The Word Cloud

I am sure that dyslexic writers exist, but have yet to find one. I can spell every word wrong (even put i instead of a) and have been know to change tenses 10 times in one double spaced A4 side... Tis difficult. I use alot of coping strategies and luckily my mum is a retired englich lecturer but I have joined the group because the hardest thing about writing for me is... well... the writing. not to worry though I know that advice is difficult. If i get really stuck I somethines say what i want and others write it down. Okay am not editing this post but leaving it with any mistakes. Today is a good day so it should be readable. thanks for listening.
kate

I can only imagine the frustration you must face!! But recognizing it is half the victory. As an English teacher, I can make a suggestion (and perhaps your mum has already had this idea): Begin to make a list of your typical mistakes, and hang that list somewhere visible as you write; especially keep track of those mistakes that won't be recognised by a spell-check: Those words that are real words either way they're spelled (fan, dan; I, a; can, ban, etc.). After you've written a paragraph or so, go through that list, and see if any of those problems emerge.
Also, if you have typical patterns of inverting, make note of them, and do a search through your manuscript for those letters.

I hope that helps! Once you can find your way through the maze of writing with your sanity intact , let that dyslexic brain work its magic! You'll be able to think out of the box so much easier than most people, so count it as a blessing!

Thanks. That helped. Its been getting me down lately. But am still writing and trying to ignore mistake until I have finished the first draft.

I was diagnosed as being Dyslexic when I was a kid. I love writing even though some days its quite hard. But I carry on. Though on my laptop I use the Spelling checker as it helps, and I see how bad I am at spelling, but I dont let it get me down. I just go on.

Just be careful about putting too much faith in the spell-checkers - they can be very misleading, and I've found them inadequate almost every time; they either don't recognize a standard word, or miss a misspelled word because it's actually spelled correctly - just the wrong word in context.

Personally Kate, I would feel more motivated to run a check-through at the end of each chapter, rather than an entire draft; if I waited that long, I think I'd be overwhelmed! You have to know yourself and your motivating factors at that point, but it might be a point worth considering.

Hullo, I'm sort of a dyslexic write - I have a non verbal learning disability it's the grey area between dyslexia and aspergers. I also put far too much faith in my spell checker but hope to pick most errors up during editing.

This thread has made me curious; has anyone ever tried one of those voice to text dictation programs?

I haven't used any text-to-voice programs lately, though the last one I tried might as well have been typing with 8 missing fingers... I would say that if someone wanted to go the audio route with a story, it would be better to invest in a good microphone and recording program, and write the story in the script format. I'm a recording artist (in my life on earth, not in the Clouds!), and I can vouch for good programs on the market for home-recording; I've only used them for scratch tracks (recording vocals for other studio singers to either learn a part, harmony, or to act as a guide track for the musicians - it's usually replaced later with higher quality, though some of mine have actually ended up on end-products), but I've also used them for recording audio books for my mother (she travels extensively, and likes to listen to my voice and get a good book read to her while she drives). It's certainly a medium worth considering!

By the way, my husband was in a business meeting last week when someone said this: "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade; if life give you melons, you're probably dyslexic." Cool way of looking at it!

My gosh. Maybe I'm actually dislyxic!

I just came across a website, http://www.studiostudio.nl/project-dyslexie/ where a Dutch university student has developed a special font for those with dyslexia. If you're interested in purchasing the font, check out the website and the You Tube video there.

Hey,

I'm a dylsexic writter and I know exactly what you mean. It's an incredably frustrating issue as I find people tend to treat me like I'm lazy or a bit dim, neither of which is true. People here are very patcient though :)

One of my main issues is my tenses. I change them every other sentence and really have to concentrate to keep them the same. Editing takes me absolutly ages and it is so damned dull sometimes that it makes me want to throw the MS on the floor and let my cat eat it. However when at the end of the day you've finally managed it there is a great sense of achievement.

Also invest in a good beta reader. I'm fortunate enough that my mum is happy to read over my MS for me (poor dear has been reading through all my work since I was about 6 years old). Beta readers are like gold dust. Also theres alot of software out there to help the likes of us, it's very expensive though.

Best of luck doll and if you ever want to rant then feel free to PM me.

I am dyslexia but amateur writer but I have just downloading text to voice program which kindly gave link for (thank you tony). After having quick look and get it readied something which I wrote. I am feeling very ashamed and em brassing about writing. I knew had issues from teenager but only told about dyslexia last year it like having new language and how to writing again. I am 30 something and should already know this stuff?

Know how you feel Kate. I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was 10 when I had a period of schooling out in the states. When I came back to England though it was not recognised until i got to university. It was only then that I found that there are actually lots of people, including famous writers, that have it.

I have issues with the word 'the', 'because' and 'however', I literally put them into sentances for no reason. It's taken me a while to recognise but I tend not to worry too much about it during the first draft and then focus when i do the first edit.

I have used some voice recognition software but as a touch typist I found it frustrating. I do use read and write software though that I got from Uni which reads it back to me and I find that really helpful as I seem to be able to correct my work that way.

We didn't have dyslexia in my day you were just labelled as thick. So I grew up thinking just that. I was ashamed of my appaling handwritting, spelling and punctuation hardly existed I just popped a comma here and there and hoped it was in the right place. I have since made it my buisness to find out all I can about it and have taught my self to overcome it. So when your having a bad day remember dyslexics are some of the most creative people in the world and with spell checkers and modern technology we can conquer all. Orlando Bloom, Susan Hampshire and the Fonz are all dyslexic, the later having published several books.