Conor
A question for anyone using a #zettelkasten or similar #notetaking system - How do you know when to link one Zettel/note to another? And how do you find where the material you want to reference is? Does it not really break the flow of creating notes?
Jun 16, 2023 at 2:51pmWeb
Show threadChristian TietzeJun 17, 2023

@conorf Linking is nothing special I deliberate. There's stuff I have, and there's stuff I need to know to make more informed decisions, so I look for these and put a link. Simplified, it's always "See here for details", with the details on another note.

It's similar to grocery shopping: say I want to make this complex dinner, but I have no clue, so I look for a recipe. Then I have the recipe. But I still don't know anything about the different vegetables and broths. That's the detail.

Show threadChristian TietzeJun 17, 2023
@conorf So it's really a natural process of "I want X", figuring out "Where do I get X from", then realizing "I need to know more about Y and Z", too, to make more sense of it. To deepen my understanding, in the sense that I de-superficial-ize it :)
Show threadQuillDrivenJul 2, 2023

@conorf Something I caught in your question:

`Does it not really break the flow of creating notes?’

I don’t try to add links while writing; I wait until I’m integrating the note to add them. It’s functionally similar to the practice of separating writing from editing. If you want a more focused zettelkästen community, zettelkasten.de has a forum!

Zettelkasten knowledge and info management • Zettelkasten Method

A Zettelkasten is a personal tool for thinking and writing that creates an interconnected web of thought. Its emphasis is on connection and not mere collection of ideas.