Is there a way to come up with briefs and actually remember them?

I've been a reporter for a few years now, and I have absolutely no trouble taking down the easy stuff with normal, everyday language, and very little medical or technical words.  I have taken down a few expert witnesses and doctors, and when I did, I felt I was way in over my head.  In the instances when I took down the highly technical stuff, all parties spoke at a reasonable speed, under 200 wpm, but I found myself dropping a lot more than I should.  I don't think my problem is speed.  I can take down normal, everyday language with a difficult word here and there at 200 wpm.  My problem is taking down testimony at 200 wpm that is riddled with words that require over five strokes per word.  I am so used to writing things out instead of briefing, I have a difficult time coming up with briefs for words that I can remember. 

The times that I do come up with briefs, I don't remember them as they come up in testimony, and I end up writing the word out, then dropping the next few words.  I feel this is unacceptable as a reporter.  I understand that we're not perfect and we can't take down every single word, but I think the frequent occurrence of this is unacceptable.  My agency wants me to start taking more difficult material, and I don't know what to do.

I sometimes feel that I shouldn't even be a reporter if I am unable to take down all testimony that's at or under 200 wpm, and I'm wondering if I should do something else.  I don't want to, as I love my profession, but I feel that I am underperforming and I have no idea how to fix this.  I try to come up with briefs, but I end up forgetting most of them.  I have thought about returning to school to increase my speed, but I am too busy working and keeping up with other family and household obligations, plus I live far away from school.  I've been intending to come up with briefs and practice with them, but that's difficult when every waking moment of the day is spent either at a depo or editing, and I need to fit family time and chores in there too.

Does anybody have any suggestions about what I should do, or how to remember briefs?  Should I just quit reporting and do something else?

When I attended court reporting school, which was way before computerized reporting, we were taught to write out instead of depending on briefs.   The theory then was if you made a mistake writing a brief you would have trouble deciperhing what you wrote; however, if you at least attempted to write it out completely you would be able to figure out what you wrote.  Oh, if only we could strike those keys perfectly each and every time. 

Here is what I do.  If I am given the pleadings I take a quick look through them and try to pick out some words or phrases that I think will be repeated throughout the depo.  I write in my little steno book, which I use to jot notes and keep a log of any exhibits marked, a quick two-stroke or one-stroke outline for the phrase or name.  Then I J-define it.   If I am given a previous transcript then I flip through the word index and pick out names, unusual words, dates, etc. 

I know exactly what you mean by forgetting the briefs.  As I said, it depends on when you learned court reporting theory.   I will be reporting 36 years as of 2012, so I think my method has served me well. 

Please don't give up.  As you know, we not only have to write the testimony, but sometimes we have to be alert for nonverbal cues from attorneys who don't like to say "objection" and depend on us to read their minds.  Let's not forget the attorneys who refuse to allow the witness to complete an answer, and witnesses who constantly interrupt the questioner.  We have to contend with accents, speed talkers, bad grammar, outside noise and other distractions.  Don't be so hard on yourself.  It will all fall into place for you.

When you have the time, try practicing with C-Span's coverage of Congress.   That's a good source for difficult material.

Dora,

Please, please, do not even consider quitting reporter.  We need you too much for you to consider that.  The fact that you are being considered by your agency to go on more difficult jobs must mean that they have faith in you and your abilities.  Please take a deep breath and reconsider. 

I, like Pinksteno & Bustaboo, have been reporting for more than two decades.  God, that looks so awful to see in print (makes me feel old).  I, too, write out e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.    But I'm getting better, and you will, too.  I recently joined Mark Kislingbury's Magnum Steno Club.  He has a free trial & I strongly encourage you to write to him & try it for two weeks.  However, you may find yourself frustrated with the practice.  We court reporters are a hyper self-critical bunch and things that we don't do perfectly throw us into a tiz.  I can assure you, though, that his high speed practice WILL help you overcome the problem you are finding yourself in. 

