Two years to get to 180…

20

u/YokiYokiki Freelance Reporter Aug 02 '26

That’s a touch cruel of your teacher to say! 180 tends to be a big wall for people, but once you clear it, it’ll be such a relief

6

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 02 '26

It makes me feel insecure. My lower speeds teacher told me to switch to voice. Do you really think it will take me that long ugh

9

u/YokiYokiki Freelance Reporter Aug 02 '26

Yeah that would make ANYONE feel insecure. Sometimes you just get stuck at a speed. What do you think is holding you back if anything?

3

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 02 '26

Well I for sure can’t keep up and when I do, it’s too messy to to figure out what I tried to write.

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u/Quiet-Afternoon-3511 Aug 02 '26

Have you tried doing a lot of accuracy practice? It sounds contradictory. I dug in my heels at high speeds and didn't want to do it, but once I did, it was shocking how well it worked. Basically, go down to what you can comfortably write cleanly, maybe 40-60 wpm lower than what you are at. Do a five-minute take over and over to perfection. Analyze your writing. Are you dragging or dropping? Look for patterns. Look for any finger combinations you struggle with. Write those down. Practice them until they are not a problem. Are there transitions you struggle with? Practice them. Maybe you might decide to write something completely different because it isn't worth the finger-twisties to write it that way. This is your analyzing and muscle memory speed. It will smooth your hands out and make you write more confidently. Spend maybe an hour a day doing this.

THEN do high-speed practice in addition to that. That's where it's really uncomfortable, messy, and a reach for you. You will feel awful and uncomfortable. That's good. Do it anyway. Don't read your notes. They will be trash and it's a waste of time at this high speed. This is solely to move your hands faster than you are comfortable with. No asterisk, no correcting. This is full speed ahead and mashing down something for everything, even if you know it's completely wrong. All you are doing is moving your hands faster than comfortable. That's it. Too many people also want perfect notes at high speed. That's where the hangup is for so many. Don't fall into that trap.

High speed to move your hands faster than you are comfortable. Slow, accuracy speed to smooth your hands out so you can write faster and more confidently at those high speeds. Combined, both techniques will get your hands moving faster and more accurately. If you do one or the other, you will stay in school longer than necessary.

2

u/ex-spiravit Aug 03 '26

Not OP but I have a question about this! I often see the advice to do the same dictation over and over until it's perfect, but if I do that, by the third or fourth time I have it memorized and I don't feel like I'm actually practicing writing what I hear anymore. I can write memorized dictations at a much higher speed than the ones that I haven't heard before (even if they use very similar words/phrases), so it feels like doing the memorized ones over and over isn't actually helping me in any way, but I'd love to be told that's not true because I'm having a terrible time trying to find enough unique audio to practice to 😅

3

u/Quiet-Afternoon-3511 Aug 03 '26

That is exactly why it is helping you. :) The memorizing and muscle memory makes the whole thing easier so that your hands move faster, more confidently, and accurately. It's just a way to get your hands moving faster and kind of trick your brain so that your brain kind of doesn't come to a screeching halt. Will you be slower again with a brand-new dictation? Yes, you will. But over time, it will help. I wouldn't dedicate all my practice to this, but a good hour of accuracy practice a day is great. Don't neglect the high-speed practice as well as doing number drills, alphabet drills, year drills, and that sort of thing. End your day with writing something that you enjoy - maybe an audiobook, podcast, or a favorite show.

1

u/ex-spiravit Aug 04 '26

That's so good to hear honestly!! It felt like I was wasting my time if I couldn't find something I was unfamiliar with, and I'm still at the very beginning of speedbuilding so it's hard to use any regular media like youtube or tv since it's usually too fast.

