I've recently volunteered and just done my first page, so have that faintly smug glow of having Given Something Back. Once that's been checked they'll give me some more to do. It didn't take too long to do a page, either.
I used to do them, stopped after a few months though, as was getting really fed up of being hassled to make changes to transcriptions I'd done if I didn't do them immediately. Although this might have just been the person who was running the group I was in! It is easy though and satisfying to give back like you say I may have another look at it and consider joining a different group.
Were you doing handwritten or typed? I was a bit terrified of the idea of doing handwritten transcription but I think my syndicate is mostly doing 1930s stuff that typed, well-scanned and is pretty clear to read. But equally they are probably just giving me the easy stuff...
I started doing typed and then went on to do the handwritten ones. Most of them are fine, is very satisfying deciphering some of it, although time consuming! There is loads of help for figuring out the handwrititten ones on the site.
another alternative is to volunteer for FreeREG - a sister project that works on parish registers. Some counties have good coverage - some none yet - but it is a long term project that will grow over time.
It varies a bit from county to county depending on what they have available. But basically it is using the old registers (either digital images or fiche) and transcribing them with a package that formats it for you. Then you upload it to a server, and once every 4 weeks it gets built into a searchable database.
A county coordinator will talk you through it, allocate you work and help with any problems you have. You can do as much or as little as you want - but be warned - it can be addictive.
If you can read the older writing you will be even more welcomed - but there is lots of the more recent ones to be worked on too.
