Where have you been all my life, Mark?

[Erica Abbott]

lol. Okay, maybe not my whole life, but for quite a few years. I finally joined magnum steno club today, and I have already learned so much!!!

Although, doing those speed takes, I just don't know if I am ever going to get there. I feel "dumb" sometimes, like my brain is just too slow and will go on being slow forever. Are there people out there that just have a slow brain that will never pick up speed? I surely hope not, because this is something I want to conquer!!!

The only thing I might like to see added is maybe a club on here where we could share different ideas for the day's lesson. There were a few things that he said he didn't have a brief for or conflicts that he had that I could fix and I was able to make it work.

Anyways, have a great day, everyone!

[Rhoda Collins]

I just setup my ending did/didn't using the * key and some of mark'S thinking. Plus the do/don't too. If you can work that * into your writing, you will go further! I did stay with our theory in writing the "did", just had to adjust a bit. My "do" is the "did" with the * key. Just sharing that, LOL.

[Rhoda Collins]

Erica,
I have incorporated the * for several years and LOVE it! It quadruples your advantages to briefing!!!! I started w/redoing my alphabet and I now do:
A*R
B*R
KR*R
etc. was a nice way to 'bring' the * key into my life and really cut down on misstrokes on the alphabet. I have the book from Magnum Steno, if we were to get together, I can bring that too, lol.
Rho

[Tami]

Can't wait to hear how you like it, Brenday!

[Brenda Rogers]

Yes! At one of the hotels by the airport, so about 20 mins away.

[Tami]

That is sooo coool, Brenda!!

Is it in Portland??

[Brenda Rogers]

I'm going to his seminar on Saturday! WOOHOOO!!

[Tami]

Erica,

The greatest thing about not ever using the asterisk is when you finally start doing so, all words now written with the asterisk will have zero conflicts.

I learned to use and love the asterisk in theory. (To all those asterisk-aphobics out there, you really are missing out.)

Glad you finally got on the MK track. I know I get to be a broken record, but if you really want to improve your game -- and make your writing life so much more enjoyable, I should add -- he'll get you to the next level and beyond.

[Jane McGill]

I just happened upon your post and was very interested in your lack of use of the asterisk. Having been a court reporter forever and using one of the first computer-compatible theories out there, I couldn't imagine not having the asterisk in my repertoire of available tools. If you can incorporate the asterisk in your theory, it will save you so much time now, and when you are actually working, you will find uses on the fly for it.

[Erica Abbott]

I actually went with Professor McCormack's Realtime Writing Theory, which they teach at Alfred State. I am very thankful to have started with a realtime theory instead of a stroke intensive one. Although, sometimes I do not think I would be such a perfectionist and worry so much about briefs if we had to write some more things out to begin with. Also, I have a very hard time doing anything with the * incorporated. I don't think I have one word in my whole theory with the * in it. So now that I am learning new stuff, that is something I am trying to overcome!

[Gary Bearden]

Like you, I totally enjoy the steno club. I specifically learn a lot from his use of phrases. I have his Stenomaster Theory book, but I have not bought the Magnum Steno book yet, and his videos of the phrases give me a sneak peak at what to expect when I do buy his new book.

By the way, I began with Phoenix theory, and I can tell you my personal theory has undergone a lot of changes. Now, I cannot imagine how anyone writing Phoenix theory can make it in the real world--it is just so cumbersome and stroke intensive!!!