Voices Behind the Record is our ongoing series spotlighting the professionals who make up our court reporting community. Each installment takes you inside the career, craft, and mindset of a court reporter who has not only mastered the technical demands of the job, but has also stayed curious, kept growing, and pushed the profession forward.
Natalie Wills is a voice writer whose calm, precision, and dedication make her a standout in every proceeding she covers. A lifelong singer-songwriter, Natalie found her way into voice writing naturally. Her background in vocal technique and breath work gave her a foundation that translated perfectly to the craft.
As the first voice writer in her county, she's broken new ground and changed minds along the way, one proceeding at a time. Outside the record, Natalie is a mom of four, a world traveler, a yoga practitioner, and a passionate advocate for human rights and her local community.
[Note: The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.]
How did you first discover voice writing as a method? What made you choose it over other paths?
When I first saw a court reporter job posting at my local county, I reached out to the manager there to schedule an appointment to come in and shadow the tenured reporters. That day, I brought a steno machine home with me to get started. Eager to learn more, I went back only two days later, and learned that AB 156 had very recently gone into effect, and that voice writing could be a faster method to my ultimate goal of becoming a CSR. I knew that both my state and my family needed me to take the fast track, and I felt comfortable with pursuing voice writing because I had already been trained with vocal and breathing techniques as a lifelong singer-songwriter and a believer in healing trauma through breath work.
Was voice writing something you stumbled into, or did you seek it out intentionally?
I stumbled right into it with an ultimate knowing that the opportunity was God’s way of paving a path for me into this career.
How long have you been a voice writer, and how has your practice evolved over time?
I’ve been a voice writer for over three years, and over time I’ve learned the importance of testing out different voice briefs, equipment, and voice care.
Did you face any skepticism when you chose voice writing, and how did you handle it?
As the first voice writer in my county, I did and still do face a lot of skepticism. I believe we all have the potential to either listen to the negative voices in the background, or mute them out. Similar to muting out background noises when voice writing to focus on the ultimate testimony, I also learned how to mute others' negativity out of my mental, spiritual, and emotional space while paying close attention to their feedback and concerns in order to tailor my product to evolve closer and closer to perfection.
Who or what has been the biggest influence on your career as a voice writer?
While there are many voice writers across America whom I greatly appreciate, there aren’t any tenured voice writers who live in my local area. Because of that, I’ve had to rely on myself and my own inner strength to continue to educate myself on how to be the best at what I do.
Walk us through your setup. What does a voice writer's kit actually look like?
A voice writer’s kit consists of a muted mask with a microphone inside it that is held up to the face in order for me to quietly speak without others hearing me. It connects to my computer either via Bluetooth or wire and includes a sound card to capture the sound being input into the microphone. When my voice writing software is configured, it does its magic as I continue to monitor its efficacy.
How does voice writing work for someone who's never seen it in action? Give us the breakdown.
Voice writing is a shorthand technique in which you can train your software to take one word or code and translate it into a longer word, phrase, or sentence when it becomes actual text. What’s fun about voice writing is that you can create your own codes and tailor your dictionary to your own level of comfort.
What's the learning curve like? How long before you felt truly confident?
Every single day is a learning experience for me, and I can’t say it just “clicked” one day. I was truly dedicated to becoming a voice writer and a court reporter, and because of my daily consistency, I continued to grow into the confident reporter that I am today.
How do you protect your voice? Any rituals, routines, or must-have products?
I always keep a pack of my favorite Halls cough drops nearby to keep my voice lubricated, and keep warm fluids going throughout the day. Cleaning my voice writing equipment is a must if I don’t want to get sick from a day’s work. Over time, I’ve also tailored my dictionary and training software to recognize words that require less exertion on my part. These three things have kept me going.
What happens when you have a cold or lose your voice? How do you manage?
If I’m doing all the things I mentioned in the prior answer and still get a cold, it means I need to take some time off the record and stay at home with some tea and work on my transcripts in bed. It’s really something you can’t let get to your head if you expect to de-stress and feel better about your next big gig.
What's the biggest technical challenge voice writers face that most people don't think about?
The evolving software that we are blessed to have takes consistent training and re-learning. We are at the forefront of this niche and true voice writers are also coders and software developers who know how to tailor their software to fit their own style and needs. We need to understand the importance of a private and secure database and storage.
How has voice writing technology changed since you started? Where do you see it heading?
Right now, the image of voice writing continues to evolve in such a way that others are understanding towards its credibility and validity, and having had the chance to introduce and showcase voicewriting to so many court officials who haven’t seen it has opened their perspectives to utilizing new technology to continue to allow a safe, efficient, confidential, and accurate work environment.
