I don't think, in the end, that using Zettelkasten you are doomed to write luhman-like books.
I don't believe that using a Zettelkasten inevitably leads to writing Luhmann-like books either. Do with it what you like. If, after spending time with your Zettelkasten, you gain clearer insights, then it's serving its purpose. Books are written over weeks, months, or even years (like this punctilious second edition... :-)), and the Zettelkasten is a tool that supports that gradual process. I'm always happy if I gain clarity on one or two things after spending some time with my notes.
I don't think, in the end, that using Zettelkasten you are doomed to write luhman-like books.
I don't believe that using a Zettelkasten inevitably leads to writing Luhmann-like books either. Do with it what you like. If, after spending time with your Zettelkasten, you gain clearer insights, then it's serving its purpose. Books are written over weeks, months, or even years (like this punctilious second edition... :-)), and the Zettelkasten is a tool that supports that gradual process. I'm always happy if I gain clarity on one or two things after spending some time with my notes.
Yes, combining the recent read of Allosso book with reading again the issue presented in this topic I think I've understand the origin of the problem.
Using Zettelkasten doesn't imply that I can write a book "easily".
To believe in this ease I have to think that I can write a book simply assembling the ideas and concepts I've developed using Zettelkasten. I think it's not like that.
Developing that content is only a part of the work. A well done Zettelkasten helps me to have something meaningful and well argumented to say to others (having this something to say is not a small thing, of course), but I need to guarantee other properties for my writing. My readers need to find my writing readable, interesting, they need to be able to extract what I have to say.
@andang76 Well put; that is my experience as well. I've written many reports and technical papers over the years and love the creative writing process. But getting ideas into and then out of your ZK is just one small step in the overall process. A lot has to go on inside your brain before you reach the final product.
Just because your ZK is a "second" brain doesn't mean you can stop using your "first" brain, which is, after all, the most important, active and creative of the two
I wrote a book, while having and using my Zettelkasten for it (actually three, but one bigger one) and I don't write luhmanesque. So, at least, it is not a necessity.
Comments
I don't believe that using a Zettelkasten inevitably leads to writing Luhmann-like books either. Do with it what you like. If, after spending time with your Zettelkasten, you gain clearer insights, then it's serving its purpose. Books are written over weeks, months, or even years (like this punctilious second edition... :-)), and the Zettelkasten is a tool that supports that gradual process. I'm always happy if I gain clarity on one or two things after spending some time with my notes.
Yes, combining the recent read of Allosso book with reading again the issue presented in this topic I think I've understand the origin of the problem.
Using Zettelkasten doesn't imply that I can write a book "easily".
To believe in this ease I have to think that I can write a book simply assembling the ideas and concepts I've developed using Zettelkasten. I think it's not like that.
Developing that content is only a part of the work. A well done Zettelkasten helps me to have something meaningful and well argumented to say to others (having this something to say is not a small thing, of course), but I need to guarantee other properties for my writing. My readers need to find my writing readable, interesting, they need to be able to extract what I have to say.
@andang76 Well put; that is my experience as well. I've written many reports and technical papers over the years and love the creative writing process. But getting ideas into and then out of your ZK is just one small step in the overall process. A lot has to go on inside your brain before you reach the final product.
Just because your ZK is a "second" brain doesn't mean you can stop using your "first" brain, which is, after all, the most important, active and creative of the two
I wrote a book, while having and using my Zettelkasten for it (actually three, but one bigger one) and I don't write luhmanesque. So, at least, it is not a necessity.
I am a Zettler