Add Dictation to Your Writer Toolbox
Learn new skills for a healthy brain
Hello and welcome to JQ’s Substack page. Help yourself to a bowl of strawberry shortcake. It’s on the counter by the stove. My treat. wink, wink.
I am amazed at how much I learn every day. Those in the medical field have discovered that learning a new skill keeps our brains healthy at every stage of life.
Click here for an article by Piedmont Mental Health about the benefit of learning a new skill.
Many believe putting together a jigsaw puzzle helps to ensure a healthy brain. Research shows that while it is a fun pastime for some, you are not learning a new skill because your brain has already learned how to solve puzzles.
The same is true when you stir up a new-to-you cake recipe because you have mastered the art of baking a delicious cake. Try learning how to bake a loaf of yeast bread. Now that’s a skill I wish I could master!
I tackled a new project last week, but I first needed to learn how to dictate a story using MS Word. According to MS Word support, “Yes, dictation is available in Microsoft Word 2022 as part of the Microsoft 365 subscription. This feature allows users to speak into a microphone and convert their speech to text on the screen. Dictation can be used to create content, such as drafts, outlines, and notes, and can be especially helpful for students and teachers who want to quickly get their ideas down without worrying about spelling and grammar.”
My first lesson when using the feature was to pause the dictation. I had to laugh when I saw comments I had mumbled to myself on the screen like, Hmm, Oh no, and, well others. I even discovered entire conversations with my husband printed in my project!
Click here for a video on how to use the dictation feature—Dictation in Microsoft Word for Beginners
If you have Office 365, the MS dictation software is free. Otherwise, use a search engine to list free software for dictation. Some companies claim they are free, but check to be sure it isn’t just a 7-day trial.
Please return next week when we can delve into the story behind the story that inspired me to learn how to use the dictation feature.
Speaking of learning new skills, I am learning how to use Substack. Some parts are a mystery to me. How can I change the font? How do I center text? How do I embed a video in an article? I just shared a link in this post. Is that illegal??
My mission for joining Substack is to offer useful information and perhaps a giggle or a smile every Thursday for you. Thank you for joining me this week.
Have you dictated stories? Have you learned a new skill lately? Please leave a comment below.
YEs, I aRe a WriTeR.
Please pop over to my Facebook page to keep up-to-date with me. Thank you.