When someone is giving me general background information or explanation that I need to understand but probably won’t quote, my note-taking is more like it would be in a class-an outline form or general thoughts and ideas and how they connect. Maybe it’s because I got better at immediately recognizing when something is quotable-I’ll focus on getting that down right and not worry if I’m missing the exact wording of some less quotable material that comes after it. I think my biggest stride in note taking came when I realized I didn’t have to get every word of the entire interview written down exactly verbatim, just the parts I might want to quote (as a beginning writer I recorded every interview, made a full word-for-word transcript of the entire interview, and then would look through it for quotes … sooo time-consuming, but I really thought that’s what was done). That keeps me from getting distracted later in the interview thinking about what to abbreviate. I’ll actually try to jot down a few abbreviations before I start an interview, with words I think will be common in the conversation. My abbreviations change a lot from interview to interview-a capital C might stand for crocodile if I’m doing a story on crocodiles, or might stand for chromosome if I’m doing a story on genetics. Make up your own shorthand: I use my own invented speedwriting.Amazon has various courses available: Speedwriting for Notetaking and Study Skills and Speedwriting Skills Training Course. (Michael Balter) I advise them to start learning Speedwriting as soon as possible (a more user-friendly version of shorthand which can be used right away, while you’re still learning). Speedwriting: We discuss interviewing a lot in my class.Sometimes I drift into a robotic trance where I’m trying to jot down every word. I don’t know shorthand, so in this situation I try to filter info as I’m putting pen to paper-jotting down sure-bet quotes, key data, etc. Shorthand: The only reliable method, I think, is shorthand.Usually though I’ve covered all the points, and often gotten far more than anticipated from a source. Then at the end, I pull out my notebook and quickly scan the list to see that I’ve covered everything I needed to, and if necessary ask any remaining questions. I don’t consult it at all during the interview, concentrating instead on keeping the conversation flowing and following up right away on points I don’t understand or need more info on. Questions: I always draw up a complete list of questions before an interview and then put the list aside.(Robert Frederick) /// Whichever medium I’m working in, I go over my notes right after the interview, fill in blanks from short-term memory, and clean up any mistakes or illegible patches. Though you may not be writing much, keep your pen moving by writing down points you expected the person to make-that way you can guide your interviewee to make sure he/she actually makes the points you need for your story, and you don’t wonder later, “Am I making this up or did the person actually say something like this?” Continually writing also helps your interviewee think you’re interested in most of what he/she is saying, so the interviewee might give you something that he/she might not give to other interviewers. If a person has a great quote or turn of phrase, write that down. If the person says something surprising, write that down. ![]() Plan of attack: Go to an interview with a plan and an expectation of what the interviewee is going to say.Grimm polled colleagues about the best way to take notes during interviews. Recently, Science’s Online News Editor David Grimm offered us a trove of advice on note-taking, which he assembled for students at Johns Hopkins University’s science writing master’s program, where he is on the faculty. Every situation calls for different note-taking strategies, and every writer has his or her own preferences. It means that your notes capture the essence of what you have observed, from the words your sources uttered to-in some situations-the direction the wind was blowing as you spoke. That doesn’t just mean that your handwriting needs to be legible-though that matters too. Whether you rely on a digital recorder or a laptop or a ragtag collection of mismatched notebooks, you need to take good notes. Science Writing Resources (Elsewhere) That We Like.Guide to Using Alt-text to Make Images More Accessible.Sample Script & Survey for Tracking Source Diversity.Finding Diverse Sources for Science Stories.Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resources. ![]() Tip Sheet for Newcomers to Science Writing. ![]()
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