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Tip Tuesday #81

Tip Tuesday is a recurring feature where blog readers send in tips for fellow writers. If you'd like to send in a tip e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com. Today's tip comes from the fabulous Lisa Nowak, a Tuesday regular. Please visit her blog, The Tao of Webfoot.

Word Talk

Here's a link to some free software that will allow your computer to read Word documents out loud to you. Very cool, very useful in editing. It works with PCs, and while there is a Mac version available, a friend has told me that the free version is limited.

http://www.wordtalk.co.uk/Home/

After it downloads, click to install (rather than saving it). Let the setup wizard do its thing.

Once it's installed you might have to take extra steps to get it to show up on your toolbar in Word. Here is what their FAQ says to do:

I've installed WordTalk but can't see the toolbar in Word 2003

* (In Word) Go to Tools>templates and Add-ins;
* Click on the add button;
* browse to the WordTalk.dot file in c:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\microsoft\word\startup.

You might also have to turn on the toolbar. Go to "View" then "toolbars" and select "WordTalk". You can find a key to what the each tool means here:

http://www.wordtalk.co.uk/Toolbar-Quick-Guide/

You can also adjust the voice from male to female. From the Start menu go to "settings" then "control panel.” Double click the "speech" icon. In the box that opens, choose the "text to speech" tab. There will be a choice of at least two voices, one male and one female. Chose the one you like and adjust the speed.

That's it. Now you can play around with your new toy.

- Lisa
Thank you, Lisa! I love tools like this.

It doesn't appear to work on Windows 7 (64 bit) or Word 2010 though, so if some of you can't use it, consider something like NaturalReader as an alternative.
on Tuesday, March 22, 2011

14 comments:

  1. MunkMarch 22, 2011 at 12:54 AM

    Fun application, thanks for the pointer. Time will tell if I use it while writing.

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  2. S.A. LarsenッMarch 22, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    Great link. I've heard about these tools before. Sounds great! Thanks.

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  3. Natalie AguirreMarch 22, 2011 at 6:34 AM

    Thanks for the tip. I never heard of this.

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  4. ThermoclineMarch 22, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Cool idea. Thanks Lisa!

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  5. UnknownMarch 22, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. UnknownMarch 22, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    Actually, if you have Word 2010, there's one built in:

    http://www.ditii.com/2009/11/28/office-2010-enabling-speak-feature-in-word-2010-excel-2010-powerpoint-2010-onenote-2010-outlook-2010/

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  7. Casey McCormickMarch 22, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    Oh, COOL. Thanks Kyle!!!!

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  8. Martina BooneMarch 22, 2011 at 11:13 AM

    Great tip! I'm going to have to download this. Sounds like a great tool for editing and proofreading.

    Martina

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  9. JeighMarch 22, 2011 at 11:49 AM

    Thanks for the tip! I use Natural Reader, and it's really helpful in finding typos. Also, it always cracks me up when it reads heated or passionate dialogue in a monotone.

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  10. The Pen and Ink BlogspotMarch 22, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Thanks for the tip. Nothing beats hearing your work aloud for catching odd and inconsistent beats

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  11. Matthew MacNishMarch 22, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    Wow. I knew such software existed, but I had no idea there were free versions. Thanks Casey, Lisa and Natalie!

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  12. AnonymousMarch 22, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    Thanks for tip. For you Mac Users there is a built in "Text to Speech" component. Congratulations Natalie on joining one of the best blogs on the net.

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  13. Carolina M. Valdez SchneiderMarch 22, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    That is so cool! What a great tip. I'll have to check it out. Wonder if it sounds like my sat nav. I hope not. I had to shut her voice off. :P

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  14. Lisa NowakMarch 24, 2011 at 12:26 AM

    Thanks for posting my tip, Casey. I also use this tool to proofread blog posts. Sometimes I get so sick of going over them I start skimming, and then I miss things.

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