**Created**:: [[2022-08-28 Sunday]] **Link**:: https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I **Duration**:: 6:54  # Summary In this video, the presenter shares their method for integrating new subjects into the Zettelkasten note-taking system using Obsidian. They emphasize the importance of formulating a clear research question as a starting point, followed by organizing literature notes and permanent notes around this question. The process aims to reduce the friction associated with adding new topics to the Zettelkasten system, making it easier to navigate and expand upon existing knowledge. # Key Takeaways - Start with a clear research question to guide your exploration of new topics. - Organize research and literature notes within your Zettelkasten by categorizing them under relevant overview notes. - Building a flat structure of permanent notes initially helps in understanding the topic before establishing connections between them. # Content How do you start taking notes on a new subject? [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=0) Having recently re-read "How to Take Smart Notes" by Sönke Ahrens, I'm eager to embed Zettelkasten into my note-taking workflow. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=3) One thing that I’m struggling with is getting started with a new subject when I already have a couple of permanent notes on a subject in my Zettelkasten. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=16) It feels more natural to extend those to add additional questions, additional points of view, ideas, and so on. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=24) But when there's a new subject, a completely new topic that I haven't researched before, how do I get started? [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=33) In this video, I want to share with you my recent experience in getting started with a new subject, doing some initial research, and creating my first couple of permanent notes in my Zettelkasten system. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=42) This is my process in a nutshell: I start by writing down my research question, and because I believe that unless I'm able to articulate my question well, it's unlikely that I'm going to find answers that really address my problem. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=56) I like to play with multiple versions of the question; when I'm happy with the question, I look at my overview notes in my Zettelkasten system to see where the question might fit. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=72) If I find the place where it fits, great; I add the question to the overview note. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=85) If not, then I add my question to the 12 favorite problems. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=91) I create my question note, and I start my research. So let me show you how my question note looks like. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=96) This is my question note—this is the question that I'm researching: "What basic rules should I follow when choosing my color palette for note-taking and sketching in general?" [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=102) You can see that I've already created some sections here. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=115) So at the top, I have a place for my permanent notes, and below them, I have a place for my research, and I’m going to talk about that in just a second. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=120) I've placed this question under my Visual Thinking Frameworks overview note, which is a child of the 12 favorite problems. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=136) Getting back to the process, I start my research, which means I look at my own notes as well as at books, blogs, YouTube, podcasts, and what have you. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=144) And when I find something interesting, I take literature notes. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=157) I make sure that I add a good, succinct summary to each of my literature notes, and I include those summaries in my question note. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=168) So this is what you can see here: I have a couple of different literature notes mentioned here, and for each of them, I have the summary included. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=177) If I open the literature note itself, then you can see that here's my source. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=185) This is the summary section, and then I have more detailed notes in that document that I'm referencing. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=190) I like to collect these summary notes on my question note because this gives me an overview of the area. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=199) This is a new research question—I'm not familiar with the topic; I like to see my different findings on a single page so I can read through them and make sense of them. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=206) Also, note that I'm placing my literature notes in their designated locations. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=220) I have a sources folder in my vault. You can see I have different areas in my vault: I have my area for Zettelkasten, which has my overview notes and my permanent notes; I have my area for meeting notes and projects, as well as my daily notes; plus the sources. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=229) Under sources, I have a separate folder for books, blogs, YouTube, tweets, quotes, learning materials, etc. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=250) Whenever I read a book or a blog or watch something on YouTube and take notes, I place that note right here, but I take the summary section of this note and embed it into my question note, and that’s what I showed you just a second ago. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=267) When I reach a point where I’ve collected a sufficient amount of literature notes and summaries that I understand the topic at least enough to articulate some permanent notes for myself, I start writing permanent notes. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=277) In this case, you can see that I’ve created four permanent notes already. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=295) One is about using the red-yellow-blue wheel instead of the RGB (red-green-blue) wheel when looking for colors because color theory works with the red-yellow-blue wheel and not the RGB wheel. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=304) You have the other permanent notes listed here as well. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=318) When I place permanent notes, I place them under my question note, and I position them in a horizontal hierarchy. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=324) I like to keep it this way until I have 10 to 20 notes because I need to understand the topic. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=331) I need to learn the area before I can really start to talk about lines of thought and links between the various permanent notes. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=338) I start out with building this flat structure, and from here on, I find that the process becomes business as usual. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=352) I now have a place for this type of information, and whenever I read something about colors or I watch something on YouTube or I see a tweet on the topic, I know where I can register my thoughts about it. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=364) With this, I have a process to kickstart a new topic in my Zettelkasten, and from then on, the research will happen in the everyday as I read and consume information. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=377) So this is my process in a nutshell—pretty simple. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=392) I find that this process removes much of the friction in adding new topics and extending my Zettelkasten system. