Ready to stop tinkering, and start writing?
Need to hear more?
Here’s two people who’ve been transformed by my book, A System for Writing, the same content you’ll find in this course (only in the course you’ll get so much more than what’s found in the book, because you’ll be in community, asking questions, seeing real-time examples and demos):
“If you haven't read Bob Doto’s A System for Writing... I strongly recommend it. It's the first thing I've ever read that really makes sense (to me) of the ZK method.” — 48899again “[A System for Writing] is a fantastic explanation of the zettelkasten method in a real practical way that doesn't get bogged down in jargon or a complicated workflow.” — seashoreandhorizon
THE SYSTEM FOR WRITING
MASTER COURSE
Everything you need to build, maintain, and leverage your zettelkasten for writing. Prepare to make profound connections, work the system, and write more than you ever have.
what it is
Note: The System for Writing Master Course include the following two modules:
To learn more about each module, click the links above.
what you’ll learn
- Effortlessly capture ideas before they slip away
- Save the most relevant insights from what you read
- Connect information in profound and unexpected ways
- Transform powerful notes into articles, blog posts, and books
- Start every writing session with words already on the page
- Develop a system for writing that not only supports your creativity, but inspires it
how you’ll learn
- discussions
- illustrated lectures
-
thinking exercises
- demonstrations
- weekly assignments
Note: Only the 2-hour didactic sessions will be recorded. One-hour “Open Studio” sessions will not be recorded so students will feel free to discuss their works-in-progress.
who’s it for
who’ll be teaching
when it’s happening
MODULE 1
Tuesday, 1/14 @ 1100am NYC time (lecture)
Thursday, 1/16 @ 1100am NYC time (Q&A)
Tuesday, 1/21 @ 1100am NYC time (lecture)
Thursday, 1/23 @ 1100am NYC time (Q&A)
Tuesday, 1/28 @ 1100am NYC time (lecture)
Thursday, 1/30 @ 1100am NYC time (Q&A)
Tuesday, 2/4 @ 1100am NYC time (lecture)
Thursday, 2/6 @ 1100am NYC time (Q&A)
—ONE-WEEK BREAK—
MODULE 2
Tuesday, 2/18 @ 1100am NYC time (lecture)
Thursday, 2/20 @ 1100am NYC time (Q&A)
Tuesday, 2/25 @ 1100am NYC time (lecture)
Thursday, 2/27 @ 1100am NYC time (Q&A)
Tuesday, 3/4 @ 1100am NYC time (lecture)
Thursday, 3/6 @ 1100am NYC time (Q&A)
Tuesday, 3/11 @ 1100am NYC time (lecture)
Thursday, 3/13 @ 1100am NYC time (Q&A)
Tuesday, 3/18 @ 1100am NYC time (lecture)
Thursday, 3/20 @ 1100am NYC time (Q&A)
what’s included
- Access to the private “Zettel Sunrise” Discord server
- A pdf copy of A Concise Reference Guide to A System for Writing
cost
No more clunky, Frankenstein systems.
Having a dysfunctional system is both frustrating and discouraging, which leads to you feeling overwhelmed and unaccomplished. I totally get it.
For decades, I had a Frankenstein system. I wrote a lot. But, it never felt right. Every time I started a new writing project, I’d get anxious, not knowing how long it’d take or if I’d ever finish, and if I did, if I'd be able to start again. It was kind of miserable and a mostly grueling. Thankfully, things changed, dramatically and for the better.
In this course, I’ll teach you the writing system that shifted my entire writing experience. A system that is both logical and coherent, while at the same time dynamic and inspiring. Writing is work enough. Let your system support you.
- “This course was the boost I needed.... I now feel more confident with reading/writing.“ — Corey
Stop rebuilding your system. Start writing.
How many times have you rebuilt your system?
Cobbling together a writing system from clickbait YouTube videos, paywalled Medium articles, 30-day writing challenges, forum comments, and flashy PKM courses does not a system make. Let's do something different. This course teaches you to build a high-functioning, high-yield, low-stress system that you'll build once. Get ready to mourn the loss of tinkering. (Seriously, if publishing scares you, you may have to mourn the loss of tinkering. Ask my therapist.). No longer will you spend your days “perfecting” your system. From here on out, it's creative work only.
