Voice Dictation for Newsletter Writers

Speak your newsletter. Ship every week.

Notion

Example dictation

so the thing is writing is hard because you never know where to start um I think the best approach is to just get your ideas down first and worry about editing later new paragraph that's what this article is about actually this post is about overcoming the blank page

Read this example aloud, or say something of your own.

Ottex outputs

Writing is hard because you never know where to start. I think the best approach is to just get your ideas down first and worry about editing later. That's what this post is about—overcoming the blank page.
Profile instructions

Download for macOS

How it works

Your voice. Right where you work.

  1. Hold Fn

    Place your cursor in any app, then hold the Fn key.

  2. Speak naturally

    Say what you want to write. Ottex follows your saved writing rules.

  3. Release. It’s written.

    Your text appears right where your cursor is.

Works with your apps

Ottex works system-wide on macOS. Dictate directly into these apps and more.

And any other app that accepts text input. See all supported apps

Why Ottex works for newsletter writers

Concrete benefits with real-world impact

3x Faster Than Typing

Speak 150+ words per minute vs 40 wpm typing. Finish tasks in a third of the time.

A woman speaks naturally while working on her laptop.

Voice Corrections

Say 'scratch that' to delete mistakes, 'actually' to rephrase. Fix errors without stopping your flow or touching the keyboard.

Thursday at six is crossed out and replaced with Friday at ten.

Inline AI Commands

Transform text as you speak: 'Ottex start fix grammar Ottex end'. Edit, improve, translate—all by voice.

Hands transform paper into a new form.

Accurate Transcription

Cloud AI models transcribe your voice with 99% accuracy. Filler words like 'um' and 'like' are automatically cleaned up.

A microphone turns a voice wave into tidy written lines.

Context Awareness

Optionally let AI see your screen for smarter responses. Reply to emails with full context, answer messages knowing the conversation history.

A magnifying glass connects an email conversation to its reply.

Smart Snippets

Define custom text replacements and shortcuts. Say 'work signature' to expand your full email signature, or 'my address' for your contact info.

A bookmark opens into reusable notes.

Global Shortcuts

Start recording with Option+D, use Push-to-Talk, or cancel with Esc. All shortcuts are fully configurable.

Fingers press Option and D to start voice input.

Works in Any App

System-wide on macOS—Ottex works wherever you can type. No app-specific integrations needed.

One microphone connects several different application windows.

Filler Word Removal

Automatically removes filler words like 'um', 'uh', 'like', 'so' from your transcription. Get clean, professional text without verbal hesitations.

Filler-word scraps are brushed away from a clean page.

App-Specific Modes

Ottex detects which app you're in and adapts. Coding mode in Cursor, casual tone in Slack, professional in Gmail—automatic context switching.

One voice adapts to a code editor, chat and email.

Better Context, Better Results

Speaking naturally gives AI agents more context than typing. Describe your intent, explain edge cases, mention file names—your voice carries nuance that typing shortcuts.

Loose notes become a richer organized plan.

Works with AI Chatbots

Dictate prompts to ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity—anywhere you type. Better prompts, better answers.

A spoken prompt becomes a conversation on a laptop.

Precision Typing

Say 'new paragraph', 'open quote', 'em dash', 'ellipsis'. Full formatting control by voice.

Punctuation blocks organize a clearly formatted page.

Custom Dictionary

Add names, technical terms, and jargon. Ottex transcribes them accurately every time.

A personal card file organizes names and specialist vocabulary.

What you can do

Write First Drafts

Defeat writer's block by speaking your first draft. Don't edit as you go—just talk through your ideas and refine them later.

Notion

Example dictation

so the thing is writing is hard because you never know where to start um I think the best approach is to just get your ideas down first and worry about editing later new paragraph that's what this article is about actually this post is about overcoming the blank page

Read this example aloud, or say something of your own.

Ottex outputs

Writing is hard because you never know where to start. I think the best approach is to just get your ideas down first and worry about editing later. That's what this post is about—overcoming the blank page.
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Respond to Emails

Dictate email responses with the right tone. Use context awareness to see the full thread, then speak your reply naturally.

Gmail

Example dictation

hi Jennifer thanks for reaching out um I'd be happy to schedule a call next week here's my calendar link best regards work signature

Read this example aloud, or say something of your own.

Ottex outputs

Hi Jennifer, Thank you for reaching out. I'd be happy to schedule a call next week. Here's my calendar: https://cal.com/sarah/30min Best regards, Sarah Chen Marketing Director, Finteq
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Capture Ideas Quickly

Speak ideas the moment they hit you. Use Ottex anywhere to capture thoughts, then refine them later.

Text Editor

Example dictation

oh okay so what if we flip the onboarding completely um instead of asking users to set up their workspace first we let them record something immediately like within 10 seconds of signing up they're already talking and seeing the magic actually no not 10 seconds make it the very first screen and then we save that as their first note so they have an aha moment before they even configure anything

Read this example aloud, or say something of your own.

Ottex outputs

What if we flip the onboarding completely? Instead of asking users to set up their workspace first, we let them record something immediately. Within the very first screen of signing up, they're already talking and seeing the magic. Then we save that as their first note—so they have an aha moment before they even configure anything.
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Write Content Posts

Dictate tweets, LinkedIn posts, blog articles, or newsletters. Turn your thoughts into content faster than ever.

