Ahrens' literature note is what many zettelers call a reference or bibliographic note. Personally, I prefer the term "reference note," as that's both what...| Writing by Bob Doto
Steps you can take to begin writing with your zettelkasten| Writing by Bob Doto
Clearing up misunderstandings about how folgezettel functions in the zettelkasten| Writing by Bob Doto
Hub notes and structure notes don't get a lot of attention in the zettelkasten discourse, especially in comparison to reference notes and main notes. This lack of airtime has led to misunderstandings about what hub and structure notes are, what their function is, and whether the terms can be used interchangeably (they can't). To clear things up, we'll look at what distinguishes these notes, as well as how they work together to help you find and develop ideas in your zettelkasten.| Writing by Bob Doto
This article gives a preliminary framework for people wanting to experiment with a collaborative zettelkasten. Keep in mind, these are mere suggestions, since I've not yet experimented with this type of slip box. As to whether the suggestions are valid, this will be determined by anyone who attempts to put them into practice. Note: While this article was written in the context of a Luhmann-style zettelkasten, people using similar, adjacent models, should feel free to work with what's presente...| Writing by Bob Doto
The term "bottom-up" is commonly used to characterize "flat" note-taking systems that reject both hierarchy and topical folders, ones that draw inspiration from Niklas Luhmann's zettelkasten practice and writings. However, the term still retains a degree of ambiguity, functioning as shorthand for working with ideas "organically" or in a way that "more closely resembles how our brain works." Despite its frequent use, the question remains: what do we mean when we describe the zettelkasten as a ...| Writing by Bob Doto
Maintaining a Luhmann-style zettelkasten is, in part, a practice of destabilizing someone else's structured thinking. Complex ideas developed by a writer, once skillfully woven into a fabric of singular theses, are unwound from their original focus in order to yield separate, "atomic" ideas that can be reimagined, reinterpreted, and, ultimately, repurposed for new work. While on the surface this pillaging of someone's writing may seem destructive, even an affront to something sacred, it is ac...| Writing by Bob Doto
This article is part of a new series titled "Doing What Matters Most," which looks at how simple, flexible, personal, project management systems can help people make sense of their lives.| Writing by Bob Doto
Despite the many different points of origin a main note may have,1 developing ideas in the context of a zettelkasten can generally be achieved in two ways:| Writing by Bob Doto
Registration for "Writing With a Zettelkasten" is now open. First session: Tuesday, Sept 5, 2023. Limited to 20 people.| Writing by Bob Doto
All source material is handled more or less the same way when working with a Luhmann-style zettelkasten. Whether it's a 500-page book on literary theory or a...| Writing by Bob Doto
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The term "fleeting note" comes from Sonke Ahrens' book, , and describes a note which is impermanent or, to use Ahrens' language, not permanently stored in yo...| Writing by Bob Doto