Step by step
Write the reader promise
Complete: “After this book, the reader can…” Keep it specific enough to test every chapter against it.
Sort notes by reader question
Give each note one primary question, preserve its source and separate facts from your interpretation.
Build the dependency order
Place foundations before decisions that depend on them. Remove themes that are interesting but do not serve the promise.
Draft chapter contracts
For each chapter, state the question answered, evidence used, example or scene, and the action or understanding gained.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Reader and promise defined
- Sources remain attached to notes
- Questions grouped
- Dependencies ordered
- Each chapter has an outcome
- Unused material parked separately
Common problems
Every note seems important
Score notes by relevance to the promise, strength of evidence and whether another chapter already covers the point.
The outline reads like a topic list
Rewrite each heading as a reader question or change in understanding.