Okay, so let me tell you about this “transcription pros crossword” thing I worked on recently. It wasn’t exactly planned, just kinda happened.
Getting Started
I was browsing online, looking at stuff related to transcription work, you know, tips and tricks, maybe some new software. Then I stumbled across this idea, someone mentioned a crossword puzzle specifically for transcription folks. Sounded kinda interesting, like a fun way to test your knowledge of the lingo we use every day.
So, I thought, “Alright, let’s see if I can find one.” Did a quick search. Found some generic word puzzles, but nothing that really screamed ‘transcription pro’. Most were too basic or just not focused enough on the actual job.
Making My Own
After hitting a dead end finding one, I figured, “Why not just make one myself?” Seemed like a decent little project. So, the first thing I did was grab a notebook and pen. Yeah, old school, I know, but sometimes it just works better for brainstorming.
I started jotting down all the words and short phrases that pop into my head when I think about my transcription work. Stuff like:
- Timestamp
- Verbatim
- Speaker ID
- Proofread
- Foot pedal
- Clean copy
- Turnaround time
- Audio quality
- [inaudible]
- [crosstalk]
Got a pretty decent list going, maybe 20 or 30 terms. Some were easy, some felt a bit clunky for a crossword.
Building the Grid
Next step was actually trying to fit these words into a grid. I tried sketching it out on paper first. Man, that was harder than I thought. You get a few words locked in, and then suddenly nothing else fits. Had to erase and redraw quite a bit. I realized you really need a good mix of long and short words, and words with common letters help a lot.
After wrestling with the paper grid for a while, I decided to try an online crossword maker tool. Found a simple, free one. Typed my words in, and it helped arrange them into a grid. That saved a ton of time and frustration, honestly.
Writing the Clues
Once the grid looked okay, I needed to write the clues. I wanted them to be straightforward, based on actual transcription tasks or concepts. For example:
- Timestamp: Marking the exact time something is said.
- Verbatim: Typing every single word and sound exactly as heard.
- Foot pedal: Device used to control audio playback with your feet.
- [inaudible]: What you type when you can’t make out the speech.
Tried to keep them clear but not too obvious. A little bit of thinking required, you know?
Testing and Finishing Up
Finally, I had a complete puzzle. Printed it out and tried solving it myself first, just to make sure everything worked and there were no typos or impossible clues. Found a couple of awkward spots and tweaked the clues a bit.
Then I shared it with a colleague, another transcriptionist I work with sometimes. Asked her to give it a try and let me know what she thought. She found it pretty fun, caught one clue that was a bit confusing, so I adjusted that.
And that was basically it. Didn’t set out to become a puzzle master or anything, just wanted to see if I could make a decent crossword related to our field. It was a good way to spend an afternoon, kinda refreshing to think about the job from a different angle. Felt good to actually finish it and have something to show for it, even if it’s just a simple crossword puzzle.
