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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 มิ.ย. 2024
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Mini-Essays are a style of note that blends speed and novelty with the depth you need to understand ideas.
They're an invaluable tool not only for exploring your curiosity, but also for putting in the reps for your writing habit. Write just one or two every day, and in a year, you'll be unrecognizable from the writer you once were.
But how do you get started?
Mini-Essays are a unique format, so it can be tricky to get stuck in. This video offers some rough direction for writing your own, for whatever goals you have. We're all different, and mini-essays have to reflect this by staying flexible, fun and tailor-fit to your approach.
Here I cover:
-Four rules to keep your mini-essays useful (and not a pain in the ass to manage).
-Techniques to write an enticing intro.
-Tips for writing the body text in a clear and logical way.
-How you can wrap it up with a punchy conclusion.
-How you can use storytelling to write mini-essays that make you feel.
Enjoy!
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Other Mini-Essay Video:
• Mini Essays: The Ultim...
Organizing Your Mini-Essays With Obsidian (Zettelkasten):
• Obsidian: The King of ...
Art used in thumbnail is 'Ernest' by Roeland Kneepkens
www.roelandkneepkens.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00-00:27 Mini Essays
00:27-1:16 Personalized Writing
1:16-8:26 The Four Rules of Mini-Essays
8:26-9:04 The Three-Part Structure
9:04-10:35 What Makes a Good Intro?
10:35-13:15 Steal These Intro Styles
13:15-16:10 Writing the Body Text
16:10-17:47 Writing a Powerful Conclusion
17:47-18:03 Newsletter Plug
18:03-20:35 Using Storytelling in Mini-Essays (Story Notes)
20:35-23:43 Storytelling Examples
23:43-23:59 Outro
Two points resonated with me the most -
1. Do not overwrite, just because you are entering more words does not necessarily mean you are transferring more knowledge. I used to be guilty of this in the past, but of late I have been trying to type keeping brevity in mind
2. Conclusion must provide a sense of closure. I think while the headline is what gets people to start reading a text, the conclusion plays an equally important role in cementing the idea in the reader's mind, thereby enabling them to remember it better.
good points
Nice -first one is especially tricky to get good at, but so important
Your videos are just what's needed. Not a second is wasted. I hardly learn anything from youtube lately, yet your videos have provided me with my most important tool since journaling. Mini-essays, however trivial they may seem, are helping me a great deal with sorting out my reflections. I hope you will keep going
Thanks man, I really appreciate it. It's cool that you're using them to reflect -we get fewer and fewer chances nowadays
My biggest struggle with making an essay on books i read or movies i watch is that eventually, it feels like i'm just rewriting the damn book. It's personally difficult for me to synthesize the points I found interesting in a book without feeling like i'm rewriting the book in my own words. Frankly, the books are always fine as they are. So, in order to limit myself in a way where I still write the things i want to write is very simple: I try to summarize it in 2-3 sentences. This restricts me enough to force myself to write with accuracy & precision. Great video mate. I love writing personal essays despite my challenges with them.
maybe try finding an opposite, different point or opinion and compare them?
i remember watching your video on mini essays when it came out, it got randomly recommended to me. today, i found out that you made a video talking more about how to write them and, again, because it got randomly recommended to me. going to take it as the universe telling me to try it out lmao.
Haha the algorithm works in mysterious ways
Hey just wanted to say I love your videos, I remember in high school a friend and I always discussed wanting to be polymaths and trying to learn multiple disciplines proficiently. And while it is a struggle it's nice to see someone who shares that same view rather than this constant mind numbing message of just push out content and do stuff to get money. So keep it up and God bless you.
Thanks, I'm grateful to hear it. You're right too, the broad 'self-improvement' trend has gone a disappointing direction but there's still loads of great people out there making genuine content
You said one thing which seems very powerful to me when it comes to writing and its limits which is : "even creativity benefits from some level of restriction".
I changed 3 universities before landing on the one I did, then had no friends since the class had already been divided into groups and pairs, I was alone. Every group project I did alone (due to the only people left are freeloaders,most kinds are in some group with their friends).
Knowing the fact that I was isolated, over-pressured with no friends, not even in a degree I wanted to do (I wanted to do Aerospace Engineering, not Computer Science) I quickly went into depression as I saw that after all that, I was not scoring good grades and becoming more & more isolated due to not being a good student. I finally found this one girl who had faith in me (she eventually became my girlfriend) but now in 3rd year of my degree, I discovered your channel and the grades are finally on a upward swing. It is not enough to change much, I am still going to score something equivalent to 2.3 or 2.5 (when converted to American 4-point grading system, the actual GPA on 10-grade point, it is 5.2 right now, expected to go upto 5.5) but at least the grades on an upswing & I wanted to thank you for the help in this journey.
