Must-have Writing Tools: A Voice Recorder
Writers know that inspiration can come at any time: Driving down the freeway at 80 miles an hour, walking through the grocery store, in the bathroom, and just about anywhere else you won’t have a pencil and paper handy. I’ve always advocated getting your ideas down on paper as soon as possible because I can never seem to remember them (or at least, not as well) later on. Sometimes writing down your ideas isn’t possible. What’s a writer to do?
I’ve known about voice recording devices for a long time, but have never really considered using one until now. Whenever I had an idea or other bit of inspiration, I’d always just write it down in my trusty moleskine notebook. Like I mentioned above, driving down the freeway at 80 miles an hour isn’t an ideal time to be writing.
Today I downloaded a voice recording application onto my iPhone. It works like a charm. Simple. Easy to use. And I can record all my thoughts and ideas with a simple push of a button. Of course, there are dedicated voice recording devices out there and many will fit into any writer’s budget. Most can even double as an interview tool if you’re writing articles, blog posts, etc.
Voice recording is great. You don’t have to worry about cumbersome handwriting or typing. You just talk. You can ramble on with your thoughts for as long as you want – even if you are driving down the road. And being able to ‘ramble’ might actually make these recording devices even more useful. By this I mean you can do a stream-of-conscious brainstorming sessions without worrying about your hand falling off.
I realize that voice recording devices/ iPhone apps are nothing new or even unique. But I’m learning they can definitely give a writer the advantage of getting ideas recorded while they are still fresh and exciting.
Do you own a voice recording device? If so, how has it helped your writing? If not, what do you do when you are struck with sudden inspiration? Leave a comment below with your answers.
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Read More: Technology, Writing
I don’t own a voice recording device, and a lot of good writing has slipped through the cracks. I often have something important to write, or a poem that comes to mind when I lay down to sleep. Most of the time I’m too tired to get out of bed, turn the light on and write down my thoughts, so I convince myself that I’ll remember in the morning. I remember bits and pieces, but never enough to be satisfied when it’s on paper, so I just let it go! I should definitely invest in a voice recording device. Thanks.
Hi Alina! Thank you for your comment. Thinking that an idea will stick with you until the morning is a mistake I’ve made more than I care to admit. It happens to a lot of people. You can try keeping a pen/paper by your bed at night to jot down those quick ideas.
Investing in a recording device is definitely worth it. Because the technology has improved a lot over the years, the prices of stand-alone voice recorders are pretty affordable.
-Brad
I work as a Data Manager for a Public Health project in a Mining lease area and have two field teams who are doing Baseline surveys and collect qualitative data through Focus surveys. They use Voice Recorders to capture views from the interviewees.
Currently, I am scribing the data from the national language (Pidgin) into English.
I am trying to find out if there is any general format that is usually used when scribing.
cheers
@Sopa Djon Caleb – Pidgin is an actual language? I thought “pidgin English” was a colloquialism for referring to dialects of English, not an actual language. Interesting, you learn something new every day!
I’m currently writing a philosophy paper and got stuck
So now I’ve started recording my thoughts. I know what I want to convey in my paper, but my ideas lack structure. I hope recording helps me regain my confidence 
Xenia´s last blog ..Mendeley: free research management tool with integrated desktop and web component.