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Newbie here! - I've got some questions

bercberc
in The Zettelkasten Method

Hello,

I'm berc and I've just finished "How To Take Smart Notes" by Sönke Ahrens and while I understand the general idea, I still have some questions.

How many and what types of notes are there exactly? I found hard to follow Ahrens card system and the fact that my english isn't my mother tounge made it even harder. The fleeting notes aren't permanent right?

What also confuses me, that it seems like people use different names for the notes.

-Fleeting notes?
-Literature/Bibliographic notes?
-Permanent notes/Main notes?

Also, how long are thee notes supposed to be?

I've heard a lot about Obsidion, and I'm planning to work with it, but is it ok, if I do the fleeting notes on little papers? (since they're not so useful?)

Comments

  • SaschaSascha

    Hi berc,

    here is a clean write up about the note types: https://zettelkasten.de/posts/concepts-sohnke-ahrens-explained/

    I am a Zettler

  • bercberc

    @Sascha said:
    Hi berc,

    here is a clean write up about the note types: https://zettelkasten.de/posts/concepts-sohnke-ahrens-explained/

    And how am I supposed to write them? I have no reference. How long are the supposed to be?

  • GeoEng51GeoEng51

    @berc said:

    @Sascha said:
    Hi berc,

    here is a clean write up about the note types: https://zettelkasten.de/posts/concepts-sohnke-ahrens-explained/

    And how am I supposed to write them? I have no reference. How long are the supposed to be?

    You should read through the introductory material on this web site first, before asking really basic questions that have already been answered many times.

  • harrharr

    @berc said:
    And how am I supposed to write them? I have no reference. How long are the supposed to be?

    Chapter 2.1 of Ahrens' book (2n edition, 2022) provides some hints about the writing style:

    • Fleeting notes can be anything, including scribbles on napkins and voice memos.
    • Literature notes should be "very short" and "extremely selective".
    • Notes about ideas should each describe one idea. You should "write as if you were writing for someone else: Use full sentences, disclose your sources, make references and try to be as precise, clear and brief as possible."

    Ahrens' book is based on the assumption that you want to write something. I'm curious:

    What do you plan to write?

  • bercberc

    @harr said:

    @berc said:
    And how am I supposed to write them? I have no reference. How long are the supposed to be?

    Chapter 2.1 of Ahrens' book (2n edition, 2022) provides some hints about the writing style:

    • Fleeting notes can be anything, including scribbles on napkins and voice memos.
    • Literature notes should be "very short" and "extremely selective".
    • Notes about ideas should each describe one idea. You should "write as if you were writing for someone else: Use full sentences, disclose your sources, make references and try to be as precise, clear and brief as possible."

    Ahrens' book is based on the assumption that you want to write something. I'm curious:

    What do you plan to write?

    Quite interesting how the book does not really give answer to HOW but rather WHY.

    Anyway, my general interests are: history/literature. I read a lot in both subject.

  • harrharr
    edited January 30

    @berc said:
    Quite interesting how the book does not really give answer to HOW but rather WHY.

    Why is a good question.

    What is your WHY? Why are you considering the Zettelkasten method?

    EDIT: Ahrens knows his why. He describes an "overarching workflow that is stripped of everything that could distract from what is important" (Chapter 3).

    Ahrens knows his priorities. He knows what is important to him (thinking and writing). He knows what distracts him (too many details).

    The Zettelkasten method works well for people who have the same priorities.

    Do you have the same priorities?

    Why do you want to take notes?

    Anyway, my general interests are: history/literature. I read a lot in both subject.

    It's ok to read without taking notes. :)

    Post edited by harr on
  • zettelsanzettelsan

    @berc said:
    Quite interesting how the book does not really give answer to HOW but rather WHY.

    This is a frequent complaint about Sönke's book How To Take Smart Notes. People have mentioned the relevant resources on this website already, but if you are interested in a book that complements Sönke's, I'd recommend that you take a look at Bob Doto's A System for Writing. Bob has mentioned that it was written partly due to the frustrations and confusions that he still saw in his students after reading Sönke's book. I find it an excellent starter book for those getting started with the Zettelkasten method.

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