Do you write mostly in Logos or out of Logos?

Kevin DeYoung had an interesting article about ministry and writing today at the Gospel Coalition. You can read the article if you want at https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/kevindeyoung/2017/03/15/why-pastors-should-work-hard-to-write-well/

My question is this, how do you use Logos for writing, if at all?

Personally, I take short notes in Logos and I use a combination of Word, Evernote, and Scrivener for longer expositions. Just curious as to what others are doing.

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Comments

John Connell

As a layperson I teach Sunday School and lead small groups. I cut and paste or export text from Logos and work exclusively in Word for Windows.

Lately I have been right clicking on highlighted text in commentaries and adding it to a note. I export the quotes from the note to Word, convert it to PDF and email it to my IPad where I open it in Books. The notes are pre-sorted within each resource by verse order of the Bible passage we are studying. A bit of a Kludge, but very useful and actually saves time overall.

If I just open the note on the IPad I can only view the entire text in the original resource and not in the note itself. I may be doing something wrong, but all I see are identifiers for each note and not the text.

Long answer but great question.

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890405#Comment_890405

I study and take notes on what I learn in Logos notes. But I write sermons or Bible studies or on occasion blog posts outside of Logos. I don't use the Sermon Editor or others in the program.

David Taylor, Jr.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890410#Comment_890410

I study and take notes on what I learn in Logos notes. But I write sermons or Bible studies or on occasion blog posts outside of Logos. I don't use the Sermon Editor or others in the program.

I haven't given the sermon editor enough of a chance to know if I would use it a lot or not. The concept intrigues me, I just don't have the time to mess with something new.

Jerry Smith

My question is this, how do you use Logos for writing, if at all?

Research in Logos. Use "Notes" in Logos to cite/hyperlink to articles especially for journals discussing bible passages. Write in Word with numerous "comments in Word" hyperlinked to Logos (so I can get back to where I read/quoted).

Floyd Johnson

Except for a few notes, totally out.

Sermons are done with LibreOffice

Clippings are done in OneNote

Journaling is done in David Michael's "TheJournal"

David Taylor, Jr.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890419#Comment_890419

Journaling is done in David Michael's "TheJournal"

I'm not familiar with this, what is it?

Doc B

My question is this, how do you use Logos for writing, if at all?

Not at all. The Sermon Editor tool hasn't changed that, either.

Levi Durfey

My question is this, how do you use Logos for writing, if at all?

Except for a few brief notes in Logos, I write my sermons (and other stuff) in Pages or Keynote. I've tried using Logos to write sermons in notes (and a little bit in Sermon Editor), but once you have a routine going, it's a lot of work and time to establish a new routine. The benefits did not outweigh the effort. I'm also not thrilled about having all my eggs in one basket.

(‾◡◝)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890438#Comment_890438

When I sit under my fig tree thinking about the Scriptures, I find that the Logos Notes utility is perfect for jotting down my thoughts. They are rough notes but at least they don't melt away and escape. Anything more polished or formal goes into Word.

I am very impressed with Clippings (it has come a long way since I first tried it), but I wish they would cut it loose from the Logos program. Give us a stand-alone utility where those clippings could be easily accessed - iow, a utility which wouldn't require having to open Logos - similar to the old Cardfile in Windows 3.x.

Jacob Hantla

I do most of my writing outside of Logos. I wish that the notes were more robust, but until notes are a bit more robust and the mobile app can handle more, I use Word, OneNote, or OmniOutliner depending on what my needs are.

NB.Mick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890457#Comment_890457

I am very impressed with Clippings (it has come a long way since I first tried it), but I wish they would cut it loose from the Logos program. Give us a stand-alone utility where those clippings could be easily accessed - iow, a utility which wouldn't require having to open Logos - similar to the old Cardfile in Windows 3.x.

you can open your clippings from http://documents.logos.com - it may even look a bit like Cardfile (well, or not. I've no clear picture in my mind how that looked exactly) . What is missing is an editor to update them (i.e. the notes and tags - this is missing from app.logos.com as well)

Keith Pang

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890471#Comment_890471

Word and OneNote is the way I write mostly everything. I mainly use Logos for research, study, etc. not to write in though.

James Chandler

I do all of my writing outside of Logos and use Logos predominately for studying Scripture.

SteveF

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890426#Comment_890426

what is it?

David Michael's "TheJournal"

http://www.davidrm.com/

If you like Journalling etc this is helpful.

Milkman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890485#Comment_890485

Looks interesting.

what is it?

