Weird words like Zettelkästen.

That Gerrman word describes the system for managing my ideas, notes, and writing. I’ve got a library of 1000s of notes inside my personal Zettelkästen.

I spent 30 minutes every day reviewing them. I see how note A connects to notes B and C and how C connects to A. I use these notes to create content, newsletters, videos, social media posts, and book chapters. In fact, this system helped me write my last book in half the usual time.

Some of these notes will never go further than my computer, but I turn most of what I capture into something I can publish. Otherwise, what’s the point?

My Zettelkästen is software agonistic, too. Basically, it’s a series of Markdown files on my computer synced over iCloud. I don’t like being locked into proprietary systems like Evernote or Apple Notes.

Some days, I manage my notebook library with Obsidian or IA Writer. On other days, I use a barebones app called Archive, which costs me $15.

The app doesn’t matter much. Many proponents of this system collected piles of notes and index cards, which they organized using a basic filing system.

The 20th-century German scholar Niklas Luhmann popularized the concept of a Zettelkästen, which roughly translates as a “slip box.” Keeping a Zettelkästen involves capturing, revising, and sorting a series of notes.

Like a well-tended garden, Luhmann’s Zettelkasten grew over time, eventually containing over 90,000 index cards! A prolific writer, he used this method to write over 70 books and nearly 400 scholarly articles.

Other famous people who kept a type of Zettelkästen include the writer Anne Lamott, the comedian George Carlin, and even US President Ronald Regan.

It’s easy to set up a Zettelkästen. If you’re serious about writing online and want to create content that AI can’t generate, this system can help. Like money in a bank, each note gains value over time as it connects with other notes, creating a wealth of content you can use.

But many creators get hung up on that odd German word. Dig into this method, and you’ll find other confusing terminology and rules, too.

In short, start by writing just three notes today. Repeat tomorrow. And the next day. Keep your notes in one place. Once or twice a week, figure out how each of these notes relates.

I break down how it all works in this video.

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If you want help setting up your personal Zettelkästen, check this out​