Shorthand is a hobby of mine. Unfortunately, dictating at the slow speeds I need is not a hobby of anyone I know. It's probably not the hobby of any of your friends, either.
My current method is to record it around 60wpm, then use Audacity's Change Tempo feature to change the speed and force it to different lengths.
In the spirit of passing it on, and as thanks for the help I've gotten online over the years, here are the files I've created for myself.
Gregg Shorthand Simplified Recordings
Let me know if you want more passages or different speeds. I'm willing to do passages from other texts and systems, although if there are a lot I'd appreciate it if you did the initial recording. Unless someone asks, I'll do the ones I need for myself first.
Word count is what the text says, unless otherwise specified. Yes, different texts use different systems. For more information on the different methods, and how to mark text, see here: http://www.steno-solutions.com/Articles.htm
The files are standard ZIP files. Each file contains several mp3's of the same passage, one mp3 per speed. The triangle symbol means the file hasn't been uploaded yet. ZIP sizes are between 5 and 15MB. Yes, large. I'll experiment with smaller for the next batch, but don't hold much hope. I'm getting about the same file size per minute as podcasts.
Contact me first. cricket@onebit.ca
If you send me recordings made at 60wpm (which is easy to record) I can convert them to 40wpm through 90wpm. (The extremes aren't great quality, but it's a trade-off. It makes no sense to spend five minutes making a file you'll only use for ten.)
If you can go all the way from text to recordings at other speeds, that would be even better.
The equivalent paragraph numbers for the other editions / printings of Simplified would also be useful.
First and foremost: Do not take shortcuts with practicing. Master each unit before you move to the next. It's okay to read ahead, but master each chapter before starting to write the next.
Target speeds 20 to 45wpm.
Read the entire chapter until you can read at 60wpm.
Write each new outline several times, until it feels comfortable.
Copy each passage from the text at a comfortable speed, then push it to 45wpm (1.5 words per second). (30wpm would also work, but I didn't make recordings at that speed for technical reasons.)
If you hesitate on specific outlines, drill them.
Alternate copying from the text with copying from your own notes. This forces you to read and evaluate your work.
Slow copying is bad. Push yourself, but keep your outlines accurate.
Read everything you can. Reading well-written shorthand by several good writers is as important as writing. In general, writing speed is half reading speed. The early versions of Gregg provided graded reading material in separate books. Later versions included more material in the main book. Most versions have reading material in still more books for when you've finished the theory.
At this point, you're probably hooked. Find an online group for your method and ask which books they recommend. Some are better than others. Two good Gregg groups are: http://greggshorthand.multiply.com/ and http://www.greggshorthand.proboards.com . Try not to read all the advice at once.
Pay attention to posture. Use your arm and wrist, not just your fingers.
Write to exhaustion sometimes. The tired muscles will drop out and force other muscles to take over. Eventually, they'll start sharing the load more equally.
End each session by writing at your best accurate speed. Your body will remember this take more than the others.
Target speeds 40 to 80wpm.
Usually, target speed is 10wpm above your comfortable speed. Target should be a bit difficult but feel "almost doable". Comfortable should be confident but a bit rushed.
40wpm is good for the early chapters. After that it's up to you. Some set a target speed for each lesson so they reach 80wm by the end of the theory. (The Preface or Table of Contents of the book will tell you when theory stops and review begins.) Spread the increases evenly across the book. After 80wpm, work on finishing the theory rather than increasing speed.
Some instructors prefer to reach 40wpm as soon as possible, then work on finishing the theory before pushing speed again.
I used to recommend pushing for a higher speed for several reasons: If you earn the extra speed early in the book, the rest of the chapters will go faster. Pushing speed will prevent you from learning slow habits. Gregg outlines are easier to write correctly at speed than slowly. (Try it for yourself.)
On the other hand, how long do you want to stay on the same passage? Some, especially the early ones, are harder. Later chapters teach tricks like phrasing and abbreviating. (Those aren't cheating. They're part of the core instruction.)
For each passage:
Start by reading and copying from the text and your own notes as in Stage 1 until you reach 45 wpm (1-1/2 words per second). This will reinforce the correct outlines.
Check your writing after each take and drill problem areas. You don't want to reinforce mistakes!
If you are comfortable at your target speed, take dictation, check, and, if clean, you're done with that passage.
An effective way to increase speed on a passage is described by Swem in "A Systematic Speed Course for Advanced Writers". I call it "over-clocking".
Your target speed is 10wpm higher than comfortable.
Start with your comfortable speed. Make sure you're doing it accurately before pushing the speed any higher.
Then increase to target speed. Then go 10wpm higher than target. Keep increasing until you can only get about 2/3 of the passage on paper. Write at least something for each word. The purpose of this is to break the habits which are slowing you down.
Take it again at target speed. Your final take of the day should be slow enough your notes are clean -- check against the text -- but fast enough that you can't relax. (Slowness is as bad a habit as poor penmanship.)
As you work through the book, you'll get a better feel for your comfortable and target speeds. Some passages are easier than others, even in the same lesson.
The books recommend using Gregg outside the classroom early on, and using longhand for words you don't know. Online groups suggest caution. Switching out of Gregg-mode is a bad habit. Also, inventing outlines before finishing the theory might mean you need to relearn them. Use moderation at this stage.
Beware of reading advice instead of practising. There's a lot out there.
Target speed above 80wpm
Save higher than 80wpm until after you finish the theory, unless you're on a roll. Most writers hit a plateau at this point.
Go back and review the entire book, writing every passage at top speed. (That's why even the early chapters have fast recordings.)
By this time, you'll have found all sorts of advice online. Review the articles that didn't sink in the first time.
A good thread on speed-building is http://greggshorthand.multiply.com/journal/item/1159.(That's good group for anything Gregg-related.)
Another good article is Systematic Speed Course for Advanced Writers, by Charles Lee Swem, Official Reporter, Supreme Court, State of New York, reprinted from the book Gregg Speed Building.