Zettelkasten Workflow

The power of a zettelkasten comes from its disciplined workflow, which transforms consumption into active synthesis.

1. Capture

Write Fleeting Notes immediately when you encounter an interesting idea. Don't worry about formatting; just capture the thought.

2. Process

Convert your fleeting or literature notes into Permanent Notes. This requires thinking about how the new idea fits into your existing web of knowledge.

3. Link

Explicitly connect the new note to others. Ask:

• "What does this contradict?"
• "What does this support?"
• "What trail of thought does this belong to?"

4. Retrieve

When working on a project, follow your "trails" of links. Structure emerges bottom-up as you navigate the connections you've previously established.

Relationship to llm-wiki-pattern

The LLM automates the Process and Link stages by suggesting connections and summarizing sources, effectively turning raw text into literature and permanent notes.

See Also

• zettelkasten-note-types
• wiki-pattern-operations