note-making system

Trusted experts have shared different note-making systems they've used, each with its own advantages and personalized approaches:

• Robert Greene developed a note card system during his first book using 4x6 note cards to organize material by themes and chapters, providing structure yet allowing flexibility and creativity in writing. He goes through books, annotates, and then transfers notes to cards, organizing them by the book's themes rather than following the book's structure. This process also helps in forming the structure of the chapters for his books 1.

• Carolynn Levy mentions trying a note card method as well for her thesis, inspired by author John McPhee. The idea was to spread note cards on the floor, arranging them in the desired order before writing. However, she found this system problematic, particularly for capturing complex ideas or extensive information such as mathematical formulas 2.

• Susan Cain uses a less systematic method by placing all her notes, conversations, and ideas into a massive Microsoft Word document which can span hundreds of pages. As she progresses, she tags and organizes the notes by topic, resulting in several binders filled with these organized notes. Susan also writes out emotional or moving ideas on the spot to capture the sentiment before it fades 3.

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    Note Card System

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    Note Card Chronicles

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    Note-Taking Strategies

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    Unconventional Writing Systems

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• Cal Newport talks about how writers often use old-fashioned or low-tech techniques like rubber banding index cards or using photocopied papers. He brings up John McPhee's meticulous system, involving cutting out typed pieces and arranging them on plywood, emphasizing that while the process may be slow, the personal structure it provides is crucial for the writing process 4.

Each of these systems is a reflection of how personal the note-making process can be, often crafted to suit the specific workflow and cognitive style of the individual writer.

Trusted experts have discussed a variety of note-making techniques, each tailored to different needs and preferences:

1. Zettelkasten Method: A note-taking methodology involving bi-directional links between notes, allowing for navigation through a content graph rather than a hierarchical tree, and using tags for organization. This system is used for personal knowledge management, capturing interconnected information, and is not limited by strict hierarchies, promoting idea surfacing and discovery 1.

2. Organizing by Active Projects (PARA method): Tiago Forte's PARA approach categorizes digital information according to active projects rather than by subject. He argues that projects are more relevant for organizing notes and files as they relate to ongoing areas of interest or activity in one's life 2.

3. Simplicity and Hierarchy: Cal Newport emphasizes simplicity in organizing notes, with few levels of organizational hierarchy. He uses a two-level hierarchy for computer science projects and a three-level hierarchy for writing—notes are organized into notebooks, which are further arranged into stacks by topic or project type 3.

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     Revolutionary Note-Taking

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     Optimal Organization

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     Simplifying Note Organization

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     Efficient Book Reading

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     Efficient Analog and Digital Tools

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     Quest for Perfect Order

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4. Corner Marking Method: Cal Newport discusses a physical book reading strategy where he marks interesting sections and denotes marked pages by slashing the corner. Upon revisiting the book, he can quickly find and review all the main ideas in about 10 minutes. He also condenses information from multiple books into summaries within relevant Evernote notebooks, helping to pull together complex arguments for writing projects 4.

5. Evernote for Digital Note-Taking: Cal Newport uses Evernote to write up summaries of books when preparing complex arguments for a chapter or article. This aids in remembering and applying information relevant to his ongoing work 4.

6. Analog and Digital Tools: Cal Newport describes his system of using a time block planner and the digital file 'workingmemory TXT' to capture tasks and notes throughout the day, which he processes during his shutdown routine. He also uses project-specific analog notebooks for focused work on academic papers or books 5.

7. Messiness and Disorganization: Oliver Burkeman suggests that keeping a note-taking system slightly disorganized can maintain a sense of creativity and generate more interesting insights than striving for perfect order 6.

While preferences and systems may vary, these methods demonstrate the importance of adaptability and intentional design in organizing and making notes to suit individual workflow and cognitive styles.