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Originally posted by Trover:
From what I hear it's almost as if you pray to your brain.

Your interpretation I guess.

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I read the Photoreading book by Paul Scheele, and have a few questions.

When in the blip page phase, am I supposed to stare directly at the center of the two pages (the blip)? Or am I supposed to stare at each page individually for a second or two each?

Gaze, avoid staring, that is more likely to cause eyestrain. Your focus should be in the center spine and your vision should be aware of the entire 2 pages in one go. It's a different type of focus so the words are likely to appear blurred. You are expanding your peripheral vison when you photoread.

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This is all fuzzy to me--this whole concept is, and I'm just looking for some tips, suggestions, and help on anything.

Follow the advise in the book and NOPS. Page 119 how can I quickly learn photoreading.

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When the books says look for trigger words while previewing to get an idea of the structure of the story--what on earth does that mean? How can you get an idea of a story's structure by simply seeing trigger words?

When you pick up a book you have some sort of idea of what it is going to be about. The information from the title and back cover provide that general information. When you look for trigger words you'll find most will come from chapter heading and subheading. Generally these will give you an idea of the stucture of a book. The content page will also clue you to structure.

In searching for trigger words in a novel you will notice repeated words; names and props that give you clues as to what the story is about. Words like gun, clue, murder, scene; will clue you that its is probably mystery book. Other words like nebula, starship etc mean its probably a sci-fi novel. Picking out these words help you to look for the connecting meanings to the story. In the preview stage they only give you mind ideas of where the story can possibly head.

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What is mentally stating our purposes? I don't understand this concept.

It's simply telling yourself 'why' you are about to read a particular book. What you expect to gain from it, be it enjoyment or learning something new or just getting to know what the author thinks on this particular topic of interest. Without telling yourself why you are going to read a particular book, you won't know when you're finished; if you've learnt anything new. In a sense, without a purpose it doesn't really matter if you read a book or not.

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After the photoreading process is complete we're supposed to take a break (minimum of 20 min.), and then the answers to my questions just come me? That brings up another question. How am I supposed to ask specific questions when I have no conscious recollection of what happened in the story?

That is the purpose of the trigger words. To raise your curiosity and form questions. So that when you Superread and Dip you quickly find answers. You may not have answers coming to you however you are likely to have a good idea where to find the answers.

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And also, I know the book addressed this, but how do I know that my zen peace state is actually working? I'm not consciously thinking this while I'm photoreading, I'm questioning this before and after the deed is done.

You follow the steps into the Acclerative Learning state, state the affirmations, purpose, intent, say the chant while photreading. The way you know you are in the right state is that you trust it, allow yourself to simply accept that you are in the right state and your mind will follow through.

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If I should be so lucky to get some answers or responses I thank you in advance.

Welcomed; that's what the forum is for.

Alex