Amanuensis/typist needed!
December 4, 2014 7:20 AM Subscribe
I'm a writer with a (hopefully temporary) condition that prevents me from typing much. I need someone to turn my handwritten edits/revisions into updated Word files, so I don't have to type. Where and how do I find this person?
I've learned to use voice dictation software for first drafts, but I edit by hand. I use mostly standard proofreading marks, but also some shorthand of my own. I've tried scanning pages and using Mechanical Turk, but the quality is poor, and they can't learn my shorthand. I need someone consistent, who is:
- able to learn a few simple shorthand marks (and to decipher my handwriting)
- can devote a few hours a week to this, with turnaround in a day or two, but is flexible when there are weeks with no work
- good at attention to small details
I think TaskRabbit type services would fail for the same reason as Mechanical Turk (always different people, so they can't learn the system). Also, I'm in a big city in the US where labor is expensive, so posting locally is probably out for cost reasons. Thank you!
I've learned to use voice dictation software for first drafts, but I edit by hand. I use mostly standard proofreading marks, but also some shorthand of my own. I've tried scanning pages and using Mechanical Turk, but the quality is poor, and they can't learn my shorthand. I need someone consistent, who is:
- able to learn a few simple shorthand marks (and to decipher my handwriting)
- can devote a few hours a week to this, with turnaround in a day or two, but is flexible when there are weeks with no work
- good at attention to small details
I think TaskRabbit type services would fail for the same reason as Mechanical Turk (always different people, so they can't learn the system). Also, I'm in a big city in the US where labor is expensive, so posting locally is probably out for cost reasons. Thank you!
Best answer: I feel like Jobs would probably find you exactly what you need--and, as a bonus, another Mefite gets a job!
posted by MeghanC at 7:33 AM on December 4, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by MeghanC at 7:33 AM on December 4, 2014 [8 favorites]
Was coming in to suggest Jobs . . . for completely altruistic reasons of course *cough* *cough* *hire me* *or any other awesome Mefite*
posted by chainsofreedom at 8:15 AM on December 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by chainsofreedom at 8:15 AM on December 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
My wife and I both did something like this for different individuals while we were in grad school. People would email the English Department grad admin explaining what they wanted, and then she'd forward the request on to the English Grad Student email list. As grad students just looking to make a little side cash, we accepted a relatively low (but reasonable) fee - perhaps you could try a few local universities, or go farther afield if your local ones do indeed turn out to be too pricey?
posted by DingoMutt at 8:24 AM on December 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by DingoMutt at 8:24 AM on December 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Nthing Jobs.
I've also done this via TaskRabbit before (as the Rabbit). What I'd suggest would be hiring someone once on TaskRabbit and then privately hiring them to do this going forward. Just pay via Venmo or PayPal or whatever works for you. I've found a few longer term assistant/admin type jobs of this nature by doing a single task on TaskRabbit and then being hired for ongoing work off the site.
Also, one thing that may work with your shorthand is to get someone who is good at communicating with you in an ongoing, back and forth type manner. I've done stuff like this, and if something like the shorthand thing came up, I'd take a picture of the symbol I didn't understand and email you "What does this mean?" I'm not sure if services like Elance don't facilitate this, or the type of people it attracts aren't good at follow-through, or what. But as long as you hire someone and stress to them that questions are fine, and what's important is getting the work done well, I think you can find someone who'll handle your shorthand.
posted by Sara C. at 8:50 AM on December 4, 2014
I've also done this via TaskRabbit before (as the Rabbit). What I'd suggest would be hiring someone once on TaskRabbit and then privately hiring them to do this going forward. Just pay via Venmo or PayPal or whatever works for you. I've found a few longer term assistant/admin type jobs of this nature by doing a single task on TaskRabbit and then being hired for ongoing work off the site.
Also, one thing that may work with your shorthand is to get someone who is good at communicating with you in an ongoing, back and forth type manner. I've done stuff like this, and if something like the shorthand thing came up, I'd take a picture of the symbol I didn't understand and email you "What does this mean?" I'm not sure if services like Elance don't facilitate this, or the type of people it attracts aren't good at follow-through, or what. But as long as you hire someone and stress to them that questions are fine, and what's important is getting the work done well, I think you can find someone who'll handle your shorthand.
posted by Sara C. at 8:50 AM on December 4, 2014
Jobs. Or Elance, or oDesk. Or even Fivrr. Or a virtual assistant, freelance or through Zirtual or eaHELP or similar. Sorry for no links - typing one-handed tonight.
posted by stormyteal at 6:30 PM on December 4, 2014
posted by stormyteal at 6:30 PM on December 4, 2014
Nthing jobs again. I'm a broke grad student and wouldn't mind a flexible part time gig. ;)
posted by wye naught at 8:51 AM on December 5, 2014
posted by wye naught at 8:51 AM on December 5, 2014
Response by poster: Posted to Jobs. Thanks all for the suggestions!
posted by crookedneighbor at 10:13 AM on December 5, 2014
posted by crookedneighbor at 10:13 AM on December 5, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jbickers at 7:22 AM on December 4, 2014 [1 favorite]