Jonathan Baldie
Apr 21, 2020 — 3 mins readPhoto by David Travis on Unsplash
For me, note-taking is one of the most fun parts of writing books. It combines reading, analysis, organisation, and composition. While not all writers plan their work, the most successful ones use planning and note-taking extensively.
In this article, I'd like to show you my method for note-taking, in the hopes that it will help you do the same for your writing work, whether you're predominantly a fiction or nonfiction writer. I expect you to become an expert note-taker!
But first, I think it's important to explain why we take notes. Almost every successful writer I have come across does some form of planning or research before they start drafting. They rarely jump headfirst into any project.
I spend months reading books, watching documentaries, and taking notes because they help me to clarify my thoughts on the topic I want to write about. If I neglect to do this, I might find myself in a dead-end with no way out.
Planning and note-taking allow me to analyse what I've learned on a topic, organise my notes into a viable plan for a book, and build an outline. It's like the bones for the skeleton of my book, and that's why it's so fundamental.
I hope that this guide has helped you to clarify your thoughts on note-taking. It is not rocket science, but it is something you should take seriously. Everything out there is material you can use for your next book, so make use of it!
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