Help me finish my dissertation and you make some money?

[purplerabbit]

So the bids are in and I can't afford the transcribing services. ($5000 I don't have!) You see, one of the things keeping me from finishing my dissertation is that the interviews have never been completely transcribed. Out of 51 people interviewed, only 14 have been transcribed. I have an estimated 50+ tapes hours of interviews that still need transcribing.

So I am looking for transcribing help. Can you type what you hear? Transcribing is hard work. You would need to be able to type relatively fast and have the ability to concentrate to listen to a conversation and type what you hear. I have a transcription machine with foot pedal. Even if a several people just did a few hours each, it would help. I can't offer the going rate for transcribing but I pay better than most jobs. How much I can pay someone actually depends on how fast they type/transcribe. I am looking at $10-20 an hour depending on the speed of the person doing it. And I need these done yesterday! Which means, if I am to have a chance of finishing my dissertation on time, I will need them all done by the first of the year.

To help, you would need to be willing to come sit in our computer room and transcribe tapes. Unless a person can do this full time, I will need to get more than one person. Which means I can't loan out the machine. If you have your own equipment, we might be able to work something out. I am also concerned about letting tapes with confidential information out of my control. You would also need to sign a confidentiality waiver to protect the privacy of the interviewees.

As for the tapes themselves, they are actually really interesting. Life histories with FTMs -- people born female but who now live as men. This is important work and I feel I owe it to these guys to take good care of the stories they have shared with me. I hope that the material will not only be part of a book but may someday be able to be part of the GLBT historical archives in SF.

Oh, if you don't have the time and/or ability to help, but want to help with costs I would accept financial help as well. (Yeah, I feel weird asking but promised a friend I would ask anyway.) Maybe you could pay for someone else's time to help me?

I also want to thank everyone who has been sending positive energy my way. It has been helping. I have been more focused and less panicky. I even turned in a rough draft of the prospectus!

Comments

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

I have decent transcription skills (it is part of my job, I type about 60-65 WPM), but not a great deal of time. However, I was wanting to get a few bottles of mead, so maybe we could do a transcription for mead trade? I know we have a mutual friend who is looking for part time work and who has REALLY good typing skills, so I will make sure that she sees this.

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

I can try, and it would be a way to find out if I can. If so, what a great resume tag on. Shall we see what my ability and speed are at that?
Do you have a warm body for tomorrow yet?

[deedeebythebay.livejournal.com]

Well, I can do this. It may have to be in short bursts at your place (as in I type for a bit, rest for a bit, type for a bit) till I'm done hurting as much as I am, but last time I tested I was at 90 wpm with nearly always 100% accuracy.

I'd be happy to do a monetary and mead trade if you are interested.

Just let me know.

[evergrey.livejournal.com]

My unemployment is running out and I'm a decent typist. I also have time! Oo ooo pick me pick me!

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

I used to transcribe for a living. I could probably manage to do a tape or two for you without further consideration. More than that would require scheduling and actual monetary remuneration (which we could negotiate when/if you decided to use my services). Fortunately, it looks like there are others here who can also transcribe, so I think you'll be able to get this accomplished!

And go you for turning in the rough draft! Hooray!

[bdot.livejournal.com]

i was going to offer, but it lok slike you have many folks who are *way* more qualified than i am!!!!! good luck!

[tiggrrl.livejournal.com]

My typing isn't terrible, but also not great, so I should probably leave the helping to others with more skillz.