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What are your tips for creating high-quality content fast?

Hi fellow bloggers,

I have just started a blog and I have realized how time consuming is to write essays without a note-taking system.

I've found that even taking notes with notebooks is not very effective when it comes to content creation. Ideas are locked in multiple folders and don't speak to each other. It's better than nothing of course, but still not optimal. So I am building a knowledge base to take notes (https://gemsnotes.app). For me networked thoughts work much better in terms of actionable knowledge ready to be turned into new content.

How do you take notes for your blog posts? Do you have any other technique to be more productive?

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    Typically, I write about problems I've solved and take notes within markdown files since my blog posts are converted from markdown to HTML. So, basically I just polish my notes, add the frontmatter, and then use Grammarly to make sure it isn't the worst writing. Hence, the source (notes) isn't far removed from the product (blog posts) at https://thetoulbox.com

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      Thanks for sharing! It is a very interesting workflow. Do you recommend any particular tool for markdown or are just plain files in your pc?

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        I use VSCODE and have the markdown preview and the *.md syntax checker extension installed. Also, hot reload to show the blog locally. I like this setup because it apart of my normal workflow which is to use VSCODE for writing posts and developing code.

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          You basically embedded writing blog post into your workflow as a developer. This is amazing!

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    I use Evernote as well for capturing ideas throughout the day. I think the bi-directional linking in Roam is probably better for capturing and then connecting related ideas, but I haven't personally made the switch from Evernote because it seems like a hassle to do so.

    However, the biggest productivity challenge for me isn't taking notes. It's actually sitting down and getting words on paper. And I think there are only two things that help. 1) Practice. You get better at writing the more you do it. 2) Outlines. If you can develop a consistent process for writing headings, intros, and structuring the body of your content, you can produce more on a consistent basis.

    Keep it up and good luck with the new app.

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      Hi Tyler, thanks for sharing your tips and considerations!

      I see what you say but when it comes to creative tasks like writing I personally prefer a less structured approach at first. The fact of having bricks of knowledge linked together gives me the right amount of serendipity to come up with more original ideas to write about. Also, writing for me is a non-linear process and I found myself stuck with outlines because they impose a structure upfront. I usually start by putting some notes in sequence but then I rearrange concepts following the flow of thoughts while writing.

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    I set aside some time to process the events from the day that might turn into quality blog posts. Everybody runs into the same problems, but the way we go about handling them tend to be totally different. I like sharing my unique perspective on common problems.

    Usually what I end up doing is sending a few tweets to get my ideas down. Then in my blogging time (usually in the mornings) I reference the tweets to get the creative juices flowing.

    If you'd like to take a look at some of my writing, you can see the problems I've been facing over time. https://readysetcloud.io/

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      Thanks Allen! Do you have a specific moment for processing the events? Say evening? Or do you do it multiple times throughout the day?

      So you basically use twitter as a public note-taking tool? I think tweets are a great way to clean up your thinking because of the few characters.

      Nice blog! I have read the article about PoCs and I agree with you 😉

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        Thanks!

        As for when I process the day's events, it's at night. I usually am thinking about that as I'm putting my baby to sleep. But that's not to say the morning wouldn't work just as well. You have to find the time when you can focus the best.

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    I dont particularly like making content -- I enjoy being in flow, so when I am doing content full force, then I do enjoy it, but it distracts from building.

    I just wrote https://storycreatorapp.com/blog/how-to-make-video-memes-in-2020 and what I learned was this.

    • Have a framework for content
    • Genuinely enjoy what you're writing about
    • Remember you're writing to help others learn more about what you can do to help them whether that is your service or tool.
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      Hi Michael, thanks for sharing! Could you please explain further what you mean by having a framework for content? :)

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        Sort of like a checklist.

        • Find titles that are attractive and meet keywords you want to rank for (there is a formulaic approach you can follow, just research how to construct catchy headlines and trial/error. You can also find a process in finding keywords that work)

        • Have a consistent format - find a ratio of H2 tags to images, keep your paragraph text to 1 - 2 paragraphs between H2 tags

        • Use tools to pull images faster, maybe have some nice CSS modules you can use to highlight certain visuals.

        It's like baking a cake, once you understand the fundamentals, then you can mix and match on top of a foundation to make it easier. Doing this reduces cognitive load and enables you to move faster.

        Make sense?

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          Yes, it makes a lot of sense! Thank you!

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    I just use Evernote. It looks like you have an idea for a new workflow for note-taking while using articles, but I haven't quite understood it yet.

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      Hi Darko, you're right, I was not very clear about it. Basically I organize information in a different way. Instead of having notebooks with folders and subfolders, I have a knowledge base with Indexes and Notes.

      Indexes, typically labeled with a keyword, are the entry points to a knowledge base made of Notes linked together. There are no hierarchies. Each Index starts a flow of thoughts. Each Note refers to a single concept and can be part of multiple flows.

      The biggest difference in workflow from traditional notebooks is the shift from topic-based to concept-based thinking. To make Notes reusable in multiple flows, they need to express concepts instead of topics. So I consume content differently to find the underlying concepts and then link them with the previous ones.

      I write my notes in a ready-to-publish format, aiming for something readable and understandable by someone else that has no previous context about it. Of course, it takes a little bit more than just copy-pasting or highlighting but the return on investment is massive when I start writing essays because most of the work was already done in short note-taking sessions over time. I am still at the beginning but my feeling is that the more notes I write, the faster I become in publishing new original essays combining existing notes in different ways.

      So I am treating knowledge as a series of atomic building blocks that can be assembled and recycled. I am experimenting new techniques like progressive summarization to maximize value extraction from the content I consume. But the basic structure is this and it worked quite well for me so far.

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