Ahren's Zettelkasten Manual

Here are the steps that make up the zettelkasten workflow presented by sonke ahrens in his book How to Take Smart Notes - Ahrens.

1. Write fleeting notes. You can also write evergreens directly to the Zettelkasten.

2. Write literature notes. When reading, take notes about what can help you write original permanent notes. Be short and selective, particularly with quotes. Keep literature notes with their bibliographic details in your Reference system.

3. Write permanent notes. Once a day, review your fleeting notes and literature notes. Think about how these relate to your own thinking. Use the following questions:

   • Does the new information contradict, correct, support, or add to what you have in your Zettelkasten?
   • Can you combine ideas to generate something new?
   • What new questions arise?

   Write these notes for your future self:

   • Write one idea per note.
   • Use full sentences.
   • Indicate your references.
   • Be brief and clear.

   After processing the fleeting notes, throw them away. After processing literature notes, return them to your reference system.

4. Add links. In each new permanent note, add links to related notes, to the index, or to an entry point linked to the index.

To write using the zettelkasten, see Write using permanent notes.

References

Ahrens, S. (2017). How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking – for Students, Academics and Nonfiction Book Writers. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.