Think-Draw-Wait: Three Steps for a Visual Zettelkasten.

Edmund

It takes time to wait. Today, I created a sequence diagram to reveal one of my 'secret Zettelkasten workflows':

My Zettelkasten reminded me of an old idea from 2023 published on the Obsidian forum. To create the diagram today I used the PlantUML plugin for Obsidan.

More about: https://plantuml.com/en/

GeoEng51

@Edmund You must be the Master of using diagrams to map various Zettelkasten processes (and other processes, for that matter). Do you find using this approach clarifies your thinking?

I've used mind maps in a limited way to document engineering design processes and find, even if I think I know the entire process, that the mind map helps to clarify certain aspects of a process. And sometimes, I discover a few additional elements or flow paths.

harr

@Edmund said:
sequence diagram

I'm curious: What is the "Outline Wall"?

Edmund

@harr said:

@Edmund said:
sequence diagram

I'm curious: What is the "Outline Wall"?

The Outline Wall is a technique used by historian Robert Caro [1], to organize and make sense of large amounts of information. He would create an outline of the main ideas and concepts of a historical event or period and post it on a wall. Then, he would add all the research materials he gathered, such as documents, images, and notes, and pin them around the outline.

I can‘t start writing until I‘ve thought it through and can see it whole in my mind.
— Robert Caro

The idea behind it is that by visually organizing the information and seeing it in front of him, he can easily identify patterns and connections between the different pieces of information. The outline serves as a structure, helping him to see the big picture and understand how all the pieces fit together, also allowing him to change the structure as he gathers new information. This way, he can think more clearly and make connections between different pieces of information.

References
[1] Paul, Annie Murphy. The Extended Mind - The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain. Mariner Books, 2022. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL35293012M/The_Extended_Mind., p.144
[2] https://medium.com/@groepl/take-useful-notes-use-an-outline-wall-65752cb0d3ae

Edmund

@GeoEng51 said:
@Edmund Do you find using this approach clarifies your thinking?

Yes, absolutely. I always start with a sketch. I love the refinement that comes with many iterations.

harr

@Edmund said:
The Outline Wall is a technique used by historian Robert Caro [1], to organize and make sense of large amounts of information. He would create an outline of the main ideas and concepts of a historical event or period and post it on a wall. Then, he would add all the research materials he gathered, such as documents, images, and notes, and pin them around the outline.

Thanks! Here's a picture of Caro and his coarkboard: https://cspancollections.gmu.edu/s/Home/item/5966