So ... this is a topic of great importance I'm very interested in. Thanks for writing about it!
I have a giant banker's box full of journal articles organized by chapter (I also have this in my computer). I also have a file called "papers that fit in more than one chapter" for those papers that apply to multiple chapters on which I've scribbled which chapters they fit into on the front of each paper. I work by reading one paper or book at at a time, scrawling all my first impression ideas and comments on the paper's physical margins, and then putting everything from that paper that's relevant to the chapter I'm working on right away into the draft text file of the chapter, in approximately the right place. I have to through the "papers that fit in more than one chapter" file many times. Then as I'm editing, I write transitions, delete stuff that now seems to extraneous, and make it all flow together smoothly.
My method for interview transcripts is the same as yours. I do have organizational spreadsheets I use to keep track of to-do lists, sources, super key quotes, etc. for each chapter, so I don't forget anything.
I once tried making research material files with quotes, data, etc., but I found not only was it extra work, it was basically wasted time because I always wanted to go back to the original article to see the context of whatever it was I wanted to add, and then I had to find it all over again, which was also more work. So I said: to hell with it!
I love your banker boxes! And so smart to label papers that fit in more than one chapter and give them a special home. I use Scrivener collections for that.
That sounds like a great system for note-taking. You must have a pretty good sense of the chapter structure from the start--yes?
Yes -- I have a very good idea of the chapter structure, and I think that is essential to this system. HOWEVER, one flaw of my system is that as the chapters increase (and they have increased a lot), it throws off my chapter number notation system. So I am moving to still numbering them on papers but *also* writing the topic it applies to next to the number so I will still know if the numbering changes.
I also forgot to mention that I note the chapter number/topics on the margin within the paper at the factoids/info/quote I think I may want to use so I can find them easily again later.
Personally, I think your system is way more organized, and mine is the lazier way in the short term, and the harder way in the long term. I still have to look everything up manually if I want to find something or check a source! But it is the system that works for me, and it does avoid having to make those middle-man files. : )
So ... this is a topic of great importance I'm very interested in. Thanks for writing about it!
I have a giant banker's box full of journal articles organized by chapter (I also have this in my computer). I also have a file called "papers that fit in more than one chapter" for those papers that apply to multiple chapters on which I've scribbled which chapters they fit into on the front of each paper. I work by reading one paper or book at at a time, scrawling all my first impression ideas and comments on the paper's physical margins, and then putting everything from that paper that's relevant to the chapter I'm working on right away into the draft text file of the chapter, in approximately the right place. I have to through the "papers that fit in more than one chapter" file many times. Then as I'm editing, I write transitions, delete stuff that now seems to extraneous, and make it all flow together smoothly.
My method for interview transcripts is the same as yours. I do have organizational spreadsheets I use to keep track of to-do lists, sources, super key quotes, etc. for each chapter, so I don't forget anything.
I once tried making research material files with quotes, data, etc., but I found not only was it extra work, it was basically wasted time because I always wanted to go back to the original article to see the context of whatever it was I wanted to add, and then I had to find it all over again, which was also more work. So I said: to hell with it!
I love your banker boxes! And so smart to label papers that fit in more than one chapter and give them a special home. I use Scrivener collections for that.
That sounds like a great system for note-taking. You must have a pretty good sense of the chapter structure from the start--yes?
Yes -- I have a very good idea of the chapter structure, and I think that is essential to this system. HOWEVER, one flaw of my system is that as the chapters increase (and they have increased a lot), it throws off my chapter number notation system. So I am moving to still numbering them on papers but *also* writing the topic it applies to next to the number so I will still know if the numbering changes.
I also forgot to mention that I note the chapter number/topics on the margin within the paper at the factoids/info/quote I think I may want to use so I can find them easily again later.
You are so organized! I am in awe 🤩
I've also had to deal with renumbering chapters. Such a pain!
Personally, I think your system is way more organized, and mine is the lazier way in the short term, and the harder way in the long term. I still have to look everything up manually if I want to find something or check a source! But it is the system that works for me, and it does avoid having to make those middle-man files. : )
omg this is so helpful 🙏 we may need to discuss in more detail when I see you next