Read any advice on building a knowledge bank, second brain or bank of research, and you will get the same advice. First, you consume the information, then you organise it, and then you use it in an article or piece of work.
The first two parts of this I am brilliant at. The last part I thought I was good at until I looked at the process I have adopted. Before this lightbulb moment, I would organise all my research and return to it when I wanted to write an article. Sometimes, it was that week; other times, it was a month down the line.
The problem was that I needed to familiarise myself with the story and all the research again. It was time-consuming, and I never seemed as familiar with it as I was the first time I worked on it.
So, the change was obvious. Now, if I come across an interesting fact I want to share in any of my newsletters, I research it all, get a grip on the story and write in completely when the information is fresh.
What this means, though, is that I have no set publishing schedule for some of my articles; I will publish them when they are ready. I am okay with that. I am trying something different on Substack. The publishing schedule is going the same way as my Medium profile.
This brings me nicely to a big thank you to everyone who took the time to help me with last week's dilemma. The result was unanimous to delete my account, and although I am not taking that drastic step yet, I need to do some backing up first. I am walking away from the platform with regard to writing.
Which method of research do you use when writing your article? Please drop me a comment and let me know.
If you enjoy this email, please share it so more readers can find it.
Until next week, stay safe
Sam 😊
Weekly Three
Three recommendations to check out to make you a better creative.
The Elysian Habit of Reading Before Bedtime - This article is for all the bookworms. It is such a beautifully written piece, all about our rituals when it comes to reading before bedtime. It isn't just the subject that makes this article unique but also how beautifully it is written.
Scoop - This new Netflix film boasts a vast talent of female actors. This is the account of how the BBC negotiated and shot the interview with Prince Andrew over his Epstein connection. It is one of those rare pieces of television that keeps you on the edge of your seat even though you know how it ends.
Re-Noted: Marginalia, or 5 Ways to Write in Your Books - No surprise this is a subject I love reading about and writing about. This article is from one of my favourite newsletters and tells us a range of ways that the famous have used marginalia.
Quote of the week
Some people get addicted to chain-smoking their problems. They spend all day going from sorrow to sorrow. It doesn't have to be that way. You can live each day going from joy to joy—like a sunflower that turns to face the sun as it moves across the sky. It's not about having a problem-free life, but about focusing on the light. Sunflowers still have shadows, but they are always behind them. - James Clear
I loved Tiago's BASB book Sam. I am with you on Readwise and Reader. It's a no brainer for collecting ideas into one place. I also use Roam research. Tried to use Notion but didin't like it as much even though it was free.
It's a great point Sam. I am not a trained writer with years of experience at the writing funnel. One of my projects as I expand is to create a note-making system for easy access to notes. However, I think I still consume too much. Tiago Forte had a hint. As you consume: If it doesn't move you, it's not note worthy. That helped a lot.