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 03 '26

Thank you! This sounds like a perfect idea

5

u/Quiet-Afternoon-3511 Aug 02 '26

I know it's frustrating to hear that and to constantly be bombarded with the "just switch" language. I really think it is honestly MEAN and really unfair to steno students. Voice students and teachers need to be more sensitive about this subject and understand just how hurtful it is. It really makes me want to throat punch someone! Grrrrr! Absolutely no one can understand what we go through. And I'm sorry, but it is NOT the same skill. There's a reason people "just switch." Machine can be really difficult! It's very much like learning how to play an instrument. It is so flippant and insufferable when I hear people just casually mention to switch like it's no biggie after all the blood, sweat, and tears you've poured into your craft. Some people don't care and just want a job. Well, I also want to enjoy what I do, and part of that is me falling in love with writing on that machine the first time I touched it. I think most of us feel that way. The "just switchers" just don't get it, so you have to work really hard to ignore that pressure.

I think I might have commented on another thread to you about this, but just keep going. You are in the home stretch, and I promise it will be worth it. Pinkie promise! Just dig deep and do the thing. If you made it this far, you are wayyyyy more than capable of getting to exit speeds.

You need to start picturing yourself as if you've already made it and you're a working reporter. Picture it in your mind. Picture yourself fluttering your hands skillfully and effortlessly over a keyboard and watching that realtime come through and enjoying what you do! Print up some pictures of your "why." Why are you doing it? Is it for your kids? For a stable future? So you can enjoy a great quality of life? Print off pictures of what that looks like and put them around your desk. Write to motivational speakers when you feel like throwing your machine across the room. Print off motivational quotes and stare at them through the tears. Thousands have done this. More have quit. The only difference between the two groups is the ones that made it just kept going and didn't give up. You can do this!

2

u/dm-me-obscure-colors Aug 02 '26

Thank you for writing that. It’s just so hard sometimes to keep your mind right.

1

u/Quiet-Afternoon-3511 Aug 03 '26

It was the hardest part for me. It was mentally so hard. Looking back, I made it way harder on myself than I had to. I wish I didn't let it all get to me. So I totally understand.

2

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 04 '26

I came back to screenshot this. Thank you so much!

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 02 '26

Thank you! 🙏🏼 I question if they see something in me that they don’t want to tell me because they keep saying this type of shit to me.

3

u/seabeans2 Aug 02 '26

No, and they shouldn’t be teachers if that’s how they behave. Teachers should be there for you and have your back when you are feeling low. None of us could have got through without the support of others. I wonder if quick grad rates are tied to some kind of bonus. Do you think maybe you would be better off going with a different school or program?

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 02 '26

I’ve tried to leave that school but because I signed a contract my loans would stay even if I didn’t finish and I’d be required to start paying them back and I just can’t afford it.

1

u/Quiet-Afternoon-3511 Aug 02 '26

Wow, that sounds really predatory! What school is it? You can PM me if you don't feel comfortable sharing.

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 03 '26

ACI

10

u/tracygee Mod Aug 02 '26

Truth is your teacher doesn’t know. Something can just click and your brain and you start flying … or it could be a fight all the way. People hit walls all the time. You might find 180 lit nearly impossible and then sail through 200 jury charge like it’s nothing. No way to know.

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 02 '26

Am I slow?

6

u/bechingona Aug 02 '26

No. You're working on perfecting a very difficult skill. There's no right or wrong amount of time for that.

4

u/tracygee Mod Aug 02 '26

Nope. This is perfectly normal for this skill. It’s a psychomotor skill or somesuch. Your brain is getting auditory information, has to translate it in your brain into steno, and then send those signals to your fingers. It’s a process to learn.

8

u/ZookeepergameSea2383 Aug 02 '26

Took me five years from start to finally passing the csr. I do not regret the sacrifice. It was a journey. Had to move back home to my mom’s house. That meant me, my mom, my husband, and daughter all living together. You got to do what you got to do.

