Fieldnotes / Working record
A choice needs a reason.
A short record of the alternative, the trade-off, and the moment to reconsider.
A project record says that the shorter introduction was chosen. Six weeks later, someone proposes bringing the references back onto the opening page. Without the original reason, the conversation has to begin again.
Name the alternative.
“We chose the shorter version” only records the outcome. “We kept the references in a separate index because a new reader needed an introduction before a list of sources” records a trade-off.
That sentence gives the next person something to examine. If readers now know the project well, the original reason may no longer carry the same weight.
Keep the accepted drawback.
A separate index means another file to keep current. A brief decision record should include that cost, rather than presenting the choice as though it had none.
A record worth keeping
Choice: Move the references to their own index.
Reason: Keep the opening page focused on the question and the current state.
Accepted cost: The index needs updating whenever a reference changes.
Review point: A reader cannot find a source from the introduction.
Say when to return.
A review point does not have to be a date. It can be an event: another person joins the project, a reference disappears, or the brief changes. The important part is making reconsideration possible.
Put the decision near the material it affects. A reader should not have to find a meeting transcript to understand why the files are arranged this way.
From the Fieldnotes notebook. About this project · Writing templates