The journey writing continues…
As I am writing the first three chapters of “Cloddy,” I have also had to transcribe to text the interviews relevant to each of the chapters. I purchased “Dragon Naturally Speaking” software to accomplish this task.
However, in researching how to best use this software, I have learned Dragon Software is best suited for one particular person’s voice. Therefore, it is recommended that the transcriber (me) listen to the interview on a PC using head phones – with a microphone device – and repeat the words of the interview into the mic. A sort of “parroting” of the interview.
Photo Courtesy of Renee’s IPhone
Today, I attempted this new task and found success. I listened to my interview of Vernon Andersen, who I interviewed along with Sheree Schmidt in Centerville in Febrary of 2013, and simultaneously spoke into the head phone mic. (I don’t need to transcribe every word of the interview for the purpose of writing the book, so I transcribed selected portions of the interview.)
I was able to pause the interview at times and edit the transcribed text on the Word document (the DragonPad). The interview of Vernon lasted about an hour. It was useful, and interesting, and at times entertaining to listen to this interview – which took place 14 months ago. There were several moments during the interview when Vernon, Sheree, and I burst into laughter as Vernon shared his recollections of Cloddy coaching the boys in Centerville from 1943 to 1949.
I was exhausted after an hour of intense listening and transcribing. To date, I have about 50 interviews taped – totaling about 90 hours. I will need to listen to the other interviews as well – some lasting over 3 hours. On top of that, I hope to have 50-100 more interviews by the time I’m done. So I have my work cut out for me.
If Dad could read this blog, he’d ask, “Kim, are you bragging or complaining?!”
It’s all just a part of the process and will yield some good material for “Cloddy.”