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=394) I hope you found this short video helpful, and please, in the comments, let me know how you deal with new topics. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=406) How do you add them to your Zettelkasten? Thank you. [* ](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=412) # YouTube Details ## YouTube Description #zettelkasten #obsidianmd #excalibrain #excalidraw In this video, I introduce my process for extending my Zettelkasten system with a brand new research topic. If you haven't yet watched it, I recommend that you also check out my extensive book-on-a-page summary of Sönke Ahrens' How to Take Smart Notes: https://youtu.be/o49C8jQIsvs If you want to understand more about creating an ontology of your thinking with ExcaliBrain and Data View I recommend also watching this video: https://youtu.be/haGAfc9QUuA Timestamps ------------ [00:00](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=0) Intro [00:56](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=56) Process walkthrough [06:28](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=388) Closing remarks ------------ If you find my videos helpful, please say thanks by buying me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/zsolt If you want to connect, you can reach me (@zsviczian) in the Obsidian Members Group (OMG) on Discord or on Twitter. Links -------- Excalidraw Plugin: https://github.com/zsviczian/obsidian-excalidraw-plugin ExcaliBrain: https://github.com/zsviczian/excalibrain Obsidian: https://obsidian.md My blog: https://zsolt.blog ## YouTube Transcript [how do you start taking notes on a new](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=0) [subject](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=2) [having recently re-read how to take](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=3) [smart notes by zenka irons i'm eager to](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=6) [embed zettel kosten into my note-taking](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=9) [workflow](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=12) [one thing that i'm struggling with is](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=13) [getting started with a new subject](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=16) [when i already have couple of permanent](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=19) [notes on a subject in my zettel costan](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=21) [it feels more natural to extend those to](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=24) [add additional questions additional](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=27) [point of views ideas](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=29) [and so on](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=32) [but when there's a new subject a](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=33) [completely new topic that i haven't](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=35) [researched before](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=38) [how do i get started](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=40) [in this video i want to share with you](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=42) [my recent experience in getting started](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=44) [with a new subject doing some initial](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=47) [research and creating my first couple of](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=50) [permanent notes in my zettocastin system](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=52) [this is my process in a nutshell](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=56) [i start by writing down my research](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=59) [question and because i believe that](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=61) [unless i'm able to articulate my](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=64) [question well it's unlikely that i'm](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=66) [going to find answers that really answer](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=68) [my problem](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=71) [i like to play with multiple versions of](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=72) [the question when i'm happy with the](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=74) [question i look at my overview notes in](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=77) [my settle casting system to see where](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=79) [the question might fit if i find the](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=82) [place where it fits great i add the](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=85) [question to the overview note if not](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=87) [then i add my question to the 12](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=91) [favorite problems](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=93) [i create my question note](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=94) [and i start my research so let me show](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=97) [you how my question node looks like](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=99) [so this is my question note this is the](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=102) [question that i'm researching what basic](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=105) [rules should i follow when choosing my](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=107) [color palette for note taking and](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=110) [sketching in general you can see that](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=112) [i've already created some sections here](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=115) [so at the top i have a place for my](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=117) [permanent notes and below them i have a](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=120) [place for my research and i'm going to](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=122) [talk about that in just a second](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=125) [i've placed this question](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=127) [under my visual thinking frameworks](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=130) [overview note which is a child of the 12](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=132) [favorite problems so visual thinking](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=136) [frameworks is right at the top of my](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=139) [zettle custom here](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=142) [getting back to the process](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=144) [i start my research which means i look](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=146) [at my own notes as well as i look at](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=149) [books and blogs and youtube and podcasts](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=152) [and what have you and when i find](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=155) [something interesting i take literature](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=157) [notes i make sure that i add a good](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=159) [succinct summary to each of my](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=163) [literature notes and i include those](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=166) [summaries in my question note](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=168) [so this is what you can see here that i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=172) [have a couple of different literature](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=175) [notes