Five winning stories will be selected by a panel of judges, and the winning entrants will each receive an Amazon Kindle 2 as well as Dragon NaturallySpeaking upgrades for three years.
When I have an important oral argument in court, I prepare it the same way I would actually make it in court, i.e., composing by speaking using memory and notes. I usually speak it multiple times to build fluidity and to help remember what I've said. However, every version I speak has differences from every other one. Some are turns of phrase I like; some are re-phrasings and some are whole new points or whole new ways of making an existing point.
In the past, I've recorded the versions so that if there are things I particularly like in various versions I have them again. Theoretically. In some instances, particularly if my speech is lengthy, it is very time-consuming to locate a particular bit unless I know that it is right near the beginning or the end. I've often find it to be more trouble than it's worth.
Enter the Dragon. I can capture the versions on paper. Since I can speed-read, but I can't speed-listen, I can visually scan for whatever I'm looking for in a fraction of the time it would take to listen. I will sometimes find things I didn't remember saying but end up using. Also, I can use a document comparison program to redline changes from one version to another and pick up subtle changes -- which would not be very feasible without Naturally Speaking's terrific accuracy.
An added benefit is that it is much easier to judge the quality of the oral presentation by reading it than by listening to it, and in particular to be sure I've "connected all the dots" of my arguments.
Finally, reading the speech is an additional memory aid.
I hope this can help others (except opposing counsel) enjoy the many efficiencies of Naturally Speaking.