A System for Writing

1. Capture Thoughts to Free Your Mind

The mind is for having ideas, not holding them.

Externalize thinking. Our brains are better at generating ideas than storing them. Writing down fleeting thoughts, tasks, and reminders frees up mental space and allows us to focus on deeper thinking and creative problem-solving. This externalization is the first step in transforming amorphous thoughts into coherent ideas.

Fleeting notes are key. Fleeting notes are quick reminders of information, captured on the go. They are not meant to be permanent but serve as the raw material for more developed ideas. Use whatever capture tool is most convenient – a notebook, scraps of paper, or a note-taking app.

The inbox system. Stage your fleeting notes in an inbox for later processing. This inbox serves as a reminder of the special nature of the zettelkasten, ensuring that only the most interesting and relevant ideas make it into your network. Regularly processing your inbox prevents it from becoming overwhelming and ensures that your zettelkasten remains a valuable resource.

2. Reference Notes Bridge Consumption and Creation

A reference note allows us to take notes on each of these without disturbing our flow, giving us a place to return when we’re finished.

Capture while engaging. Reference notes are taken while actively reading, listening, or watching media. They capture key ideas and passages, creating a personal index of consumed content. Unlike fleeting notes, reference notes are stored in your zettelkasten, acting as a bridge between source material and your main notes.

Varied approaches. There are many ways to take reference notes. You can simply jot down page numbers and keywords, add labels to track themes, or include brief notes about the idea's relevance. Digital tools allow for capturing whole quotes. The key is to find a method that works best for you.

Marginalia as reference. Don't underestimate the power of writing directly in books. Marginalia, when combined with a reference note, can be a powerful way to capture and leverage insights. Mark up interesting passages and then pull the most relevant ones into a reference note.

3. Main Notes: The Building Blocks of Thought

Main notes are what your passing captures become.

Single idea focus. Main notes are the core of your zettelkasten. Each note should contain a single, well-defined idea, making it easier to connect and repurpose. This atomicity allows for greater flexibility and creativity in your thinking.

Essential components. A main note should include a title, the single idea, a link to another idea in your zettelkasten, a quote or reference to the source, a record of where the idea has been used, and a unique ID. These elements make the note more useful, connectable, and memorable.

Processing fleeting notes. To create main notes, process your inbox of fleeting notes. Rewrite the idea in complete sentences, consider its relationship to other ideas in your zettelkasten, and add the appropriate alphanumeric ID. Give the note a title that briefly sums up the idea.

4. Connect Ideas to Spark New Insights

A Luhmann-style zettelkasten is held together by a network of connected ideas.

Relationships are key. A zettelkasten is not just a collection of notes; it's a network of connected ideas. Establishing relationships between ideas is crucial for generating new insights and developing long-form arguments. Links allow you to create trains of thought that can be retraced and expanded upon.

Interrogate your ideas. When making connections, don't be afraid to stretch the relevancy of your ideas. Ask questions, read the subtext, and consider how an idea might inform seemingly disparate topics. Even if a connection feels forced at first, it may reveal surprising insights down the line.

Contextualize connections. Clearly state the reason for connecting two or more ideas. This will help you remember the relationship in the future and increase your understanding of the ideas themselves. Avoid "link dumping" by providing context for each connection.

5. Alphanumeric IDs: Navigating the Idea Labyrinth

The alphanumeric system, later dubbed “folgezettel” or “follow-up note,” allowed Luhmann to work non-hierarchically.

Unique identification. Alphanumeric IDs, or folgezettel, give each note a permanent identity that can be referenced regardless of changes to its content. This system allows you to locate notes, reconstruct trains of thought, and establish connections between ideas.

Non-hierarchical system. The alphanumeric system is not meant to create a hierarchical tree structure. Ideas are imported in the order they are created, not in the order that makes the most semantic sense. This allows for ideas to branch off in any direction.

Section headings for organization. Section headings can be added to group related notes, but these labels should be applied after ideas have been added, not used to decide where a new idea should land. Section labels are only used to help locate areas of your zettelkasten.

6. Embrace Anarchy: High-Level Views for a Chaotic System

The slip box provides combinatorial possibilities which were never planned, never preconceived.

Distributed network. The main compartment of your zettelkasten is an anarchy of ideas, a distributed network where every idea is both an intersection and a point of departure. This non-hierarchical structure allows for unexpected connections and novel insights.

Hub notes as access points. Hub notes help you navigate your zettelkasten by pointing toward the various places your thinking has gone. They are access points to different trains of thought, allowing you to quickly jump into frequently engaged areas of your slip box.

Structure notes for semantic coherence. Structure notes are spaces where the contents of trains of thought can be developed further. They allow you to organize and explain the relationships between ideas, creating a more coherent understanding of your thinking.

7. Zettelkasten Guides, But You Must Write

A zettelkasten will not tell you what to write.

Zettelkasten as guide. A zettelkasten can point you toward what to write about by revealing areas of increased connectivity, reference notes showing what's been catching your attention, and structure notes providing a foundation for writing. However, the zettelkasten should not do the writing for you.

Avoid fragmentation. Don't simply copy notes into your manuscript. Rewrite ideas to fit the context of your argument, adding semantic connective tissue to create cohesion. Remember, your zettelkasten is a tool, not a substitute for your own thinking and writing.

Embrace editing. Editing is crucial for creating clear and compelling writing. Be willing to cut unnecessary content, lean into footnotes and endnotes, and remember that not every note in a train of thought needs to be included in your manuscript.

8. Writing for Readers: Engage, Refine, and Grow

Meaning is created in community.

Writing for engagement. Writing for readers is about more than just expressing your ideas; it's about engaging in a conversation. Publish your writing to get feedback, challenge your beliefs, and refine your thinking.

Short-short content for testing ideas. Use main notes to create tweets, toots, and other short-short forms of online content. This allows you to quickly test ideas and get immediate feedback from your audience.

Blogs for themed exploration. Use your zettelkasten to generate blog posts on a specific theme. This allows you to vary post lengths and create a cohesive body of work. Engage with commenters to generate new ideas and inform future posts.

9. Manage Your Writing: Systems for Every Stage

Writing is bigger than writing.

Daily journal for tracking progress. Keep a daily journal to record your activities, thoughts, and suggestions for future work. This journal serves as the central hub of your workday, helping you stay organized and focused.

Creative logs for project management. Use creative logs to track progress on specific writing projects. Record what you did, what needs attention, and suggestions for the next writing session. This will help you pick up where you left off and maintain momentum.

Task-focused project management. For writing with a deadline, use a task-focused project management system. Define the project, brainstorm tasks, gather resources, do only today's tasks, and record progress in a log. This will help you stay on track and meet your deadlines.

Last updated: February 27, 2025