I've gotten a lot of requests to share what I sound like in my mask. So I did a short dictation - talk about writing "naked" - and it wasn't pretty. But it was real.
It's a Monday morning and I have a frog in my throat. It's jury charge material, which I don't write and haven't written in over a decade. So, warts and all, here it is.
For anyone who says learning voice is easy - I can attest, it is not. The simple things that I could differentiate by my own ear, the SRE could not and so I got mistranslates.
Breathing, enunciating cleanly, and speaking in short bursts is a skill that voice writers need to be paying attention to every moment they're on the record.
You all know I love giving back... and I've been speaking at the local law school for many years now, sharing with the students who will be future litigators how they can work WITH court reporters to create a truly excellent record.
I love doing this - and if you have the chance, please consider doing it in your area. The "baby" lawyers appreciated it and the next generation of court reporters will too!
We all love rituals - girls nights, massages, regular workouts... but what about our working rituals?
Do you have any that ease you into your productivity? Perhaps alleviate any anxiety?
Our job as a stenographer (or captioners) is filled with stressors and if we can develop rituals for ourselves to help limit those stresses, think how healthy, happy, and productive we can become?!
I love this profession... and I love sharing it. Wherever you are, in whatever period in your career you find yourself, be an amazing advocate! Introduce people to this incredible opportunity for someone who loves English, the law, computers, learning... Be the little pebble that creates the ripple in the pond!
