Paws and Prose: 5 Tips for Writers with a Disability

Today, I'd like to give you some writer tips to help you. These will be accessible tips, so you can use these whether you're disabled or able-bodied. However, let me tell you a bit about my week, first.

As some of you may know, I am participating in NanoWrimo again this month. 50,000 words by the end of it. So far, I have over 20,000 words. Most of which have actually been notes and citations this month, and also thoughts that I have been thinking.

Usually when I participate in Nanowrimo, I only count the words in my novel, but it is different this year. This year, I started a PhD and there is a lot of work to do. Work, that needs to be written in one form or another. So, this year, my Nanowrimo count is not just going to be the extra words I wrote for Seas' Game, but also all my notes and all my thoughts that I have while researching for my PhD. It will also include notes about 18th century author, Charlotte Smith.

So far, I have found study on Charlotte Smith interesting. Public review seems to regard her very highly, but analytical view criticise her for inaccuracy.

Challenges so Far

Disabled Student Allowance still hasn't gone through yet. In my undergraduate, I had a study skills mentor who would help me catch things my dyslexia did that the dyslexia app missed, or help me structure the flow properly, because of my dyslexia again. I also had a mentor to help me with anxiety. I just finished week 9, and there is no sign of those two yet.

Monday, my macbook threw a wobbler. It refused to accept my password as my password and I knew it to be correct. Had to reset it and it signed me out of EVERYTHING—except, for some peculiar reason, Nanowrimo website—and excel was being... excel. Monday was stressful. Do not talk about monday.

And one more thing. Dyslexic stereotype is that we get our d and b and p and q and all the other similar letters mixed up. It doesn't happen to me often, I must admit. However, I noticed the late 18th century and 19th century writers didn't think about this. They spell words with a character that is meant to be an s, but looks like an f. Took me awhile to get used to reading sense when it looked like "fenfe". I am curious though, why were they not consistent? Because sometimes words like authoress looked like authorefs.

It was a mild nuisance but a bigger curiosity. As Olivander said when Harry's wand picked him "curious, very curious".

Tips for the Disabled Writer

The other day, my friend asked me how I wrote so quickly when I only had the use of one hand. I thought about this. Some of it is practice, obviously. I have always had one hand to use but so has this friend, so I knew that was not the answer she needed. I told her the only thing that came to mind. And that is I spread out my fingers as much as I can, It helps having long fingers.

But that probably doesn't help her much either.

So I began to think of other tips, and here they are:

Writer Tip 1: Dictate

Yes. Dictation is awful. It gets half the words wrong. It is thirsty work. And it is a pain because you also have to tell it where to put every. Single. Comma and full-stop. it sounds time consuming when you think about it in that way, but actualy, it is still quicker than typing.

Having a good microphone is also a benefit. I am waiting for a microphone to come from DSA so I can dictate more.

Writer Tip 2: Word Sprints

There is a website called wordsprints.org. It lets you set a clock: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 minutes or 1 hour. In that time, write continuously without thinking what you are putting down (if you are writing creatively. You may need to think for academic work). Personally, I think 45 minutes and 1 hr are too long, my words per minute is higher in the 20-30 sprints than it is for the 45-1 hr ones. Here, you know you have a decent amount of time, and as you know it is not too long, you are more likely to focus on the just writing.

Writer Tip 3: Don't worry about typos

The more you see that dreaded red line on your word processor, the more likely you are going to itch to edit it. I noticed my word file had it turned off for some reason (must have turned it off for something and forgot) but actually, because it didn't come up red, I didn't go back and edit. I wrote more words because I was not distracted by Word telling me I spelt a word wrong, or that my grammar was incorrect.

Now, you don't have to turn your grammar and spelling editor off, but try and not edit during your writing time. If you use the sprints, perhaps say to yourself you'll edit after the 20 minutes are up.

Writer Tip 4: Take breaks

Take breaks. It is important. You did 20 minutes writing? Great! Now have a 5 minute break, then do 20 minutes more. After your 3rd 20 minutes, have a longer break, then if you still need to get things done, return. It'll stop you from having any unneeded stress.

Writer Tip 5: Work on new content.

Over the past Nanowrimos, there is a lesson I have learned over and over and over again. It is this, no matter how much I try, I am going to struggle to hit 1667 words a day if I revise previous drafts. It is just too slow, and you're not supposed to with Nanowrimo anyway. I have done in the past and only included the word count difference (which is annoying if it is -20 words... yes, I take away too).

However, if I am writing a new scene. If I am taking new notes. If I am working on a new outline. The word count is much better. I can get words down much quickly.

Yes, quality over quantity is a thing, but that comes. You have December-October for that. I use Nano-camps in April and July to do that, the month of November is dedicated to mess that you'll tidy up afterwards.

Want more tips?

If you want more tips, then Katia Davis has some tips that may help you if you have a disability. These are more disability-oriented rather than accessible orientated, in the sense that they focus on what able-bodied people usually tell writers to do and give alternatives for people who cannot follow the able-bodied person's advice.

Thanks for reading.

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