Nice story man, I love to see the turnaround. No matter what happens, the vigour you have will put you far. Keep it up
@@odysseas__ Thank you dude!
11:41 this mini essay is something mentioned in bhagavat geetha that if you do evil you start getting used to it and habitualise it and after a while its impossible to remove it and becomes disease which cant be removed.
“Lacking something hurts in the moment, but it gives room for appreciation when it does come around” - the muse who changed my life 😂
Some great tips here. I definitely love the advice on keeping track of your sources as you go. As a librarain, it is one of the top things students come to us for help with. A few days before an essay deadline they panic, and can't remember where they read something then reach out for help finding it. They don't realise there is so much info out there, it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack! I hope lots of students are watching this and taking your advice onboard. 😄
This came at the perfect time. I was just wondering yesterday if you ever made a video about, how to actually write the mini-essay.
Thanks so much for all the inspiration and guidance. I started my daily 1h writing habit last week - thanks to you.
This channel is a treasure trove. Thank you for helping us become better learners and thinkers. I’m so happy to see the success of your channel increasing more and more. You deserve it. Thank you!
Your videos are always exactly what I needed. Just so you know, you are helping people out there way more than you realise. Thanks mate, really!
Thanks man, I'm really grateful to hear this
You got this stuff dialed in nicely. I can tell.
My college English prof liken the essay to the way an image forms on a clean piece of paper as you trace over it, revealing the image hidden below.
Each subsequent essay is another stroke of the the pencil, or the crayon. Or the charcoal.
The more essays you compose about a variety of topics, the more revealing and detailed will become the underlying image.
I thought that an outstanding illustration.
He was teaching about the different forms of literature.
He was talking about Montaigne in particular.
I heard Emily Ratajkowski say that her new book was constructed of a series of essays she spoke into her phone over a long period of time.
(Her mom was an English teacher.)
That is a NYT bestseller, btw. My Body.
She is a beautiful creature.
An essay needs to be as focused as possible. Confined in scope.
In the end, the essay helps you give voice to your feelings and thoughts on any given topic.
"What do I think about thus-n-such?
Before you can write down what you think about a given topic, you first must clarify in your own mind.
Not as easy it might sound.
your videos are oddly exactly how i imagine the tone of the ones i imagine making but never do. i love the candid, informative content. your consistency and drive is paying off. ill join you soon in that! i hope
Can't wait to see it, and thanks!
I love this man's content. Keep up the good work, mate.
Cheers man, thankful to hear it
Just found this today channel and I think your videos are great. I will definitely be watching your channel regularly(btw I just wanted to point out that you kinda give serious Benjamin mcevoy vibes. Not really important but I just love to see it). ❤
Me who can't write any essay watching this 📝
Yet another banger of a video filled with practical tips.
Ever since I saw your first video I have been mentally slowing down and putting more effort into really fleshing out my thoughts and learnings through mini essays.
This has helped me, someone who loves learning but has the tendency of shooting off in different directions and not getting to the point. I've noticed that with the things I have taken the time and effort to write about, I have been able to provide much more stimulated yet structured conversation whenever the topics come up.
Now when someone asks me about something I have not taken the time to reflect and write about, I respond with "you know, I haven't really fleshed that out yet, what do you think?" whereas before I would just sorta verbally jump around and almost guess about how I felt about the subject. Before things were very vague but now I have been able to mentally and literally seperate the levels of development and understanding on a topic.
I appreciate you letting us into your world and sharing some of your concrete examples as well as your thinking behind them.
Curious people need this kind of structure to enjoy the fruits of their aqcuisitions, thank you for sharing your system and encouraging us to adapt it as our own.
Looking forward to the next vid and take care.
Your comment has motivated me to try this! This is where I want to get to!
@@larastone9881 Thanks so much for sharing. That's really awesome to hear that and I wish you the same mental enlightenment and sense of organisation :)
I do not plan on being a writer, but I noticed that my work causes me lots of anxiety when I don’t know how to do a certain task or I depend on someone for it. In order to deal with that, I started opening a note on my computer that I called “brain” where I take the time to decide on how to go about the task in form of a list of steps. I then work on my task and check things off my list.
