How do you make a resource list useful instead of merely collecting links?
Define one reader task and explain each source's use, entry requirements and the scope you checked. Add original guidance that helps readers choose a route while preserving authorship and links to the originals.
Define the task first
- Say what the reader wants to do.
- Keep directly relevant material.
- Arrange it by role, such as introduction, practice and further investigation. A first encounter with local history might need an overview, an original-records portal and a checking method, not every website about cities.
Annotate each choice
Open the links and note the author or institution, date and access requirements. Explain why you included each source and what you actually read. Do not endorse an entire work after reading only part of it. Use short descriptions and original links rather than reproducing large sections. Ask someone to choose a starting resource using only your annotations.
A worksheet you can use
Reader task: __. Source: __. Use: __. Entry requirements: __. Checked scope: __. Last checked date: __.
How many links make a list complete?
Enough to serve the task. A small set with clear purposes is more usable than a large unexamined collection.
Evidence and scope
Resources can change. This list is not a comprehensive expert review of their content.
The author’s introduction discusses sharing creative process. Not a full-book reading. Austin Kleon — Show Your Work!: author’s public introduction
Sources and further reading
Austin Kleon — Show Your Work!: author’s public introduction
This collection in Chinese and English · Life possibilities library