Fledgling Zettelkasten
Yesterday, when thinking about the Zettelkasten method, I realized that I had developed a fledgling Zettelkasten practice many years ago. Following are the details...
Marginal Notes in Books
When I was young (1970s), there were no personal computers, smart phones, etc. When I read a book, I would stop, consider an idea, and write concise notes in the margin of the book. The focus, effort and thought that went into these notes certainly qualifies them as complete zettels. Many of my old books are filled with such marginal notes (a classic was "7 Habits of Highly Successful People" by Steven R. Covey). Sometimes, one marginal note would refer to a previous marginal note on another page. When I reread a section of the book, I also reread and in some cases enhanced the marginal notes. A friend read one of these books when he was laid up in hospital. He said reading the marginal notes was just as interesting and thought-provoking as reading the original text. I may have stumbled on an early, fledgling version of a ZK without even realizing it (until this moment).
As Applied in the Bible Study App
This practice was extended when reading the Bible in an app called "Gospel Library". In this app, one can highlight text, add tags and/or notes to highlighted text, and make your own links to other verses of scripture. I have been the most diligent in applying this practice, and have accumulated about three thousand bits of highlighted text and over 700 attached notes, over a five year period. Again, the notes are written only after intense study and thought. I find the extension of the linking capability to not only other verses of scripture but also to other information in the app to be most helpful. So, in a way, this is an enhanced version of a fledgling Zettelkasten. It doesn't meet the full "specifications" for a Zettelkasten, but it is getting closer.
Just thought I'd share this "aha" moment. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
I've been thinking about whether there is value in integrating this scripture Zettelkasten into my main (external) Zettelkasten, and if so, how I would do it. Any suggestions?
Howdy, Stranger!
Comments
Yes. When I was 11 or 12, I invented a fictional state. I wanted to make the "perfect" state that would amalgamate the best traits from the ones in the classical era. I drew inspiration from the books of the nearby library and frantically draw city maps with "improved architecture" (standardized houses because I invented a space-optimized communal housing architecture...), created various standing armies and mercenaries that could be activated, economic relationships etc.
What could count as a fledgling Zettelkasten is that I collected everything in a binder and made sure that I could exchange the elements when I thought I could create something better. Obviously, everything was linked, but I didn't had a formal linking system. I relied on my then youthful brain and just pointed out the connection on paper.
I played around with the app just a little bit. So, take the rest with a grain of salt: I would start with the first principles. You have created two structures: The app offers a linked learning environment that you enhanced by customizing it with your own ideas and connections. The Zettelkasten, well, is your Zettelkasten.
The overlap is that you have content in the app that could benefit your Zettelkasten (as a thinking environment and as a repository). The standard advice is to treat the app's content as an external source and whenever the interaction with the app let to an emergent idea (being it new inspiration, just re-reading your own comments, or whatever), you process this idea to your Zettelkasten.
So, my recommendation is boringly predictable: Treat the app as an external source and only process your ideas from it to your Zettelkasten in the moment of emergence.
But with IDs you can link from the app to notes of your ZK:
I don't know if the other way around is possible with the App. But manually copying the link is not the end of the world.
I am a Zettler
Yes, I have been doing that, but only sporadically so far. One of my goals for this year is, as I study the Bible and other scriptures again, to pay careful attention to those old notes and selectively pull them into my Zettelkasten.
Thank you - there are two ideas here I will pursue:
@Sascha - I appreciate the time you took for a thoughtful response! Your feedback opened up an exciting new way of linking my normal ZK with the fledgling ZK in the Gospel Library app, into which I've already invested a lot of time and focused thinking. Wow!! I can't wait to explore the possibilities.
Awesome! Then I am looking forward to your experience report.
I am a Zettler