How I Am Using Dictation to Write My Next Novel | The First Draft Club Podcast

Ever wondered if you could write your novel while taking a walk? In this episode of First Draft Club, 3x HarperCollins novelist Mary Adkins reveals how she wrote almost half of her latest novel (50,000 words!) using nothing but her iPhone and comfortable shoes. Mary shares her honest experiment with dictation writing—from being "dictation curious" to discovering she could produce 1,100 words per hour while walking around her neighborhood. She breaks down the exact tools she used (spoiler: the best app was free!), how she overcame the awkwardness of speaking punctuation out loud, and whether dictated writing actually sounds different from typed writing. If you're a busy writer juggling work, family, and creative dreams, this episode might just change how you approach your next project. 🎧 What you’ll learn: • Why dictation might solve your "no time to write" problem • The best (free!) apps for dictation writing • How to handle character names and punctuation while dictating • Whether dictated prose differs from typed prose Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction to a Revolutionary Writing Approach 00:36 Discovering Dictation for Writing 03:30 Testing Dictation Apps 06:04 Overcoming Dictation Challenges 10:18 Does Dictated Writing Sound Different? 14:11 Surprising Productivity Results from Dictating Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com. Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator Happy writing! — Mary ======================== RESOURCES: Learn my Four Notebooks Method & get your free template: http://bit.ly/3wGmMTc A Novel in 52 Prompts - A scene-by-scene blueprint for writing your novel: https://www.thebookincubator.com/nove... Ready to write your dream book? Apply for The Book Incubator in just 5 minutes with no obligation to enroll and get my free 60-minute training HOW TO WRITE YOUR DREAM BOOK WITH A FULL-TIME JOB (AND A LIFE): https://bit.ly/3wEwrJQ ======================== Hi, I'm Mary! I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025. My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!). When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV. ======================== Social: Instagram:   / book.incubator   ======================== #writingtips #bookwriting #writer #authortube