Speed 1
the book format, you can increase speed. There are some subject niches that provide authors with a structured format, or template, for writing books. Once you can recognize the structured format, indexing goes much quicker. But, this requires pattern recognition. This seems more of a natural ability, but I think if you worked with this, you could gradually improve.
3. Language command. If you don't have an extremely strong language command, you will have to think about the main entry verbiage and how to word it. So you are obviously going to lose speed. This can be improved upon, but it takes a lot of work.
4. Keyboarding speed. A while back, someone walked into the room when I was keyboarding, and just stood there, with his mouth gaped open. He'd never seen anyone keyboard so fast. If you don't keyboard fast, or accurate, you will lose time. This is easy to improve with lots of practice.
One way I practice is by writing these articles. Also, practice with emails to your friends. Practice in chat rooms. Practice every time you sit at the computer. Don't just keyboard!!! Keyboard with a mission....focus on improving speed and accuracy!
5. Strong memory, and the ability to retain information. If you didn't index a point in the beginning of the book because it didn't seem to be important, you'll need to go back and pick it up. Can you remember the exact page, and location on the page, where that information was contained? No? Then you'll waste precious time searching for it. Memory skills can definitely be improved with practice.
6. Instant recall--the ability to call it back to mind instantly vs. having to think about it for a minute or two (or ten!). This is associated with Item 5.
Instant recall works in combination with memory skill to form a base for building speed into your business. They are opposite sides of the same coin, so to speak. They are different, but very related.
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Next month, we'll continue our look at ways to both build speed, and index more in the same amount of time, into your indexing business.
article by Dawn Spencer
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