What types of proceedings do you cover most—depositions, trials, hearings? Do you have a favorite?
I prefer court work because attorneys are less likely to talk over each other when a judge is present. I also appreciate being able to build my professional community through consistent relationships with court officials. I believe I am very blessed to live in the middle of several counties that consist of seriously talented and culturally diverse attorneys and court officials.
What's the most challenging proceeding you've ever had to voice, and how did you get through it?
I once had to write a very high-profile arbitration that mimicked a trial, and the attorneys didn’t understand that my asking them to slow down was a part of my job. Due to many missed lines of communication in the assembly line from reporter to agency to client, I stayed persistent about my communication and learned that standing my ground when others don’t agree is always rewarding at the end.
How do you handle multiple speakers talking at once, heavy accents, or rapid-fire testimony?
I interrupt and let them know that I can’t make a record of the very important things they are saying unless one person speaks at a time.
Funniest or most memorable moment from your career—anything you can share?
Running into attorneys and judges that personally know family members of mine who have been in the field of law always brings great joy to my heart. Particularly, this is the case with my grandfather who passed away many years ago. When I enter a courtroom that I know he practiced law in or in which court staff personally knew him, I often feel that my grandfather is watching over me and giving me the gifts I need to stay calm in the courtroom.
How do you feel voice writing is perceived within the court reporting community? Has that changed over time?
With regards to the non-voice writers in the court reporting community, I continue to showcase my confidence and success stories to them so they understand that it is possible to be a successful voice writer. I think there is a wide variety of perception when it comes to voice writing, and I try to steer away from relationships that shine a negative light on my particular method, and instead stick to those who are eager to teach me to become the best court reporter that I can be.
What do you wish steno reporters and the broader legal community understood better about voice writing?
That just because voice writing may be a faster method of learning stenography doesn’t mean we are “coming off the streets” a.k.a. not trustworthy in the court reporting community. There is a learning curve with every new reporter, and the voice writers in the community are experiencing that learning curve differently than those who have been in school learning machine writing for 4+ years, so the growing pains are inevitable, and those with the right inner drive can absolutely push through those challenges to reach a squeaky clean transcript.
What would you say to someone who's considering voice writing as a career path?
Have fun and don’t give up, unless you realize this truly isn’t for you. You can do anything you put your mind to.
How did you find your way to working with Steno? What's that experience been like?
I once had a friend refer me to a job with Steno, and ever since then, we have taken off into years of partnership. I want to say it hasn’t been an event-free relationship either. Steno continues to impress me with the way they treat me compared to other agencies, the way they listen to my feedback and apply it, and the way they continue to strive to grow strong relationships and partner together in the long term to create an ultimately unbeatable service for the client.
What does a great working relationship between a voice writer and a firm look like to you?
Consistent communication, grace, and mutual understanding that we are all working hard and want to be here together to fulfill a greater purpose.
Outside of work, who is Natalie? What fills your time when you're not on the record?
I have two daughters and two stepsons, whom I love more than this world and want to raise them to value that giving back to the world is why we were put here. When not spending time with my children and taking them to softball and soccer games, I enjoy doing yoga, meditation, and advocacy work with bipartisan human rights legislative agencies, such as 11:11 Media Impact.
Building relationships with associated state senators on a bipartisan basis, in order to prepare for further advocacy, particularly in the realm of protecting vulnerable children, is the true light in my soul that led me to this field of work. That is why you could never fully separate me from my career. While remaining impartial, I truly enjoy witnessing others speak their truth into the record. I also come from a family of musicians and entertainers, so I enjoy supporting my family by going to their shows.
What's something about you that has absolutely nothing to do with court reporting?
Traveling the world is not only something that I’ve done a lot of and plan to do more of in the future (when my kids are older), but it is a value in my family. Going to other countries, such as India, England, Singapore, Japan, helps embed values of cultural appreciation and the value of diversity.
What's your go-to way to rest and reset your voice and your mind?
My yoga mat, where I have a daily 10-minute ritual that includes 2 to 30 minutes of sitting meditation at the end. But if I don’t have time for that, it’s usually my daughter’s softball game. 😀
What's a goal, personal or professional, you're working toward right now?
Making time for non-profit work to give back to my community. Particularly, I’d like to fund a mural in my city that encourages those in trauma recovery that recovery is possible.
Finish this sentence: "People would be surprised to know that I..."
…love Jesus.
If you could tell your younger self one thing about this career, what would it be?
Don’t look behind you. You did it.
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Do you know a reporter who deserves a spotlight? Email lisa.thomas@steno.com and let us know!