Now I want to implement this kind of idea for my day to day life, and for bigger things like books or videos, mini essays seem like a great idea. Regarding limiting yourself in your mini essays, I’ve learned time and time again that keeping things simple is the best way to start anything. If you allow yourself too much freedom, too many features and too many goals, you’ll end up wanting to do so much that you won’t do anything or postpone it for the day when you think you’ll have the time for it. Limiting ourselves at first makes us realize what we actually need to improve.
another great video, I am still writing by hand my mini essays, about mostly everything, my hand writting is trylly improving thanks.
That's great to hear, and thanks
Ur straight outta Ravenclaw there bro…. Loved listening to this you employ a manner of speaking which is at once informative and deeply relaxing
Love your content. Keep up the great work 🎉
Much appreciated!
The entire system is a masterpiece. All your videos are fantastic.
I would like to learn how you store other information or learn other subjects. What are your other systems?
So much depth behind every detail! I love your teaching style, glad I found you out! I'm sure I'll bring my writing to the next lev because of this! Thank you SO much!
Really grateful to hear it, thanks. Wishing you well in your practice
@@odysseas__ Just had a few hour writing session that felt orgasmic compared to what it used to be!
@@cd42095 Love to hear it
Even though it wasn't the point of your video, you gave me just the right motivation to work on the essay for uni that I was postponing today. Thanks! 😊
Love to hear it, much appreciated. I have to grind one out now so I'll join you in spirit
@odysseas__ true! The passion you express for writing hjelps me think of it as not a chore but a talent I am developing, a craft I am refining. Brilliant channel, keep up the good work, and just know it hits just the right spot for adhd people like me ❤️
This is the quality content I pay my internet bills for !
I love the videos you made about mini-essays, it inspired me to be a better writer I kinda wished this topic appeared sooner haha. My key takeaways here are that these mini-essay can also be notes for a bigger picture to form your main idea of a topic and mini-essays are a great tool for self-education, to formulate a deeper understanding.
I'm doing freewriting, self-reflections and outlining my novel for past time, but as days goes by it came to my mind to by fulfilling a goal to learn new things and expand my perspectives, I have this guilt that my efforts on college is not enough and it's been filling to do something more that rambled out and can't organize it. I'm trying to read some philosophy or self-help books, but I'm resorting to videos as of now since I'm more used to it.
Do you have any recommendations on how to not worry on your structure or be conscious when writing something? It's always my main hurdle and I want it to break it out because I regretted that doing in college. Anyways, thanks for the videos, hope I don't forget to apply it on following days.
I think of all your videos this has been one of the most helpful. It inspired me to start writing my own mini-essays and integrate them into my Digital Zettelkasten. By the way, I'm writing to you from Chile! 🇨🇱
I'm grateful to hear it, thanks!
You are an inspiration, mate. Keep it up, God bless!
Thanks man, God bless you too
This inspired me to go to Panera and start writing. Helped a lot - thanjs
Love to hear it, thanks
This is the exact process I follow and writing blogs.
I'm thinking of adapting this idea for my media consumption. A place to remember all the serious theory and whatnot I need. But I would do is based on the work, not on a single idea, because that feels more helpful for me. But I might do it as a collection of ideas. I don't know. Something like that. But thanks a bunch for this this idea. I think it will help me alot, I do have trouble making things concise and rewording the thoughts of others. So yeah. :)
Finally new video it felt like a century 🤌✨
I enjoy your videos and your speaking voice gives me a Lord Henry Blackwood vibe from Sherlock.
Nice, I'm reading On Writing Well and Writing to Learn. Great videos, very useful.
Thanks, I'm excited to get to Writing to Learn
14:23 I remember a writing professor recommends the 'drawer experience' (la experiencia del cajón). Write your text, store it away, and engage in different activities. After a few hours, return to it with fresh eyes and rewrite. This approach isn't magical; it simply reduces memory bias, allowing you to read and edit the text more like an external reader would, without unintentionally filling in gaps with information from your memory
I love this channel!
Thank you!
Love this man
Thanks
Another Banger, and the haircut looks good!
Cheers man
I have 2 questions.
1) How do you decide on what colour you use on your node?
2) Could you please make a video on transferring a point from a sourced note to a main note? I have watched previous videos multiple times but I do think another more depth video would help
Huge value. Keep it up man.
Cheers man
@@odysseas__ Do you also offer any courses or products?