- “Super helpful. Very insightful. Removed a lot of friction for me with Zettelkasten. I may actually start creating my own work!” — Slobodan
Cut through the confusion.
Seriously. There’s so much conflicting information out there.
This course gives you a comprehensive understanding of the major themes and conversations you come across online, so you can make educated decisions about what aspects of the system work best for you and why. You’ll learn a methodical approach that leaves room for experimentation and serendipity.
- “Here is Bob's mic drop moment. Solving the confusion in 2 minutes” — Dave
- “Bob...this was awesome. Your explanation of zettelkasten actually made sense!” — Dana
- “There’s a ton of content out there about this system and how great it is, but so much of it is convoluted. Doto distills the important pieces and provides actionable insights.” — August
“Clear.” “Concise.” “Straight to the point.”
There’s no need to overcomplicate writing or the system you use to get writing.
I wrote a book. Maybe you’ve read it. It’s called A System for Writing. I wrote this book to cut through the noise, and it forms the foundation of all my zettelkasten courses. So, what people say about the book is what you can expect from the course:
- “It's direct to the point and with good examples, with no dogmatism at all.” — New-Investigator-623
- “Doto goes right to the point clearly, simply, efficiently. He acknowledges issues, but gives simple advice, leaving the reader open to take a different tack, knowing why they’re doing so. Bottom line: written by a writer, for writers.” — eeweir
- “The book A System for Writing is the book I wish I had in 2020. It's straight to the point and has the right number of examples. The writing is clear. The summary at the end of the chapters with a clear checklist for both things to do and things to remember helps understand the process.” — Douglas
- “Your book has unlocked the zettelkasten system for me in a way that I've been struggling to access for the best part of 5 years.” —Tony
- “Thank you for your book, Bob. It really did the trick for me. I'm a writer, but I've only been chasing Zettelkasten for a bit longer than a year.... Your book really provided what I needed when I needed it.” — Michael”
- “This book is a relief. I've read many books on note-making and zettelkasten, plus taken programs, and each seemed to make it more confusing. I really needed a guide to distill it into the most important pieces, with an emphasis on getting the whole thing to work. That's what this book is.” — Roam
The most complete course on zettelkasten.
There is no other course like this one.
The System for Writing Master Course will take you on a comprehensive journey from capture to creation—from collecting your ideas, to establishing connections between them, to structuring your thoughts, to turning it all into writing you can release into the world. But, even more than that, the course will teach you how to do it again and again. To get you there, you’ll learn how to:
- Effortlessly capture ideas before they slip away
- Save the most relevant insights from what you read
- Connect information in profound and unexpected ways
- Transform powerful notes into articles, blog posts, and books
- Start every writing session with words already on the page
- Develop a system for writing that not only supports your creativity, but inspires it
My job is to present as complete a vision as possible. I think I do that well:
- “Probably the most comprehensive how-to currently out there.” — Tinker
A course you can trust.
The vast majority of zettelkasten pundits have no idea what they’re talking about.
I don’t want to be negative, but it’s true. So many people are just in the game to make money, and will say anything to make it, even if it’s wrong. I’m a life-long teacher (over twenty years). I've taught at the college level, in high schools, punk warehouses, living rooms, yoga studios, and online. I take teaching and the material I teach seriously.
Here’s just a small sample of what students say my zettelkasten classes:
- “Let me declare the following: ‘One of the most valuable lectures ever’.” — Matteo
- “The term 'mastery of the subject' comes quickly to mind. ” — anon
- “Great presentation! very clear!” — Claudia
- “That came together insanely fast - WOW” — Damien
A course with kindness.
There’s no room for shame in personal knowledge management.
This course is based in principles not proselytizing. Discernment not dogma. Whether you use a digital platform or paper to work your zettelkasten, you’re welcome in this course. Whether you write academic works, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or performances, there is a place for you here. That’s not to say you won’t be pushed. You will. But, there will always be love and care for your progress behind it all.
- “I've spent a few years in a couple of the same online communities as Bob Doto and followed his short-form writing for the past two. Through observing his interactions and responses to others I've come to respect him as a thoughtful, humble, and well-spoken teacher. He brings knowledge, experience, and a playful humor...to the conversations.” — Witt