David Michael's "TheJournal"

http://www.davidrm.com/

If you like Journalling etc this is helpful.

Ben

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890487#Comment_890487

Completely out of Logos. Also a combination of Evernote (notes), Scrivener (hammering it out), and Word (lame necessity for formatting and distribution.)

EastTN

I use Logos for making the kind of notes I would write in the margin of a paper book. I also find the Scripture lists handy for organizing and printing out the passages that I'm going to teach from - that keeps me from having to keep flipping through my Bible during a lesson. For everything else, I use Microsoft Word.

(‾◡◝)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890471#Comment_890471

you can open your clippings from http://documents.logos.com - it may even look a bit like Cardfile (well, or not. I've no clear picture in my mind how that looked exactly) . What is missing is an editor to update them (i.e. the notes and tags - this is missing from app.logos.com as well)

Thanks, NB, I was aware of that but it has several shortcomings:

Not editable

Can't add new, blank cards/clippings

Can't duplicate individual cards/clippings

Can't move cards/clippings around

Has some formatting issues

Internet connection required

Slow compared to a local utility on a HDD or SSD

What I would like (and I know it's probably a pipe dream) is a very simple, freeform DB for the collection, storage, display, editing, etc. of Clippings outside of Logos (and yet still synchronizes with it). Plus the ability to populate with data from resources outside of Logos (via copy/paste). I don't want some humongous piece of software that takes weeks/months to learn to operate efficiently ... just something simple.

John Connell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890491#Comment_890491

Mick said:

I checked it out and opened a Notes file. Somebody tell me what I am supposed to do with this? The only way I can see the content is in the resource or in the quotes view which is not available outside of Logos unless you export the file in quotes view.

Doug Newby

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890492#Comment_890492

This is a great question. I have been away from using Logos for a couple of years mostly based on the absence of a quality computer to properly run the program. I have been using the iPad app but am now able to get back into the desktop side of things...long introduction to say that as I look to use the program on a more daily basis I too was wondering the best way to create notes.

It sounds like most people do not use the notes within logos. Anyone use Google docs instead of Word. I have both but Google is more robust on all devices i.e. laptop, iPad, Chromebook and wonder if others have gone that route.

Greg Corbin

Since 2011, I have keep all of my study materials in Logos. I create a notes document and a clippings document for every text that I preach. However, I write all of my sermons in Word. I noticed that some people on here use Scrivener. What is the advantage to it over Word?

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890494#Comment_890494

I've never landed on something that I use consistently. I use Logos, Word (and even paper [:$])

David Taylor, Jr.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890526#Comment_890526

Since 2011, I have keep all of my study materials in Logos. I create a notes document and a clippings document for every text that I preach. However, I write all of my sermons in Word. I noticed that some people on here use Scrivener. What is the advantage to it over Word?

Scrivener allows you to keep your work in multiple documents. Example, if I'm writing a book each chapter can be its own document. It also allows you to clip research and have note cards for brainstorming.

Floyd Johnson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890494#Comment_890494

Anyone use Google docs instead of Word.

I do use Google Docs to complete my book reviews. Allows me to write online (preferred) or offline. I then copy and paste into blogger and other retail sites.

BillS

how do you use Logos for writing, if at all?

All my writing is done from a word processor. Early on (circa version 1.6 thru 2), I kept lots of notes & other text files in Logos. But when they changed databases on one release & elected not to carry all the text file formats into the 1st release of the new version, I shifted permanently to a word processor that guarantees upward compatibility.

Doug Newby

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890725#Comment_890725

I shifted permanently to a word processor that guarantees upward compatibility.

That is a great point. While I think the structure of the Logos information is stable, and the threat of that happening again would seem slim, ensuring the life of personal notes in a user controlled environment is important. I suppose that nothing is 100% safe but given the limitations of the note system within Logos I am going to try and us Google Docs for my notes. I like the idea of syncing across all of my devices easily and the ability to download them for personal storage.

I only wonder about personal book creation. I know that google docs will save in the .docx format but has anyone tried to create a personal book with a .docx file made from Google Docs?

James Chandler

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890725#Comment_890725

I have, over the years, lost many documents that I wanted to hold on to due to computer crashes. Now, I use a combination of Word, OneNote and Onedrive. I have been able to keep all of my documents safe and I am also able to work on them where ever I am.