Let me share my last two weeks' experience with you.  I just finished a huge deposition down in South Florida.  It was the most high pressured depo I've done in 25 years.  Attorneys flew in from around the country.  There was top security.  I set up my laptop Monday morning at 8:30, and my Eclipse had a software corruption.  Basic commands were not working.  I kept writing through my panic.  One of the attorney's questions had to do with tons of Israeli names.  I didn't know where one started and one ended.  Long story short, I got the list of names, and produced the daily transcript with the help of a court reporter friend who came to help me edit.  I did feel completely over my head.  So much so that I was sick the next morning.  The depo lasted 10 days.  Things got better as I went.  I was able to start incorporating briefs for names that came up repeatedly.  By the end, I was able to rip out the average 150 pages of daily by a decent turn around time.  I've spent the last year concentrating on working on a few briefs a weeks and practicing them.  The practice with Magnum Steno, in just four short weeks has improved my writing more than anything else.  Also, Anita Paul seminars are wonderful for motivation as well as cleaning up your writing.  Don't forget these things are a tax write-off.  They are so well worth it and you're worth investing in yourself.

Good luck & hang in there.

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2011/12/scott_rothstein_transcripts_re.php

Wonderful answer by pinksteno.  I do all that, too.  But I know what you mean about not being able to retain  a list of "invent-a-briefs" in your head.  

But there is one thing I have done that has really, REALLY, helped a lot.  I smush it all up.  (I know other reporters talk about doing the same thing).  For instance, as an example, I had a depo last week that had the phrase "Focus on the Caller" program.  It came up a million times.  It's not hard to write....until you get a witness like mine that speaks like rapid machine gun fire.  So I scrunched it to "faller."   And I knew about that phrase before the depo started because I had time to talk to the attorney before everyone arrived. 

So pinksteno is right on.  Pore through any document you can and pull out "treasures."   And for expert depos, they're usually asked what other experts' transcripts they've reviewed.  So before the depo starts, I ask the attorneys these questions:  other experts' names who are retained in the case, medications or procedure name, etc.,  (if it's a medical), any "industry" jargon pertinent to the case.   Not that we don't understand the terminology; it's just to find a painless way to write these terms that don't come up every day.

The attorneys appreciate this.  I think it clues them in that they're working with an experienced reporter.  And as soon as they recognize this, they seem to let their hair down with me and discuss issues about the case, from which other "treasures" can be uncovered.

Don't quit.  It  all comes with time.  Unfortunately for us in the biz, the best lessons are sometimes learned the hard way.  They all add up to making us better reporters!  Hang in there!  The fact you care tells me you'll be great at this job.

Hi, Dora.

Just a couple of ideas you might try, from a student who reads a lot!  :o)

First, there used to be an ad in the JCR for a seminar called "You Too Can Brief on the Fly."  I bookmarked the page, and you can find it here:

http://www.cadyreporting.com/seminars.php?tag=web

Alas, this page just seems to tell you there's a seminar they want you to pay $75 for, and it doesn't tell you what the seminar is about, like it used to (sent them an e-mail on that), so you might want to talk to someone before paying for the seminar.

Next, I came across a book called "Moonwalking With Einstein," which basically tells the story of the author's rise from a guy with CRS (you know ... "Can't Remember Sh*t") to the winner of some national memory competition ... and along the way, he gives tips on how to remember things, and from what I've read so far, the title of the book is one such mnemonic.

I think combining both of these recommendations will be very good for you!  Good luck ... and hope these things help you.

--gdw
--------------------------------------
"For a Good (steno) Time ...."
http://www.cheapandsleazy.net

I like to use a lot of briefs and my theory is The best place to write down your briefs is in your head.  Any briefs that you can't remember aren't worth using.  The briefs that you do remember are the ones that you use and don't bother writing them down, because you need them in your mind not on paper.