Dictating a book
Writing a book by dictation is a different way of working than typing. This page covers what that looks like in practice: paragraphs, names, and the parts dictation still leaves for the rewrite.
Dictating is a different way of working.
Writing a book by voice means thinking differently than at a keyboard. Sentences exist out loud before they are finished, and you cannot delete mid-sentence the way you delete a keystroke. Many authors need time to learn to phrase this way. Dictation does not replace the rewrite that comes after, it only shifts where the first draft comes from. Expect that going in.
Paragraphs and structure.
Diktat sets paragraph breaks automatically at real speech pauses, not at every short pause to think. If you want a new paragraph on purpose, pause a bit longer. Chapter headings, numbering, or formatting do not appear this way, those come later in a text editor. If you do not want automatic paragraphs, you can turn them off in settings.
Names and technical terms.
Unusual character names, nonfiction terms, or any recurring proper noun can be stored as a dictionary rule. A recognized term then gets replaced with your spelling. That is especially useful for names the recognition would otherwise spell differently every time. The rule applies to every future dictation until you change or remove it.
Long sessions.
A chapter rarely comes out of a single dictation. Diktat saves each recording separately in your history, with a timestamp and length. On iPhone and iPad, the free tier keeps that history visible for 7 days. After that, a purchase makes sense for anyone who keeps writing regularly. If a session gets interrupted, the text so far is still in the history.
What dictating cannot do.
Diktat does not correct grammar, does not rephrase a sentence, and does not trim repetition. What you say ends up on the page the way the recognition understood it, including your own slips. The rewrite stays its own piece of work, in a text editor of your choice. Diktat gives you the first pass, not the finished one.
Common questions.
Can I dictate a whole chapter in one go?
Yes, a recording runs for as long as you speak. For very long sessions it still helps to dictate in sections and save along the way. A long recording is simply harder to keep track of.
Does Diktat remember recurring names on its own?
No, not automatically. You set up a rule in the dictionary once yourself, and Diktat applies it to every dictation after that.
Does Diktat type directly into my writing software?
On Mac, yes, the text lands in whatever field is focused, plus your clipboard. On iPhone and iPad, the text sits in your clipboard after dictating, ready to paste wherever you choose.