Site Navigation

Liberating Structures Mini Book

A practical guide to using Liberating Structures in network facilitation, written by Nancy White. Based on decades of real practice across technical networks, NGO settings, and international convenings.

Target: ~60 pages / ~30,000 words Source vault: LS Network Guide on ITTYBITTY (//ITTYBITTY/LS Network Guide)

Structure

• Introduction — why LS works specifically for networks. Evolution of which structures used and the creation of a new structure, Strategic Knotworking
• 5 Principles — Ditch the Tables, Nurture Relationships, Knowledge in the Room, Focus on What Matters, Think Portfolio
• 4 Case Studies — Floodplains by Design, Gender & Agriculture (INGENEAS), Fire Adapted Communities, INGENEAS Global Symposium
• Quick Start — 6-step guide (Define Purpose → Select → Prepare → Facilitate → Follow Up → Debrief)
• Session Templates — Half-Day, Full-Day, 90-Min Online
• Appendix — LS Cheat Sheet, Checklists, Visual Templates

Writing Workflow

Nancy writes in Google Docs or Word — whichever feels right for the session. Obsidian is the container and project hub, not the writing surface.

Session flow:

1. Open source material in Obsidian (blog posts, content inventory)
2. Write or adapt in Google Docs / Word alongside it
3. When a section is done, paste into the appropriate Obsidian file
4. Ask Claude Code to commit it (creates a version history / backup)

Google Docs is preferred when sections will go to beta readers or Keith McCandless for comments — easy to share and annotate.

Writing Principles

This book is written by Nancy White — in her voice, from her experience. AI assists with structure and logistics, not prose.

How to use Claude Code on this project:

• Yes: Organizing files, tracking structure, moving content around, finding things, checking consistency
• Yes: Asking questions that help Nancy think ("What's the core tension in this case study?")
• Yes: Suggesting structure or headings for Nancy to react to and rewrite
• No: Drafting paragraphs or sections — Nancy writes those
• No: Polishing or "improving" Nancy's prose — her voice is the point
• No: Adding the AI-generated content disclaimer — this is Nancy's writing

When in doubt: ask, don't write.

Status

Most content exists in blog posts and needs adapting. Key remaining work:

• Introduction (new writing)
• Case Study 2: Gender & Ag (self-interview needed; client permission pending)
• Quick Start steps (new writing from existing examples)
• Session templates and visual templates

Links

• Content Inventory (in source vault)
• www.liberatingstructures.com