I get paid to put words online. I could type faster, but I’ve come to find that I sometimes get more done by typing less. Talking, turns out, is the life hack a writer needs.
Speak First, Edit Later
I do all of my computing from my phone. No, I’m not hunched over an iPhone or Google Pixel. I use a foldable Galaxy Z Fold 6, which has a larger internal screen. I often have my phone placed in a dock and connected to an external monitor, where I get stuff done using Samsung DeX instead.
I do a lot of work using a Bluetooth keyboard paired to my phone, but there comes a time when my hands need a break, and it’s at those times that I really appreciate working from my phone. I simply pluck my phone off the dock, pull up my virtual keyboard, and tap the microphone in the bottom corner.
This voice-to-text feature translates whatever words I speak into text, in real time. It’s not 100% accurate, but that’s okay. With first drafts, the important part is getting words down onto the page. I can come back and edit later.
This works better for some types of writing than others. If I’m entering keyboard shortcuts, describing command line prompts, or telling you where to navigate in a file manager, voice dictation isn’t ideal. Yet there is so much writing where speech is the fastest way to get something down.
Talk While Walking, Talk While Lying Down
A Bluetooth keyboard is best used at a desk or on a table. In a pinch, I can use my lap, but that’s not a position I want to work in for long.
Voice typing greatly expands where I can work. If my shoulders grow stiff hunched over a keyboard, I can take my phone out for a walk instead, speaking words down as I pace up and down my driveway or along a walking trail in the woods.
If I’m tired from sleeping poorly the night before, I can work from bed, speaking a first draft while I’m still wrapped up in blankets. While I don’t find it ideal to work in my places of rest, colds do happen, and bills still have to get paid.
With the right app, voice dictation is possible while driving. I wouldn’t recommend using the built-in keyboard for this use case. Instead, an app like Write by Voice from UXAPPS, which offers continuous dictation, is a safer bet.
This is also a worthwhile use of AI transcription in apps like Google or Samsung’s voice recording apps. I personally agree that voice transcription remains one of the best uses of Galaxy AI.
These services don’t always get it right, but they offer the benefit of an audio recording to compare against when you refer back and see something wrong.
Give My Hands a Much-Needed Break
Sometimes, my hands simply get tired from spending too much time at a keyboard. Throughout the day, I type into a notes app, work in a web browser, write Slack messages, and compose emails. At center points, it is nice having the option to set my keyboard aside and speak.
This isn’t just great for expanding how long I can work. It’s healthier for my hands. They get moments to rest. I can stretch them, massage them, or just let them be.
Of course, the opposite is also an issue. Speaking all day can wear out your voice. It’s also not ideal if you have a cold. There’s a reason I’m not trying to say I do all of my work using voice typing. Rather, it’s just good to have in the toolbox.
If your job involves writing, and you don’t feel like you can type another word, stand up and give voice typing a try. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is walk away.