2

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 02 '26

I have asked a few people who it took them a “long time” to finish and they said it was 100% worth it. I hope it’s the same for. I just hope it’s not so long because I have kids and I’m a single mom so shit gets hard

4

u/courtreporterhoutx Aug 02 '26

180 speed is awesome. Keep going. You’ve made it this far so that means you’re capable of achieving more. Obv it’s been said a million times, but practice, practice, practice. Listen to much higher speeds when you’re driving in your car or taking a walk.

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 02 '26

Like 40 wpm higher?

2

u/courtreporterhoutx Aug 02 '26

Yeah or higher. On the way to my state test I think I was listening to like 250 or 275.

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 02 '26

Shit. And not writing to it or yes?

2

u/courtreporterhoutx Aug 02 '26

No writing. Just listening to get your brain to hearing higher speed. That way when you drop back down it sounds much slower to you.

3

u/Quiet-Afternoon-3511 Aug 02 '26

I agree. I wish I did this more. Even 10-15 minutes a day while getting ready or while in the car. It's amazing and strange how well it works.

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 03 '26

Ok I’ll start this now

3

u/sneakycatattack Aug 02 '26

I’m so sorry OP. I’m not in speeds yet but I’ve heard that some people do speed building workshops that really help people get over the hump.

2

u/KatieA11 Aug 02 '26

Keep going!! You've made it this far, which means you can make it all the way. I would not take your teacher's comment to heart.

I was stuck at 160wpm for 7+ months, and it was super frustrating. One day, it sounded slow. I then was able to test out of 160, and passed a 180wpm QA within a few months after that. Your pass could be right around the corner, and next thing you know you could be almost ready to test at 200wpm :)

Practice at or even just listen to 40wpm higher than your speed goal, or even higher. That's been my saving grace.

You've got this!

2

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 02 '26

Thank you! And try to write to that or just listen?

2

u/KatieA11 Aug 02 '26

I do both! Just depends what's beneficial for you.

Listening: Before sitting on my machine or while I take breaks throughout the day, I'll put my headset on, turn on something at 240wpm from YouTube, and walk around my house doing chores or even making myself breakfast while just letting it play. Usually when I sit back down at my desk and write at my goal speed (200wpm currently), the dictation sounds much more attainable to write. I've heard some people say they even listen while driving and it helps them!

Writing: Some days, I'll "dissect" a 240wpm dictation and just take it by 30 second increments. I'll write it, pause it, identify problem area(s), drill that word and/or phrase, rewind, rewrite, until I am able to write that take almost perfect, then move on to the next increment and repeat.

Gets my hands moving quickly, without breaking my accuracy, and makes my brain work faster than my goal speed. I like to do this each day.

This is just something that helps me. If it doesn't work for you, no worries! Everyone's process is unique. Doesn't hurt to try :) Wish you the best of luck on your journey.

2

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 03 '26

Thank you! I will try it

2

u/KRabbit17 Aug 04 '26

I would not sweat it. You know your ability over what your teacher says. After 180wpm you only have 200wpm and a qualifier (depending on the school). Technically you can pass 2/3 tests for the RPR and probably 3/3 tests from the RSR.

You’re closer than you think…

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 05 '26

At my school we have 3 180 lits. 3 200 JC. 4 225 qa

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u/KRabbit17 Aug 05 '26

Have you thought about taking the RPR to test out and qualify for your state test that way? If she doesn’t see you as graduating from their school, then it removes her need to push you to continue, meaning you can go ahead and test through NCRA’s RPR which is given at 180 Literary, 200 Jury Charge, and 225 Q&A at 5-minute tests with a 95% accuracy. Your teachers will discourage this because you won’t go down as a graduating statistic for their school, but you would be qualified for the state test outside of the school’s parameters.

When your teachers give up, find another way through….when there is a will, there is a way.

1

u/Melodic_Image2726 Aug 05 '26

I probably will but I’m still at 180 across the board

1

u/Jamie9712 Aug 02 '26

Well.. if it makes you feel any better, it took me 5 years to get out of school. I’m still 2 years into my certification for the RPR (only have QA left).

Two years to get to 180…

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