@@Tomino555 Not now, but I'm working on some paid + free stuff
@@odysseas__ cool. Looking forward to it
Great! I just started back to University and several of the ideas in this video is super helpful in reminding me to keep my writing fun, to connect my ideas as I go, and to cite as I write. Thank you!
Love it, much appreciated
Great video as always! I always try to teach my students when discussing literature to link fiction to real life situations. What can you - as a reader - learn from this story? Part of our exam is dicussing those things, so will definitely recommend them to write mini-essays on those topics!
I'm grateful to hear it, and yes I wish I was asked this in English class more often. I hope it sticks with them
Have you looked at Antinet Analog note making. It encourages linking ideas close together in trains of thought. Some good thinking in Scott Scheppers book about selection and
Extraction from books.
what do you use for your thumbnails? they’re gorgeous
Great!
I was somehow expecting a video from you today
The prophecy is true
@@odysseas__ yeah🤣
Where do you get these beautiful paintings
Many thanks for your content. I'm currently reading 2 books by William Zinsser : "On Writing Well" and
"Writing to Learn". I just wondered if you're going to do reviews of these 2 classics ???
In this dumbed down culture, we have to play the game - get people's attention ... and keep it.
Here's a question for you .... Thinking about your favourite books ..... What is your favourite opening sentence ?? Here's mine : "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking 13".
There's a similar question related to movies. The beginning of the movie "Trainspotting" ....
will make sure you stop shoving popcorn into your mouth ... and keep watching the movie.
Anyway, thanks again for your channel ... and keep up the great work !
Thanks, and I'll definitely have to give them more attention. The opening line from the Iliad springs to mind: 'Sing, goddess, of the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus,' mainly because it sets the scene for the rage which is so important to the story. It's perfect.
You have to start your own book
I'm working on one
We had the same messy hairstyle. Now I'm thinking I need to head to the barbers 😂 Kidding aside, thanks for the video. Informative as always.
THE BEST The Greatest The Best
I love this video Odysseas but I have one question. Minni Essays are not the same as the permanent notes from the zettelkasten Method? if they aren't, What's the difference?
Thanks, and mini-essays are potential style of permanent note, but they don't have to fit into that system necessarily.
Most of my zettelkasten notes just happen to be written as mini-essays.
you might like the writing advice of cato the elder to his son: rem tene, verba sequentur [know the thing, the words (will) follow]. topics clear in one’s mind help avoid those word salads 😜
I find myself using this method of essay writing in a poor manner. I've decided on summarizing chapters of a PolSci book I was reading in pdf form side by side with an obsidian vault, but I've only wrote down disjointed quotes, names and ideas without much content to it. This seems to miss the point for me, but I'm not capable of understanding how to do it in a different way to how I was taught to write notes in class. Any suggestions or directions will be greatly appreciated.
Hey what do you think about writing mini-essay in google slides? I've just find it easier to compile information and give refrence and give a structure. (Your Opinion on this). Thanks for your work.
Much appreciated, and I won't lie it sounds strange to me but if it helps you visualise the work and get writing done, then go for it
This is a little unrelated to the video, but, how do you take notes on visual media like videos or movies?
I know you have a reference folder when it comes to books, and I have something similar. But, taking notes on visual media, where I can't export quotes and all that with ease, is something I have a hard time figuring out.
I take notes as I go usually, with both tabs side by side. I copy quotes manually if needed, but I think there's some transcription ai out there that can turn the video into text for copypasting
Nice
I think we need a setup tour
It's the obsidian video linked in the description
good
What is the difference between atomic notes and mini-essays?
I've been trying to implement the advice from your previous video, but I haven't been writing by the standards you have mentioned in this video.
A mini-essay is a format of an atomic notes (assuming you are using them in the zettelkasten/second brain context). Every single mini-essays I write is also an atomic note, but not all my atomic notes are mini-essays
@@odysseas__ gotcha thanks
here is a summary for all of you comrades, thanks for Odysseas and for this community for everything.
