From Inspired to Articulated

Introduction

Some thoughts arrive unfinished, feeling more like instincts than sentences. This guide shows how the app helps you capture inspiration first, and then gradually articulate it as clarity develops.

Step 1: Capture inspiration

You receive a spark of inspiration..

Create a new host note, and then a child thot with a  Whisper.

Instructions

1. Create a new host note from scratch by pressing the icon located in the app's header.

2. Type: "My new note".

3. Create a child thot by pressing on the toolbar. If this icon is not visible, first press on the toolbar. Alternatively, press Spacebar twice quickly while the cursor is at the end of the thot's text content to create a new child thot.

4. Once the thot appears, type "Desk always feels cluttered lately".
5. Next, ensure the icon on the toolbar visible. If it is not, press on the toolbar, which changes the available toolbar actions and makes metadata items visible for the active thot.
6. Press the icon from the toolbar to create a new Whisper, and then type "Minimalism". If you already have a note containing "Minimalism" within its title, it would appear under your typed text for you to select it. Additionally you can always create a new note entirely from the text you've typed.
7. To continue, press on the toolbar to finish creating the Whisper. The added Whisper now points to a newly created host note titled "Minimalism".

What this means

A  Whisper is a stage of inspiration that links a thot with a note without deciding how they are linked yet, just that they are. Once the Whisper is added to the thot, analytics will show "Inspired" increased and "Articulated" decreased.

Step 2: Refine meaning

When you return later, sometimes relationships become clearer..

Convert the Whisper into an  Inkling.

Instructions

1. Place the cursor in the thot that says "Desk always feels cluttered lately".
2. Ensure the icon in the toolbar is active so that the active thot's metadata items are shown.
3. Select the Minimalism Whisper by tapping it (once it is selected the Whisper will change color).
4. Press Q on the keyboard to open the metadata item updater modal window. Notice the Whisper icon is currently selected in the modal window.
5. Convert the item into an Inkling by tapping the icon.
6. Press "Update". Notice Minimalism has changed to Minimalism.

What this means

An  Inkling is another stage of inspiration that is more articulated than a  Whisper but is still considered inspired and is not yet fully articulated.

Step 3: Articulate without letting go of inspiration

You want to articulate how Minimalism relates, but you know you'll still have more to say about it after you do..

Copy the Inkling into a child thot.

Instructions

1. With Minimalism still selected, press E on the keyboard to "Copy to Child".
2. Once the new child thot appears, type: "helps my brain feel calmer".

What this means

The Inkling has been copied as a  Note Reference into the new child thot, linking to the same note as the Inkling. The new child thot created is considered fully articulated and contributes to the app's tracked "Articulated" metric.

By copying the Inkling into a child thot, you've begun articulating without losing the original inspiration. The Inkling remains which continues to contribute to the app's tracked "Inspired" metric.

Because the Inkling was copied instead of moved, it means there's still inspiration here to draw from.

Step 4: Finish articulating inspiration

You recall the last way you want to articulate how Minimalism relates and don't have anything more to say about it after you do..

Move the Inkling into a child thot.

Instructions

1. Return the cursor to the thot that says "Desk always feels cluttered lately".
2. Ensure the icon in the toolbar is active so that the active thot's metadata items are shown.
3. Select the Minimalism Inkling by tapping it (once it is selected the Inkling will change color).
4. Press D on the keyboard to "Move to Child".
5. Once the new child thot appears, type: "makes it easier to focus".
6. Return the cursor back to the thot that says "Desk always feels cluttered lately" and notice the Minimalism Inkling is no longer there.

What this means

The Inkling has been changed into a  Note Reference within the new child thot, linking to the same note as the former Inkling. The new child thot created is considered fully articulated and contributes to the app's tracked "Articulated" metric.

By moving the Inkling into a child thot, you've finished articulating the inspiration that was tracked by said Inkling. The Inkling was removed and no longer contributes to the app's tracked "Inspired" metric.

Because the Inkling was moved instead of copied, it means there's no inspiration here left to draw from.