Jim

April Hollingshead

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890736#Comment_890736

I really don't like how the note function works in Logos. I write out of Logos using OneNote. I really want somthing Like OneNote to be added to Logo so I will not have to use 2 different programs. I want a rich note taking and editing and research bible program. So far nothing is like what I want. I might be asking too much LOL! Logos is the best bible software for research, but is lacking in note taking formatting and editing. This is what I'm look for in my bible study. Right now till they do somthing different I use OneNote with Logos. I link the passage that I'm studying to the OneNote study I'm doing. So when I do go back to the passage in Logos, I find my link in the form of a note. I did take me a while to figure out but I finely did. I also love the awesome inductive bible highlighting panel. One of my main reason why I chose Logos over other programs. I can easily integrate it into OneNote for my study. No program is perfect but OneNote and Logos comes pretty close especially if you use them together.

Greg Corbin

I use "notes" and "clippings" inside Logos to preserve my study. Then I write my sermons in Word. The sermon editor intrigues me, but I have not yet taken the time to fully explore it.

Mike Childs

I never write in Logos, and I have no intention of doing so. I cut and paste to Word.

Kenneth Neighoff

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907282#Comment_907282

I write all my sermons in the sermon editor and I still use the 'handouts' feature for my Bible Study notes.

I use the 'notes' and 'clipping' feature a lot, for capturing thoughts and ideas as I read and study.

David A Egolf

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890405#Comment_890405

Logos notes are an excellent way to keep track of research. During "normal" reading, I keep my notes and highlights in resource specific notes files. Research is collected in topical notes files which will typically span many resources. I tend to copy a lot of the original resource into the note so that the resulting notes file is readable on its own.

My research is normally done for teaching Sunday school. Following suggestions from this forum, I employ a mind map tool. I settled on the free version of FreeMind. Originally, the idea was to use FreeMind just to organize my presentation. However, when I presented a unit on the Puritans, I found myself informing the class that sermons from hundreds of years ago were much more complex where the preacher might drill down a topical sub-tree only to emerge for the next point after expositing for a very long time. The attention span of the congregation allowed them to follow him. It occurred to me that the structure of the mind map that I was using for my presentation would assist the class in following my sub-points. I have scrapped the use of Power Point, which is quite "flat" and project my mind map to the class.

I have had no complaints except from my son, who thinks I should not use stark, unadorned text boxes.

When I am taking notes in a class, I use OneNote.

Michael McLane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/890526#Comment_890526

I create a notes document and a clippings document for every text that I preach.

How do you organize all of your notes? That is the one thing that has really kept me away from using Logos extensively for notes or clippings. It seems that it would not take long for the notes management system to become overwhelming, just an endless list of files, without any folder structure.

Whyndell Grizzard

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907309#Comment_907309

Have totally quit using, notes, highlighting, etc. 10 million note files in Logos turn me off completely.

I use Word 2016 (right now)- once I finish a study I create a PBB- that way I reference my resources using footnotes in docx, or create a link to the resource- depending on what I am trying to do with the information.

Also making it a PBB allows me to return to the docx file and update it at anytime.

Simon’s Brother

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907309#Comment_907309

Naming conventions help with organising notes and other documents. For any document I create, note file, clipping, passage list etc that relates to a specific book and or chapter of the bible I use a numbering system. For instance a general note file relating to the whole of the book of exodus I will name 02:00 Exodus Notes. But if I am creating a block diagram for Exodus chapter 4, say as an example, I will name the file 02:04 Exodus 4 Block Diagram. This assists with sorting and filtering of documents. For instance if I want to look at any document I have created relating to Leviticus I would simply enter 04 in the document search bar to filter the list of documents. If I wished i could then sort by type to further narrow my search.

Other people have used different naming conventions. The convention you use is not important as long as you are consistent in using the convention you have chosen.

Is it a perfect approach no? Would i like to be able to organise by folders? Yes. And to this end some people use favorites to organise their user created documents as an alternative to or in conjunction with a naming convention.

I create a notes document and a clippings document for every text that I preach.

How do you organize all of your notes? That is the one thing that has really kept me away from using Logos extensively for notes or clippings. It seems that it would not take long for the notes management system to become overwhelming, just an endless list of files, without any folder structure.

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907365#Comment_907365

Naming conventions help with organising notes and other documents. For any document I create, note file, clipping, passage list etc that relates to a specific book and or chapter of the bible I use a numbering system. For instance a general note file relating to the whole of the book of exodus I will name 02:00 Exodus Notes. But if I am creating a block diagram for Exodus chapter 4, say as an example, I will name the file 02:04 Exodus 4 Block Diagram. This assists with sorting and filtering of documents. For instance if I want to look at any document I have created relating to Leviticus I would simply enter 04 in the document search bar to filter the list of documents. If I wished i could then sort by type to further narrow my search.

