Links signal intent before content exists
Creating a link to a non-existent page is a creative act.
It says: this concept matters enough to deserve its own note. Later.
digital-gardens treat broken links not as errors but as placeholders. The link creates space for future growth. It marks a gap in understanding worth filling.
This inverts typical workflows. Usually: write content, then link. Here: link first, content follows intent.
Benefits:
- Writing flows without stopping to create stubs
- Patterns emerge (frequently-linked stubs → important gaps)
- Backlinks accumulate before pages exist
- Pressure builds organically to fill valuable gaps
When you notice yourself linking to concept-x repeatedly, that's your garden telling you what to grow next.