Do main notes need to be “original ideas?” Yes and no. While it’s true using a zettelkasten for writing works best when the slip box contains more of your own ideas than others, it’s not true that these ideas must be “novel” or “original.” Capture your ideas, and let the connections between them reveal what’s original.

All published writing is part of what I call “the triangle of creativity.” You read something interesting, have thoughts, work out those thoughts through writing, and publish your writing so others can read it. Then, readers read your writing, have their own thoughts, work those thoughts out in writing that others can read. And around and around it

Most of the resources I need for any writing project come from the following places: My zettelkasten Previously written articles Comments I’ve made on forums My posts and comments on social media Previously created outlines Other people’s articles not yet read or annotated

Below are the steps I take in my task-focused project management system, which are the same for any project I’m working on, be it writing or otherwise: Define the project Brainstorm tasks Gather resources Do only today’s tasks Record progress in a log

This style of recording and commenting is called “interstitial journaling,” a technique developed by Tony Stubblebine.134 The term “interstitial” refers to the space between things, in this case the space between transitioning from one task or project to another. In that space, Stubblebine suggests we record what we completed, what we thought about

Every piece of writing I work on is supported by two documents: a daily journal and a creative log. The daily journal is broad in scope, including a record of the writing I completed, as well as tasks and thoughts unrelated to my creative work. Creative logs are used to track progress only on my writing. These two record-keeping systems work in

In the end, the writing must take priority. You’ll need to learn how to become a writer first and a note maker second.

An outline is a living document, loose and mutable, traveling alongside your writing for the duration of the project. It changes as you go. My outlines tend to progress through four phases: The “Brain Dump” Phase The “Say More” Phase The “Break it Up” Phase The “Back-and-Forth” Phase

1. Your first paragraph can probably go. Some of the best editorial advice I ever got came from the editor at my first publishing job on the first day: “Cut out the first paragraph. No need to wait around while the writer clears their throat.”