Thread by @JamoeMills

Some minimalist principles for using @RoamResearch effectively based on the live stream with @wshuyi.

They'll keep your Roam a delight to use by designing it so it works with you (not against you).

🧵👇

1. A meta-point to start: use the tool with a purpose.

For me, Roam was a way to write faster, so everything was focused on that goal. FOMO disappeared as I could easily separate the relevant from the irrelevant.

When getting started, that's a blessing, as it cuts complexity.

2. Metadata tagging is another form of complexity.

Simplify to Not Started, Doing, Done.

That's in contrast to using, Not Read, Reading, Read and Not Written, Writing, Written.

It will cut your cognitive load and make your database more of a delight to use.

3. To avoid more obvious forms of duplication when tagging, I always opt for the singular.

That means I write 'Metric' not 'Metrics'. It's simple to action and keeps things tidier.

4a. But what about tagging your content? The Forest and the Trees principle from Roam Untangled will help.

Forest = book-level tag.

Tree = block-level tag.

That way, you can filter to find trees across all your notes even if the book metadata doesn't have a tag on that topic.

4b. It'll also prevent tagging anxiety: tagging a book with every topic you can think of to not lose ideas.

Instead, just nest your notes under the metadata. Now those block-level tags are children of the book.

They'll resurface easily.

Tip: Forest and Tree tags should be ME.

5. The Up, Down and Across framework will make your tags more creative (leading to more original thinking).

Up = the idea above.
Down = the idea below.
Across = the idea that rhymes.

For a deep dive, read this: words.jamoe.org/up-down-and-ac…

6a. How do I use tags to write faster? Aside from finding ideas faster, tags help with logistics.

#Leftover and #Prop are my favourites...

#Leftover = use it to tag great blocks of writing that you had to cut during the editing phase.

Now you can easily resurface your orphaned ideas, and use them as prompts for writing something new.

6b. #Prop = helpful for collaborating.

I use this for things I need to design when writing. The example below shows the sketch of a diagram.

#Prop lets me find those sketches easily rather than scrolling (and you can add a collaborator too, e.g. my good friend Charles).

7. A closing point on design, keep your Roam ugly (at least at the beginning).

Getting caught up in CSS, SmartBlocks and other "black magic" is a distraction when starting out.

It's like making a sundae and worrying about the cherry. Get some ice cream in the bowl first.

Feel free to write if anything's unclear.

For an 80:20 breakdown of Roam for capturing, connecting and creating faster, check out Roam Untangled 🧶.

Written from an overcast London 🌤

jamoe.org/roam