Philosophy Workflow - How I Write

This is the process I follow when I write a philosophy note in my voice. It keeps the tone honest, the structure consistent, and the sources grounded without turning the note into a lecture.

inputs

• One classic text or book that holds the core tension.
• One essay or blog post that clarifies the same idea in plain language.
• One YouTube transcript that adds a spoken, accessible framing.

drafting steps

1. Write a one-line tension statement in my own words.
2. Choose 2-3 related notes to link inside the body.
3. Draft 4-6 paragraphs as a brain-dump, no section headers.
4. Add a core claim callout and a reflective question callout.
5. Insert one inline note chip and one long bullet cluster.

structure checklist

• Frontmatter includes: title, tags, draft, description, created, updated, note_id.
• Base notes are 800-1200 words with 2+ cross-links.
• Update notes can exceed 1200 words; no max length.
• Add an annotations section with 3-5 sharp bullets.
• Add a linkage tree block for connections.
• Add references in callout blocks with direct links only.
• End with a trailing # line.
• Add a keywords line near the top (after the intro paragraph):
  • Format: Keywords: word1, word2, word3
  • Only use 1-word keywords, max 5 per note.

update and branching workflow

• Update notes stay in the same folder as the base note (no branch folder).
• Do not add new IDs beyond the standard note_id; no parent_note or news_id fields.
• The update note title should be a keyword phrase, not a dated label.
• Add the keywords to keith-digital-garden/content/Notes/Interactive/Keywords/Keyword Index.md.
• Consolidation rule: when an update adds a stable insight, fold 2-3 sentences into the base note and keep the update as history.
• Keep 2-4 west/east comparison links in each update note.

tone checks

• First person, casual, direct, no academic voice.
• No source names inside the body.
• No quotes longer than a single line.
• Always return to lived examples and small, real actions.
• Add a one-sentence ideology check: what value stance the note defends.