As you start getting faster in shorthand, you look for individual factors that are slowing you down.
I have noticed that in the textbooks they leave a decent space between outlines which is fair but maybe if they were closer you would be able to read context much better as your eyes would take in more words every time it focuses.
Have a look:
It might be just the way I wrote it, but I do think the writing looks more fiery when they're close together. Sort of like handwriting versus writing letters separately.
Troutgirls bellydancing notes example has even more space than my first paragraph: (lets hope the link works)
Labels: general