The one thing that's holding me back: differentiating similar characters in Gregg. Advice?

I learned Gregg a year ago but never got much practical use out of it because I found I couldn't read my notes later. I seem to be unable to produce an R/L line that is CLEARLY an R or a P/B that's CLEARLY a B.

I think the problem is partially in my writing and partially in my reading. That is, I have problems with reading what others have written as well.

How did all you get over this hump?