opens up so many possibilities. Just look at the ways you can use dictation to multitask:  

• Dictate while walking dogs, folding laundry, or even in the shower (with a waterproof phone case).
• Turn your commute or waiting time into productive writing sessions.
• Quickly dictate that brilliant scene that came to you while cooking dinner.

It's one of those things that can easily be scheduled into your day or not. Instead of choosing between writing and other responsibilities, you can often do both simultaneously. This flexibility might be dictation's most powerful benefit for busy writers. 

How To Get Started With Dictation? It’s Easier Than You Think

One of the most common misconceptions is that you need expensive dictation software or complicated tech setups to use this technique. But here's the good news! It's not true. It's actually way more accessible than you think. Anybody with a smartphone or computer has a built-in speech-to-text option. Sarah explains, "If you pull up a text message or email, there's that little microphone on your keyboard. You can tap that, start speaking, and you are now dictating."

How do you actually start putting dictation into practice? I recommend beginning small. Try dictating a text message or email before jumping into creative writing. Be patient with yourself because there is definitely a learning curve as your brain adjusts to thinking out loud. 

Many writers find practicing in short, consistent sessions helpful rather than occasional long-haul attempts. Remember that your first dictation sessions will feel awkward, which is normal. Don't judge your potential based on those early results. Like any new skill, it gets easier and more natural with practice.

The positive thing about starting with simple dictation exercises is that there's virtually no barrier to entry. You don't need to invest money upfront or learn complicated software. You can literally try it today with the tools you already have. 

I've seen writers go from skeptical to completely sold on dictation within a few weeks of consistent practice. Your brain is more adaptable than you might think. It just needs a little time to create those new neural pathways for speaking your stories instead of typing them.

Can Dictation Work for You?

Yes, it can! Whether you're a planner or a pantser, dictation can be adapted to your writing style. 

Here's how different types of writers can benefit: 

• For planners: Dictate your outlines first, then dictate each scene based on your plan.
• For pantsers: Use dictation to capture your free-flowing thoughts without interruption.
• For edit-as-you-go writers: Dictate shorter sections, clean them up, then continue.
• For perfectionists: Embrace dictation as permission to create a messy first draft that you'll refine later.

And here’s the other cool thing. Dictation isn’t an all-or-nothing approach. You can even use it for specific parts of your writing process while sticking with typing for others. So, use it in a way that feels right for you. 

Dictation And Your Writing Software 

Dictation works with virtually all the writing software you already use. If you're comfortable with Word or Google Docs, you'll be happy to know both have built-in dictation features that are just a click away. 

For Scrivener fans (I know there are many of you!), you can use your device's dictation function while working in Scrivener, making it easy to integrate with your existing workflow.  

Even simple note apps can be perfect for capturing ideas on the go when inspiration strikes in unexpected places. Sarah's current preferred method is dictating directly into the Scrivener iOS app on her phone, which demonstrates just how flexible and adaptable this approach can be. 

The beauty of modern dictation for writers is that it doesn't require you to change your favorite writing tools—it enhances the ones you already love.

Final Thoughts

Dictation is a different way to approach storytelling that connects us to our oral traditions while solving many modern writing challenges.

Whether you're looking to protect your physical health, maximize limited writing time, or tap into a more natural storytelling flow, dictation offers a powerful alternative to typing.

Most importantly, it might just be the tool that helps you finally finish your first draft.