This week was very eventful. How have you been getting on? While I haven’t made my goal this week in word count, I have made many strides in other areas. In the last 10 hours, I have been getting to know my new software: Dragon Dictate. So far so good, but it needs a lot of training. We’re feeling each other out though.
I’ve been really encouraged by all the wonderful posts, twitter encouragement, and supportive comments on this blog and around the web. The round of words challenge is in full swing and I hope everyone is doing well. I can’t believe how much time is passed already. I have some personal deadlines to meet over the next week and a half so will be keeping a low profile. This new software is going to take up most of my time.
The most startling event of all is that my oldest son has suddenly shown an interest in journaling. He sat over my shoulder and watched me a go through intensive word training with Dictate. Something about it really triggered his interest, and all night he has been writing furiously in a journal I bought him for Christmas. For a kiddo who has, until now, shown no inclination toward language arts in any form, this is a quiet miracle. I won’t draw attention to it, because I don’t want him to be self-conscious about it.
It’s been a pretty cool week.
Summary of the week:
- completed edits on the first chapter of a future submission and progressed into chapter 2
- helped my critique partners with two of their works in progress and got a little love out of that myself.
- received my new software programs: Scrivener, Snow Leopard for Mac, and Dragon Dictate
- took time off from work to get my writing stuff on track, and take a (much needed!) break from work.
- completed 3800 words before I got my dictate software (Not bad if I do say so myself).
I have two other friends who are submitting to the same publishing house I am, and another who submitted for a wonderful anthology. I’ve also been asked to participate in a charity anthology on behalf of a very very dear friend. I hope the week has gone well fellow writers, and look forward to seeing your updates. I’m still learning the ins and outs of this dictation software, so please forgive any strange word mistakes in this text. I hope I caught it all!
Keep writing!
Dawn Montgomery
Check out the other Round of Words in 80 days participants!
The Write Way, My Way 
Congratulations, it sounds like a really productive week. I didn’t make my writing target either but am really pleased with what I have achieved this week. 🙂
Every week is a new start, so I’m really glad you’re pleased with your week’s results!
Yay, Dawn. And some scenes with Dragon Dictate are sure to be fun 😀
Absolutely hilarious! I’m having way too much fun. LOL
Glad you had a great week!
thank you so much,Cathryn! I have to head over and see how your week went.
I just got Dragon at work but have seriously been considering it for home. Love reading how it’s working so well for you thus far. Is is all about taking the time to train your Dragon to understand your commands from what my co-workers (the ones who’ve been most successful with it) have told me. Great job with your goals too!
Unfortunately, my hand was forced in getting voice-recognition software. So I’m living the trial by fire. LOL the training part is most interesting, I think. It’s day two and I am far more at ease.
Thank you for the encouragement. Please let me know if you come across any cool tricks for Dragon.
Any progress is good progress and who can put aside new software? I can’t do the word recognition software for writing though. I just feel to silly when I try and I edit as I go. A lot. Hope it works well for you!
Stila, I feel completely ridiculous when I use it, but I can’t really help it. If I want to continue writing I’m going to have to use the software, otherwise I will be lucky to type out a novel a year. Hope you have an awesome week!
LOL Yeah, I’ve tried it and I felt to ridiculous to concentrate. You are a better person than I to put that aside. I’m too easily distracted. I think It comes from being blond. ^_^
Hi Dawn! We can talk by private email about Dragon. I’ve owned it for years and even have a “DragonSpeak” reminder on the wall of my home office.
Lena
Lena, I will definitely hit you up on that. What reminder do you have?
There are certain words my Dragon refuses to use, and for some reason it won’t store them in the memory no matter how many times I Teach it and Spell it. So, I came up with alternative words like “cockles” to use. (Grin) By using these unusual words or phrases, I can use the Edit/Replace feature later.
You got a lot done! Imagine how fast you’ll go once you get better with the new software.
Andrew, here’s hoping.