That's a nice approach - thanks for sharing it.

And to this end some people use favorites to organise their user created documents as an alternative to or in conjunction with a naming convention.

I tend to do this but I'm not as consistent with it as I should be.

John Kaess

I teach Adult CE weekly at my church. I've abandoned the Logos Notes system as being completely useless in it's current state and has been completely useless since it was first implemented.

I study in Logos and then make my notes in either Evernote or in a free Mac app called Outlineedit because of it's superior outlining abilities and then when i finish i export the outline into Evernote. From Evernote i cut and paste outline elements and flesh out my lesson in Keynote on my iMac and then make the Keynote presentation into a pdf for a handout and to post on my blog. I also (for larger audiences) use the Keynote presentation through an Apple TV (and video projector) to teach in the auditorium.

Evernote and Keynote and an outlining app are the keys to my weekly prep to teach, of course after doing all the studying in Logos on my iMac.

John

David A Egolf

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907365#Comment_907365

Hi Doc,

Some people might still object to the long list of Documents->Notes to locate the specific file. Have you considered creating a Notes folder in Favorites? You could have a subordinate Exodus folder where you stash the various chapters of Exodus and variants. The folders can nest for at least four levels deep in order to provide a semblance of organization.

The only shortcoming that I see is that the Favorites does not have a Search box. There doesn't seem to be a way to search over the content of Favorites. This shouldn't be a problem for notes on books of the Bible, but it could limit the usefulness for general topical notes where the nesting might not be clear.

Jim Erwin

When I prepare sermons, I use Logos layouts. I copy and paste in Clipping as well as Open Office. I finish my sermon in Open Office as well as other places I have written.

I write a couple of times of week based on my Bible reading. I call these my reflection ("simple thoughts.") I write them in Logos Notes and then post them online. When I come to a sermon I am writing in which have already written a reflection, I build on that reflection.

When I prepare a sermon, I write a manuscript, a handout, and a Powerpoint presentation for the iPad. I save the files in Dropbox under a system I created based on Bible book order. I post the sermon online after I preach them. Finally, I copy the sermon into a Note file and link the post.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907499#Comment_907499

I have been using LibreOffice. I recently started using Write! which works on Windows and Mac. It always opens right where you left off. I'm still not fully up to speed on it, but it makes supplemental note programs largely unnecessary and I can export into Word compatible files.

April Hollingshead

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907093#Comment_907093

I know I'm replying to my own reply. I do want to point out while I do write out of logos I do keep just notes in Logos. Like if I want a note for passages, I put a linked note for the next bible study I do. I then take the notes from Logos and put them into onenote to acutely study and write the paper. I do like that about the notes. Use the note as primarily as like you would use sticky notes when you want to mark a page.

Simon’s Brother

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907492#Comment_907492

Hi Doc,

Some people might still object to the long list of Documents->Notes to locate the specific file. Have you considered creating a Notes folder in Favorites? You could have a subordinate Exodus folder where you stash the various chapters of Exodus and variants. The folders can nest for at least four levels deep in order to provide a semblance of organization.

The only shortcoming that I see is that the Favorites does not have a Search box. There doesn't seem to be a way to search over the content of Favorites. This shouldn't be a problem for notes on books of the Bible, but it could limit the usefulness for general topical notes where the nesting might not be clear.

That is an option I mentioned at the end of my suggestion. Personally I haven't adopted it simply because as a lay person I use Logos for Personal Bible Study and not for vocational - ministry or academic needs and neither as a full time student as college / seminary. Hence I probably don't generate quite the amount of user created files. But If I did use is for vocationally or as a full time student I would find myself using favorites as I would then want to be grouping my research by 'project' whether it he a sermon or research paper or bible study I was writing etc but would still use the basic numbering naming convention I mentioned.

Michael McLane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907365#Comment_907365

Naming conventions help with organising notes and other documents. For any document I create, note file, clipping, passage list etc that relates to a specific book and or chapter of the bible I use a numbering system. For instance a general note file relating to the whole of the book of exodus I will name 02:00 Exodus Notes. But if I am creating a block diagram for Exodus chapter 4, say as an example, I will name the file 02:04 Exodus 4 Block Diagram. This assists with sorting and filtering of documents. For instance if I want to look at any document I have created relating to Leviticus I would simply enter 04 in the document search bar to filter the list of documents. If I wished i could then sort by type to further narrow my search.

Thanks for the perspective, DoC.