Want To Master Speech-to-Text Writing? Use These 3 Voice Input Hacks for Instant First Drafts

I discovered voice input four years ago, and since then, I've been writing with speech-to-text every day, multiple times a day.

During that time, I've logged hundreds of hours of voice recordings on at least a dozen platforms, and spent countless more hours researching. In fact, I've spent probably over 1000 hours tinkering with voice input. Some days I even recorded so much that I lost my voice.

But here's the secret:

I actually use the same 3 techniques every single time.

Technique #1: Speech-to-text writing is not public speaking (and it's OK to pause for thinking or research).

Here's the truth:

When people first hit record, they often switch to "public speaker mode." I've seen it countless times. But remember: speech-to-text writing is not a live TV interview.

Instead, try this:

• Pause to think, even for minutes at a time. Silence is your ally.
• Keep your tabs open. Refer to primary sources, notes, or facts while speaking. Take your time to read and absorb information.
• Change your mind mid-sentence. Simply say, "Nevermind, take out the last point and change it to XYZ." Let AI clean up your self-contained instructions later. Just keep the ideas flowing.

Technique #2: Embed prompts directly in your transcript (and let AI do the work later).

Transform your transcript into a smart document:

• Use placeholders. Example: "AI, insert a placeholder to remind me to include a statistic about {X}."
• Need a better analogy? Just ask: "Suggest three alternatives that relate to water and put them at the end of your output. I'll choose the best one."
• Specify formatting, tone, and purpose on the fly. For instance: "Make the last part I said into a bulleted list."

When you paste your transcript into an AI assistant like Claude or ChatGPT, you've already provided a roadmap for editing, formatting, and refining. Your transcript becomes a living, breathing guide to your final piece.

Technique #3: No need to prepare - use a handwritten outline (or jot notes while you record).

For most people, speech input for serious writing is a struggle because you can't see what you're writing.

Screen time is a drag on creativity — personally, I have no desire to stare at a screen while dictating. I prefer to handwrite (especially outdoors), but in the past, I struggled to organize and digitize my writing, That is, until I figured out how to combine handwriting with voice input.

Boost your organization and creativity by combining a pen with a microphone:

• Jot down a rough outline first to organize your ideas first. Then when you speak, simply fill in the details in an organized way, section by section.
• Or, handwrite your ideas completely and use speech-to-text after. Voice input makes it super simple to simultaneously edit and digitize your handwriting.
• In fact, for this very piece, I combined handwritten notes with speech input to create the whole thing in minutes.

Easy, right?

Ready to cut writing time in half, reduce stress, and liberate yourself from that office chair?

Master these 3 techniques for voice input, and you'll unlock a new level of efficiency and effortlessness, whether you're writing emails, to do lists, or a personal memoire.

You'll save time, complete projects in minutes instead of hours, and create content effortlessly. Proof? I used these exact techniques to draft this post in a voice recording lasting less than nine minutes.

I'm creating a FREE crash course on speech-to-text writing. Subscribe here to join the waitlist: www.mic2pen.com