# -Four rules to keep your mini-essays useful (and not a pain in the ass to manage)
1- only **1 idea** per mini essay (use links to link mini essay)
2- keep them **short** (keep them between 100 and 500 words)
3- you have to give **references**
4- Organize your mini-essays with a **system** of tags or folders
# The Three-Part Structure
## 1-intro
A-Make the premise clear
B-spark curiosity
we could use one of these techniques
- Make a strong **statement**
- make an **emotional** intro (drama)
- make a **question**
- throw the reader into the middle of the **story**
## 2-body
- here we **explain** the idea
- make the idea **clear** and don't make it long or vague
- someone how don't understand the idea should understand it after reading the mini essay
## 3-conclusion
- Write a **Powerful** Conclusion
- make it **short** and make them **stick**
# Using Storytelling in Mini-Essays (Story Notes)
these are one of the most powerful styles it could get your point better
- they could be **made up** or **retold** or **personal experience**
- think what is the point you are trying communicate
## we could use a **hybrid** approach (half story half discission)
If I could choose 1 youtube channel for the rest of my life it would be this one
rethinking, its a hard choice between odysseas and kboges. one for the mind, one for the body
Thanks man I'm real grateful for that. He's got a great channel indeed
Hi!, This is like an atomic note?
You can use it as a format of atomic notes, yep
Have you taken a look at Scott Scheper's material yet?
No but it looks interesting, I'll have to check it out
@@odysseas__ Cool, let me know what you think. I am currently building a hybrid system. For the longest time I could not figure out how to use both Obsidian and the analog Antinet Zettelkasten to their fullest potential without disrupting each others principles... Until it finally clicked to me yesterday. Soon I will upload a post on LinkedIn detailing my process.
@@productivity6693 Yeah I like the sound of a middle ground too
What is the note taking app please??
Obsidian
Best
What topics can I start with
Whatever interests you the most
@@odysseas__ thàt would be philosophy...Thanks 😊
What city are you from? I expected lad but got man.
London
Unrelated question: what theme are you using
It's called atom
@@odysseas__thank you. It works seamlessly with your essays.
Also thank you so much for all the insights. My mind is constantly running and I didn't know where to put these thoughts, now each shall be a mini essay
@@DanteMishima Much appreciated man, I hope it's the outlet you need
2:01
2:00.500
the story of king solomon was mentioned in the Holy Qur'an . he was a prophet sent from Allah (the God). and he was the son of David which was another king and prophet. their kindom have lived in prosperity and they were really kind , wise and just .
In Qur'an also solomon could understand the langauge of animals , insecets and even elves and demons! Allah just made him have power that no other king might have after him. and that what he wanted.
Also the story of these two women were also mentioned in the Qur'an as you have said. ^_^
thank you Odysseas for your tips !
following you from Egypt :)
Much appreciated, and of course it's in the Old Testament too
first
off subject but I always disliked that king solomon story as a little girl, I argued with my dad that realistically both women had interest in the baby living and so both would choose to give the baby up 😂 haha
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Is something missing?
@@odysseas__ 🤣 That was the amount of views when I watched it. Love your content btw, Keep it up.
@@funlife_016 Ohh I see, thanks too, I appreciate it
Why did you spend 100$ on a mic arm with a 5$ white noise machine attached? Your priorities need to be sorted out.
I'm aware, and it was probably the hum of a computer. Relax..
@@odysseas__ It's not computer hum but I take back what I said. The white noise is not from the mic but your improper use of it.
You are speaking into the side of the mic instead of the tip and then cranking up the gain causing white noise. The Samson Q2u is a dynamic mic with a cardiod polar patern meaning it only picks up noise from one direction. In the case of the Q2u that direction is the tip. You should be speaking into the tip of the mic, with it slightly to the side of your face, angled toward you. Ideally you'd also have a dedicated XLR audio interface instead of that overpriced mic arm. You're using the microphone's built-in adapter and amp, which cause interference.
@@odysseas__ Fix it.
@@globgogabgalabyeast9152 Ah I see, thanks. Will do something about that
Hi Great Vid
just wanted to Ask
How much Time do you spend on Reading and how much For writing Ideas down
cause Im Reading Paradise Lost Right now, and id say every 2 sentences or so, I'll have to Take some notes down which will lead me down a Completely new Rabbit hole
Could I get some Advice?
Thanks, and I feel you.
As I read, I jot down notes quickly, then once I finish the book, I go back through it and take more detailed notes. This helps me not interrupt the flow too bad.
Another solution is to just be more selective in what you take notes on, as in, removing the less important stuff
This is a "meal" not a "snack" to be consumed properly to try and apply. Saved and Subscribed!
New favorite TH-camr I thought I “hated” writing a few good teachers later and im starting to realize how fun it can be if I let it be thanks🫡
Thanks, and it's common to fall away from it after school. Time we changed that