Do you touch type to get your posts done more quickly?
By jazzsue58
@jazzsue58 (2666)
March 13, 2009 12:12pm CST
Maybe this should be, CAN you touch type to get posts done more quickly? From legit writing sites I've learned that rewriting articles for clients is common practice - but only if they're your own. Naturally, plagiarism of other people's work just ain't done, but writing an article on the same topic in several different formats is okay if the 'seed' article was your own. Same goes for blogs, reviews etc.
However, the people who are making money at this are the ones who can type accurately and really REALLY fast, and that's where I fall down. I've been using a keyboard for years yet still can't take my eyes off it to see what's coming up on the screen! That damn fox can go jump over the lazy brown dog all day, for all I care. Take my eyes off for a moment and he's burbank owt ter laquered trout gogogogod, if you get my drift.
I really must learn to type properly if I'm to make a success of proper freelancing - but my mind just won't take the challenge. Just last week I took one of those free on-line tests, thinking that even with 2 fingers and 10 thumbs I must have a pretty impressive wpm by now.
Huh. I have - so long as I'm only typing up whats in my head. You chose a level equal to your ability. I chose level one (no words, just lots of repeated letters on the middle line of the kb) Result? An estimated 3 words per minute with a 9% error factor. It would have been 90% but I kept stopping to correct the mistakes - hence the 3 wpm. Still not as bad as the week before though. Then, it was minutes per word. But I did get a high score - 23.
Over to you - two fingers or all 10? If you type properly, is it linked to your regular work or do you just do it for self-satisfaction/increased online earnings? I'd especially like to hear from professional writers, i.e. Helium/CC/AC content scribes.
Singein ogf, Spew.
2 responses
@Darkwing (21583)
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17 Mar 09
Lol... you're not supposed to stop and correct mistakes when you're time-testing! I trained as a typist on an old, manual typewriter, and gradually progressed through electric typewriter and computer. My speed, just for copy typing, you understand, is 72wpm. I can't remember the error percentage now but it was quite low. I worked as a Sectretary/PA for twelve years after my training, and then as a Secretary/Receptionist before going to Amex and messing up all my typing skills. lol. That was nearly all number punching, so I did lose a bit of my speed. However, now I'm on the computer most of the day, at home, and my speed is coming back quite fast.
I think you'd have difficulty in getting paid assignments on Helium and AC. I belong to both of those and only U.S.A and Canada can receive offers, although one guy came to me in a private message in AC and asked me if I'd type articles for him on his website. Needless to say, I turned him down because it was a fairly new site and he hadn't yet set a "going rate". AC pays me only for page views, and Helium, I believe, pays on the rating system and according to how many stars you have. I prefer the setup at AC... I understand it better and it gives me far more satisfaction, plus they pay me regurlarly without expecting me to claim payout.
Brightest Blessings, my friend.
@jazzsue58 (2666)
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18 Mar 09
I can generally generate a well-worded and fully proofed article of about 1500 words in less than an hour - and that includes any research I have to do.
I guess I'm quicker when I don't have to think too hard or stare at the screen. My problem is my clumsy "paddle fingers" - I hit two keys instead of one all the time. I think it's just a case of manual dexterity. When all the girls at school were learning to be PA's and secretaries, I was learning to be a biochemist! It was a VERY long time ago, as well.
You get into habits - mine is typing without looking at the screne. I use, at most, 4 fingers - not always the same 4 though. Timing this - it's taking about 2.5 minutes, and that includes corrections (of which there are a lot!)Hm. Not as good as you, but still better than 3 WPM!
@Darkwing (21583)
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25 Mar 09
I think you have to carry on the way you're used to doing it because if you change you'll feel all fingers and thumbs and it will slow you down again. You'll get there. When I was learning all those years ago, we had a chart on the classroom wall showing us which fingers to use for which letters, and after a while, it came naturally.
@littleowl (7157)
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13 Mar 09
Hi jazzsue, I was taught to type when in school and thought I stopped quite a few years ago it wasnt until I came on here that whenever I typed I had to look at the keyboard, the past few months though I haven't been looking at the key board if I do though I make more mistakes, but don't know how many words a minute
