Revisiting Notes and Ideas

I often transfer notes and citations from books, articles, or academic theses directly, depending on whether I read them on Kindle (automatically) or in print (manually, via Readwise). Crucially, I immediately process the insights those notes inspire, forming connections and adding tags and backlinks about a week after reading. Interestingly, I've found that allowing some time for ideas to settle can yield fresh perspectives.

Obsidian also facilitates the import of images or PDFs from original sources like flyers, newsletters, and interview transcripts. Although using citation managers like Zotero or databases like DEVONthink could have been more systematic, my early attempts with them were frustrating. In a time-constrained environment, I preferred to focus on what Obsidian could accomplish without diverting my attention.

Transitioning to Writing Mode

In the past year, I have predominantly been in writing mode, which means relying heavily on the stored information rather than continually adding new notes. While I still occasionally add notes, they're typically temporary and will likely be discarded once the book is complete, as they serve more as synthesis rather than thesis.

One of the features I appreciate about Obsidian is the ability to have multiple windows open side by side. Even though I primarily write on a compact MacBook Air, I find it helpful to organize my notes on the left side of the screen while maintaining a "writing" window on the right. My initial writing in Obsidian serves as a rough draft; I'll eventually transfer it to a more powerful word processor to refine it further. This dual-window setup allows me to reference my notes while articulating my thoughts.

Utilizing Tags and Backlinks Effectively

Since I had a clear project in mind when I began taking notes, I had a good understanding of where certain pieces would fit within the context of my writing. Some connections were quite evident—for instance, the book will delve into six prominent spaces: bars, bookstores, and softball diamonds, among others. Thus, tagging a note with #softball was an intuitive choice. However, as I write, the number of core tags can become overwhelming, leading me to implement secondary tags to better categorize my thoughts, such as #softball/history or #softball/social.

I also use tags to track individuals I need to interview or questions that arise during my research. In my daily logs, I frequently tag thoughts with #question (or #question/softball for chapter-specific inquiries) whenever an idea strikes me. I make it a routine to revisit my #question and #source tags, similar to how I systematically review articles saved in Instapaper. Tagging is only useful if one actively engages with the content associated with those tags.

As I identify themes connecting the various locations in my book, I utilize both backlinks and tags. For example, I observed that lesbian bars often had to conceal their identity to avoid alarming closeted patrons, a situation not unlike rural back-to-the-land projects that had to operate discreetly to evade potentially hostile neighbors. After making this connection, I document it in a note and link it to related ideas through backlinks, which can lead to further development of that concept.

Managing Citations and Avoiding Self-Plagiarism

I haven't yet begun the citation phase, so my optimism may be premature, but I believe that writing from a PKM system will make compiling endnotes more manageable. By navigating my vault and following backlinks, I should swiftly locate the sources for any quotes or references.

A lot of emphasis is placed on how a Niklas Luhmann-style Zettelkasten can empower writers to repurpose materials across different formats—like turning blog posts into newsletters or recombining sections to create new content. However, in journalism and book writing, such practices are often prohibited without proper permissions. Nonetheless, I can employ the same techniques that facilitate repurposing to ensure that I avoid self-plagiarism (or plagiarizing others), making it a beneficial approach overall.

Lately, I've found less time to indulge in the exploratory aspects of PKM—such as watching videos or reading newsletters about these tools and refining my system. While I can certainly watch or read during breaks, I've had to discipline myself not to dive too deep into that enticing rabbit hole. Once the book is completed, I eagerly anticipate returning to the enjoyable process of exploring the ever-evolving capabilities of Obsidian, Logseq, and other innovative tools!

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