Text Editor

Example dictation

so just learned something interesting um the best way to get unstuck on a problem is to explain it out loud even if no one's listening new paragraph I was stuck on this thing for hours and the moment I started talking through it everything clicked new paragraph try it next time you're stuck

Read this example aloud, or say something of your own.

Ottex outputs

Just learned something interesting—the best way to get unstuck on a problem is to explain it out loud, even if no one's listening. I was stuck on this thing for hours, and the moment I started talking through it, everything clicked. Try it next time you're stuck.
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Prompt ChatGPT & Claude

Dictate prompts to ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or any AI chatbot. Speaking naturally lets you give more context—better context means better results.

ChatGPT

Example dictation

can you help me understand um why the sky is blue like I know it has something to do with light but I'm kinda confused about why it's not violet since violet has an even shorter wavelength question mark explain it simply

Read this example aloud, or say something of your own.

Ottex outputs

Can you help me understand why the sky is blue? I know it has something to do with light but I'm confused about why it's not violet since violet has an even shorter wavelength. Explain it simply.
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Respond to Comments

Reply to YouTube comments, Twitter threads, or social media mentions by voice. Stay engaged with your audience without the typing fatigue.

YouTube

Example dictation

thanks for watching exclamation mark um great question about the setup so I use a blue yeti actually the blue yeti x and obs for streaming let me know if you have more questions

Read this example aloud, or say something of your own.

Ottex outputs

Thanks for watching! Great question about the setup. I use a Blue Yeti X and OBS for streaming. Let me know if you have more questions!
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Dictate with Formatting

Say 'new paragraph', 'bullet point', 'open quote' and get exactly what you mean. Full formatting control without touching the keyboard.

Notion

Example dictation

h2 weekend plans new paragraph finally have some time off so I want to make the most of it new paragraph bullet point call mom about sunday dinner bullet point finish that book I started last month bullet point maybe go for a hike if weather is nice new paragraph h3 grocery list new paragraph dash milk dash eggs dash bread dash coffee new paragraph note to self colon don't forget the phone charger

Read this example aloud, or say something of your own.

Ottex outputs

## Weekend plans Finally have some time off, so I want to make the most of it. • Call mom about Sunday dinner • Finish that book I started last month • Maybe go for a hike if weather is nice ### Grocery list - Milk - Eggs - Bread - Coffee Note to self: don't forget the phone charger
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Write Research Notes

Dictate research notes, literature summaries, or analysis. Capture your thinking process without losing momentum to typing.

Notion

Example dictation

H1 Navigation study H2 Main finding Participants found the new navigation easy to use but struggled to find export. Quote I expected export to be next to share end quote. H2 Next step Test placing export next to share in the next prototype.

Read this example aloud, or say something of your own.

Ottex outputs

# Navigation study ## Main finding Participants found the new navigation easy to use but struggled to find export. > I expected export to be next to share. ## Next step Test placing export next to share in the next prototype.
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Frequently asked questions

Can I dictate directly into Substack or Beehiiv?

Yes. Ottex works anywhere you can type on macOS. Dictate directly into Substack's editor, Beehiiv's composer, ConvertKit's email builder, or draft in Notion/Google Docs first.

How does voice help with weekly deadlines?

Speaking is 150+ words per minute vs 40 WPM typing. A 1,500-word newsletter draft takes about 20 minutes by voice vs over an hour typing. You think faster than you type—voice closes that gap. Hit publish on time without the usual crunch.

Can I respond to subscriber emails faster?

Significantly faster. Subscriber replies are relationship-building—but typing 50 individual responses takes hours. With Ottex, you speak each reply naturally. 50 thoughtful responses in 15 minutes. Your subscribers feel heard, and you don't burn out on inbox duty.

How do I maintain my conversational voice?

Here's the secret: the best newsletters sound like one person talking to another. When you dictate, you naturally write conversationally—because you are literally speaking. Your newsletter voice becomes more authentic, not less, when you speak it.

Can I capture ideas for future newsletters?

Press Option+D anywhere, anytime. Reading an article that sparks an idea? Capture it in 5 seconds. Walking and thinking about your next edition? Speak the outline before you forget. Ideas slip away if you don't catch them immediately—voice makes capture instant.

Does it help with writer's block?

Speaking bypasses the blank page problem. You've been speaking since age one—it's automatic and effortless. Instead of staring at a cursor, you start talking through your idea like you're explaining it to a friend. The draft appears on screen. Edit later, capture now.

What about formatting my newsletter?

Say 'new paragraph' for section breaks, 'heading two' for subheads, 'bullet point' for lists. Precision typing gives you full formatting control by voice. Your newsletter structure emerges as you speak.

What does it cost?

Free with local models—runs entirely on your Mac. With BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) for cloud models, expect ~$1-3/month for typical newsletter writing. Optional $9/month premium includes Gemini 3 Flash with zero setup. No subscription trap.

Ship your newsletter on time

Download free. Draft your next edition in 20 minutes. Hit publish without the crunch.

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