QUESTION: I just finished theory. I'm looking for some assistance in improving
my speed and reiterating theory. (I need to get my speed up to about 120wpm).
If you could recommend a specific drill, it would be greatly appreciated. The sooner I get my speed up the sooner I get to go back to school (so very soon hopefully).
Thank you very very much in advance.
ANSWER: You need to reinforce your strokes and outlines before they fade from your memory. You should be doing a great variety of types of drills.
Go through your Theory book page by page. Put a paper clip on any page that needs practice. Spend one minute a day on each page. Practice them every single day.
Finger drills are very helpful for dexterity and reaction time.
Little words drills are great to improve your reaction time.
Slow drills on hard Literary will teach you how to write those big words.
Popcorn Q and A (short questions and answers) is great. It is good for Testimony practice, but it is terrific for Literary. Almost anybody who has trouble with Literary will also have trouble with popcorn Q and A. It sounds odd, but it isn't. The common factor is the amount of words that are carried by the student. Hard Literary will bury you if you carry. Popcorn Q and A will leave you in the dust if you carry. If a student can learn to do Popcorn Q and A at a reduced speed, that student will magically have better results when doing Literary. It's, like, way cool.
Word lists from the Theory Book so that you solidify your strokes.
Word lists of Briefs and Phrases if you wish to learn shortcuts.
Short speed drills are good. Watch out for your clarity. Stop when your writing degrades.
Drill on Page One of your newspaper every single day. This is very effective. If you can write Page One, you can write anything.
I didn't mention Jury Charge, names, numbers, clock time, multi-voice, technical writing, etc. They all have their place in the grand scheme of things.
Write clear. Keep up with the speaker. Succeed.
