How an Idea Becomes Canon

Creative problem

Choosing an idea is not the same as accepting canon

You may decide that an idea feels right.

That is important.

But Canon Garden also needs to know exactly which version was reviewed and accepted.

This protects you later.

You can see what was draft, what was reviewed, and what became canon.

Canon has a path

The current path is:

Draft
→ Review evidence
→ Ready for canon
→ Apply to canon
→ Canon applied

Each step means something different.

Draft means still being worked on

A draft Card is a private working idea.

You can change it while you are still shaping the world.

A draft may contain a name, summary, type-aware details, World Details, and relationships.

Review means checking the exact evidence

Review toward canon looks at the current Card evidence.

It checks what is present now.

This matters because an older review should not silently apply to a changed idea.

Ready for canon is not canon yet

Ready for canon means the reviewed material is ready for your decision.

It does not apply canon by itself.

The world is still waiting for your explicit choice.

Apply to canon is the acceptance decision

Apply to canon accepts that exact reviewed state.

After that, Canon Garden records the accepted version and its history.

This protects the world from ordinary edits silently changing accepted canon.

Publication is separate

A Card can be accepted canon and still remain private.

Canon means accepted world truth.

Publication means deliberately showing a safe public projection.

Those are different decisions.

Try this with one of your ideas

Choose one Card you trust.

Ask:

• Is the summary clear enough to build on?
• Do the useful World Details belong with this version?
• Do its relationships still make sense?
• Am I ready to accept this exact state as canon?

What to remember

Ready for canon means reviewed and ready for your decision.

Apply to canon is the decision.

Canon applied means the accepted state is durable and protected.