How to Take Smart Notes in Obsidian: is this $2.99 stack worth it for Writing & Publishing?
Public feeds are noise. Sometimes the value is a filtered stream—someone’s private posts, not another template pack.
How to Take Smart Notes in Obsidian from Josh Duffney is a $2.99 option if you want structure instead of another half-finished plan. Here’s what stands out, who it fits, and what to confirm on How to Take Smart Notes in Obsidian before you pay.
Quick answer
| Best for | Anyone who wants a clear $2.99 deliverable and will match the stack to a job they have this week. |
| Skip if | You need free tools only, a fully custom build, or something that doesn’t match the deliverables on the live page. |
| Price | $2.99 |
| Format | Pages: 27 + Video Length: ~90 minutes |
| One-line take | A $2.99 bundle with real pieces (pages: 27, video length: ~90 minutes)—worth a look if that matches your week. |
What you’re actually buying
This $2.99 pack is a straightforward offering: a 27-page guide and a 90-minute video course on how to take smart notes in Obsidian. It’s not a flashy system with a 12-month roadmap or a 100-page PDF with a 30-day challenge. It’s a direct, no-frills approach to improving your note-taking process, with a focus on Obsidian—a tool many writers and thinkers already use.
The guide walks you through configuring your environment, capturing fleeting notes, taking literature notes, and organizing your knowledge with permanent notes and a slip-box system. It includes steps for adding notes to sequences, creating note-to-note links, and using structure notes to organize topics. If you’re someone who wants a clear, actionable framework for organizing your thoughts in Obsidian, this is a solid, low-cost starting point.
One of the standout features is the inclusion of a free 90-minute video course. It’s not a long-form lecture, but it does cover the core concepts in a way that’s easy to follow. The video is a good complement to the written guide, reinforcing the key steps without overwhelming you with extra fluff.
This bundle also includes a detailed table of contents, breaking down the guide into sections like “Introduction,” “Configure your environment,” “Take smart notes,” and more. The structured format ensures that you can follow along step by step, making it easier to integrate smart note-taking into your workflow. Additionally, the guide is designed to be used alongside Obsidian, which means it’s ideal for users who are already familiar with the tool and want to improve their note-taking practices.
Why it’s on our radar
This $2.99 pack is interesting because it doesn’t overcomplicate note-taking in Obsidian—it delivers a focused, actionable framework for people who want to improve their thinking and productivity without the fluff. The guide and video course are both tightly structured, making it a good fit for someone who wants to jump in and start organizing their notes effectively right away. What’s rare at this price point is the combination of a 27-page guide and a 90-minute video course that actually reinforces the written material, not just rehashes it.
A Gumroad review puts it this way: “Simple and to the point. I found this to be incredibly helpful both in understanding smart notes and also taking smart notes in Obsidian.” That’s exactly what you get here—no overpromising, just a clear, focused guide that delivers on its promise.
What actually matters
- This is a no-frills, no-bullshit guide for people who want a clear, actionable framework for taking smart notes in Obsidian.
- The video course is a good complement to the written guide, reinforcing the key steps without overwhelming you with extra fluff.
- It’s not a long-form lecture or a 12-month roadmap—just a focused, low-cost starting point for a specific job: organizing your thoughts in Obsidian.
- The guide includes practical steps like configuring your environment, capturing fleeting notes, and organizing your knowledge with a slip-box system—useful for writers, researchers, and thinkers who want to streamline their workflow.
Mid-check
FAQ
What’s the main difference between this guide and other Obsidian tutorials? It’s focused on a specific job—taking smart notes—and delivers a clear, actionable framework without the fluff.
Is the video course worth watching if I already know Obsidian? Yes, if you want a structured way to improve your note-taking process. The video reinforces the written guide and covers the core concepts in an easy-to-follow way.
Does this guide help with organizing notes long-term? Yes. It walks you through setting up a slip-box system, adding notes to sequences, and creating note-to-note links—useful for long-term knowledge management.
Bottom line
If you want a clear, low-cost guide to improving your note-taking process in Obsidian, How to Take Smart Notes in Obsidian is a solid, focused option. It’s not a full system or a 12-month plan, but it delivers a specific job well: helping you take smart notes and organize your thoughts effectively.