Comments on: Notes on notes

By: solidgoldcreativity

solidgoldcreativity — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:05:02 +0000

Ah, this is brilliant. That’s what’s been bothering me for years — whether shorthand would make a difference — only I didn’t have anyone to ask. In my fantasies from law class I thought the shorthand would just flow out one’s brain unconsciously like touch typing. Wee bit sad and cheered at the same time to hear my fantasies were just that. Bye bye Pitman and Gregg and tline.

Really liked your piece about note-taking. See my reply to Phil.

By: solidgoldcreativity

solidgoldcreativity — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:56:09 +0000

Andreas’s piece is great. Some lovely ideas and images (esp like the image of the “dart”), and the thoughts about trust and relaxing are great reminders to me. The relaxing one is crucial which is why I sometimes fantasise about pulling out my knitting and in that way putting both of us at ease. I also like to take it even further: I like to be downright enjoying myself and having fun in the interview.

Maybe I will be less focused on the notes in future, and only rely on them for the situations where there are 3 or 4 back-to-back interviews.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:28:16 +0000

Thanks, Phil, for reminding me.

Solid Gold, In 1997, as I was exiting a terrible existence in banking and entering a wonderful one in journalism, I decided to take a T-Line shorthand course.

For an entire summer, after work, I took classes. I was the only guy–all the others were young ladies planning to become secretaries (how about that! Times have changed in 12 years).

I got proficient enough to pass an exam of some sort. But not so proficient that I was actually able to take notes in shorthand without concentrating 100% on it, (and thus 0% on the interview). So I started mixing longhand with a few T-Line squiggles. That’s what I still do.

BUt for my phone interviews I now use Skype with a headset so that I can type.

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:19:09 +0000

Since I know you read regularly Andreas Kluth's blog, you may a remember a piece he wrote some months go, titled Writers, lose your notebooks. Perhaps, then, you might best dispense with a notebook when interviewing your clients, and trust your unconscious mind to retain the important points made.