mentioned here and for each of](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=177) [them i have the summary included if i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=180) [open the literature note itself then you](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=183) [can see that here's my source this is](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=185) [the summary section](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=188) [and then i have more detailed notes in](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=190) [that document](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=193) [that i'm referencing i like to collect](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=195) [these summary notes on my question note](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=199) [because this gives me an overview of the](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=202) [area](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=204) [this is a new research question i'm not](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=206) [familiar with the topic i like to see my](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=208) [different findings on a single page so i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=211) [can read through them and make sense of](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=215) [them](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=217) [also](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=219) [note that i'm placing my](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=220) [literature notes in their designated](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=223) [locations i have a sources folder in my](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=225) [world so this is my vault you can see i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=229) [have different areas in my vault i have](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=232) [my area for zettelcostan which has my](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=234) [overview notes and my permanent notes i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=238) [have my area for meeting notes and](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=240) [projects](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=243) [as well as my daily notes plus the](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=244) [sources and under sources i have a](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=247) [separate folder for books for blogs for](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=250) [youtube for tweets for quotes for](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=253) [learning materials etc and whenever i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=255) [read a book or a blog or](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=259) [watch something on youtube and i take](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=261) [notes i place that note right here but i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=264) [take the summary section of this note](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=267) [and i embed it into my question note and](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=270) [that's what i showed you just a second](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=273) [ago](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=275) [when i reach a point that i've collected](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=277) [sufficient amount of literature notes](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=280) [and summaries that i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=284) [understand the topic at least to be able](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=286) [to articulate some permanent notes for](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=289) [myself i start writing permanent notes](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=291) [in this case you can see](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=295) [that i've created four permanent notes](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=297) [already](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=300) [one is about using the red yellow blue](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=301) [wheel instead of the rgb red green blue](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=304) [wheel then looking for colors because](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=308) [color theory works with the red yellow](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=311) [blue wheel and not the rgb wheel and you](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=314) [have the other permanent notes listed](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=318) [here as well](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=320) [when i place permanent notes i place](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=322) [them under my question note and i place](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=324) [them in a horizontal hierarchy i like to](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=327) [keep it this way until i have](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=331) [10 20 notes because i need to understand](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=333) [the topic i need to learn](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=338) [the area before i can really start to](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=340) [talk about lines of thought links](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=343) [between the various permanent notes i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=346) [start out with building this flat](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=349) [structure](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=352) [and from here on i find that the process](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=353) [becomes business as usual](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=356) [i now have a place for this type of](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=359) [information whenever i read something](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=362) [about colors or i watch something on](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=364) [youtube or i see a tweet on the topic i](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=367) [know where i can register my thoughts](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=370) [about it with this i have a process to](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=373) [kick start a new topic in my zetto](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=377) [constant and from then on the research](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=380) [will happen](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=383) [in the everyday as i read and consume](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=384) [stuff](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=388) [so this is my process in a nutshell](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=389) [pretty simple i find that this process](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=392) [removes much of the friction in adding](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=394) [new topics and extending my zettel](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=397) [casten system](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=400) [i hope you found this short video](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=402) [helpful and please in the comments let](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=404) [me know how you deal with new topics how](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=406) [do you add them to your settle custom](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=409) [thank you](https://youtu.be/VFt2n9yFx2I?t=412)