In a previous post I provided some ideas for creating an Index while will help locate the information that you are looking for in a notebook. This post provides additional ideas to keep your notes organized as you create them.
This article is significantly based on an article in the book “Mindhacker” entitled Hack 17-Write Magnificent Notes. The author is Lion Kimbro, who I referenced in the previous post on indexing. Mindhacker is full of good ideas from all sorts of subjects. Check the link above and if it looks interesting run down a copy for yourself.
Organization System Goals
- Speed in writing: we want to be able to enter new ideas quickly
- Speed in finding: we want an easy way to find our notes, along with other relevant information
- Adaptability: our system needs to change as our notes, ideas, and interests change
- Flexible format: we want to be able to use quotes, quick notes, sketches, or diagrams
This is a paper based system. Those of you that keep digital notes will have other systems to reference your notes and can easily add additional documents as you gather more information. As a tradeoff, you might find in difficult to have the portability/ease of use that we find in using a notebook. You might also find that’s it more difficult to add drawings and sketches..
Notebooks are very portable, and they have a long battery life. (This is almost a direct quote from the Mindhacker article, but I like it.)
There aren’t tradeoffs, just decisions.
What do You Need to Get Started?
A notebook, probably at least 240 pages
The pages should be numbered. If they aren’t, you’ll have to do that yourself.
Something to write with. Lion Kimbro suggests using a multicolored pen. I normally use fountain pens and highlighter pencils, but will actually use anything that is handy.
Create your index, as detailed here
How is this different?
When we get a new notebook, we typically begin by writing the first thing on page 1, the second on page 2, and so forth. This approach is different. We have three distinguishing features
- We will be leaving lots of open space
- Our notebook structure will emerge with time
- We will create an index as we go
Ok. How Do I Know where to put my notes?
Lion Kimbro writes: “it’s very important that when you are about to write, you first ask yourself: Do I already have something like this in the notebook? If so, where?”
- If the new entry is somewhat related to an earlier entry, put the new entry 3-10 pages away from the prior entry.
- If it closely related, put it just 1 or 2 pages away.
- If it’s really not related at all, keep it far away from other entries, maybe 20-40 pages away.
- If what you are adding is merely a detail for something already written, add it directly to the page.
Kimbro also writes: “When you are working like this, you” find that your notes seamlessly bleed into one another by topic, subject, and association. Your thoughts (and notes) are almost magically located near other, related thoughts and you (might) make serendipitous discoveries.”
This Sounds Complicated. Can I See An Example?
On March 6 I watched a Youtube video on a 30 minute abs workout, using no equipment. I was trying to extract some ideas for a Core Training class that I teach at the gym. My notes from this video are on page 189 in my Commonplace book
, On March 9 I watched a Youtube video called “How to Analyze a Book like a Renaissance Scholar”. The video describes a 6 step process for reading techniques, analytical techniques, and note taking techniques. This subject is completely different from the previous entry made on March 6. So, I wanted lots of empty pages and put these notes on pages 154-155, 30 pages away from the prior entry. I don’t care if there are blank pages in between.
On March 12 I was wondering which of my blog posts are the most read. I looked at the data from my web hosting service and was trying to figure out which categories and topics have the most interest. This writing has nothing to do with either of the previous examples so I entered this on page 214, 25 pages away from the first entry, and 60 pages away from the second entry.
On April 18 I read an article called “Don’t Annotate Your Books-Do this Instead.” This topic seemed like a natural add on to the March 9 video on pages 154-155 so I have these notes on the next two pages, 156-157.
How Do I Use The Index?
For each entry you make in your notebook, think of 2-5 keywords that you’ll use to get back to the idea. It doesn’t have to be, and perhaps shouldn’t be, the title of the entry but instead something expressing the ideas in the entry. If you find yourself looking for something, and you have difficulty finding it, try to come up with a more useful keyword or two.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
- Reserve 2 – 4 pages for quickly jotted notes. The best ideas usually strike at unexpected times, and you need to be prepared to write them down even if it’s just a sparse idea to develop later. Don’t forget to index them!
- I’ve also created a “Reverse Table of Contents” that shows subjects on various pages, rather that which pages contain which subjects.
- I have a lot of quotes that I’ve collected, so I have a separate index for quotes.
- Reserve a page to test pens, inks, pencils, highlighters, and markers.
- Lion Kimbro suggests: “Do not strive to completely fill your notebook! Rather, occupy 70-80 % of the pages, and then start a new notebook. Revisit (and extend) the prior notebook when you have fresh insights into the older subject matter.”
- Don’t be a neatnik.