Tagging Rules
Published on: January 02, 2026
How I Use Tags on This Site
I try to use tags on this site with some intentionality.
Not to categorize absolutely every aspect of my writing. Not to build a perfect set of breadcrumbs.
Tags exist here to preserve meaning over time.
What Tags Are (and Are Not)
Tags describe what something is about, not:
- what section it lives in
- how long it is
- when it was written
- or what kind of content it is
If a tag doesn’t help me (or someone else) rediscover related ideas later, it doesn’t belong here.
How I Think About Tags
Even though the site uses a flat tagging system, I treat tags as belonging to one of three informal categories.
1. Thematic Tags
These describe recurring themes in my life and thinking.
Examples include:
familymarriagewritingwebsite
These are long-lived, reused across different kinds of content, and intended to remain meaningful years from now.
2. Expression Tags
These describe how something is expressed, not what it’s about.
Examples include:
haikupoetrystoryopinion
These tags are used sparingly and never on their own. Form without subject doesn’t age well.
3. Contextual Tags
These describe a repeatable context rather than a theme.
An example is:
something-i-heard-todayturning-pointchallenge-accepted
These are situational by design and only used if they earn reuse over time.
Rules I Follow
To keep tags useful, I follow a few simple rules:
- Most items have less than 3 tags
- I don't really have a maximum number of tags for a given piece of content, but they should be kept to a minimum.
- Tags must earn reuse or they are removed
- I don’t use tags for time
- expression tags will be used for writing style (e.g. 'story' may indicate an intention to sharpen my storywriting skill)
- If I wouldn’t want to click a tag a year from now, I don’t create it
Why Bother?
Tags aren’t for organizing today. They’re for rediscovering patterns later.
Over time, they form a loose map of what I return to, what persists, and what quietly fades away.