Mind-mapping is a brainstorming tool most of us know about. I’m creating a daily mind-map journal to help with my blogging and novel-writing projects.
I never warmed up to mind-mapping until about a week and a half ago. It started at a meeting of our local writers club.
JavaBob gave a presentation on tools for creative writing inspiration. One of those tools was to do some mind-maps – by hand, not with a computer program.
Why by hand?
Apparently we think differently when we’re writing by hand, and this is more likely to stimulate creative neuron paths.
This type of mind-mapping inspired me so I convinced everyone to do mind-mapping that day. I went to the store, which is right next to the Chamber of Commerce office where we have our meetings. I bought colored pens and colored pencils and a large sketchbook for me.
We all did do something, but the mind-mapping wasn’t successful for some; perhaps more practice was needed.
This is the mind-map I did that day. We were all to start with the topic, “daydream”.
Daydream in the Canyon – mind map for a memoir
I imagined myself back into the time when daydreaming was a big part of my life – my childhood. I connote daydreaming with a day when I went into the forbidden gully next to my house in El Cerrito, California. The gully was forbidden because my mother didn’t want me to go there.
From there I added more childhood memories, and thought about how they might all fit together into one manuscript.
I don’t know if I’ll ever write this memoir, but I will definitely be doing a lot more mind-mapping. I decided to do a mind-map daily for the next thirty days, at least.
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So far, I haven’t missed a day.
I’ve mind-mapped some of my blogs, blog postings, a movie idea and an e-book. I also mind-mapped what I’d do on a good day.
Mind-mapping is a lot of fun. It is a creative and colorful alternative form of journaling. It helped me with an idea for re-branding this blog.
Online mind map tools
There are a lot of online mind-mapping programs, but like I mentioned, they don’t have the same creative potential that mind-mapping by hand does, because the neural pathways used are different. If you would like to try them anyhow, here are two popular online mind map tools: Free Mind and Mind Meister.
You might like to check out this website about Mind-Map Art… fascinating! More than forty artists have contributed mind-map art to the site.
Mind map books
There are a lot of books about mind-mapping. Here’s one:
About the book:
Creative thinking is enhanced by use of imagery developed through nonlinear thought processes and thought association.
Mind-mapping is part of radiant thinking.
Mind-maps can help organize ideas, brainstorm, empower imaginative thinking, and overcome writers block.
This book includes sample mind-maps, quizzes, exercises, and color photography showing patterns in nature.
When JavaBob suggested mind-mapping as a way to stimulate creative inspiration, he mentioned using colored pencils. I bought colored pencils for our group to use, and also some colored Crayola pens. I am a pen person. Every other person in the group chose to use the colored pencils.
Which do you prefer? The colored pens or the colored pencils? Let me know in the comments section for this article.
If you have any experience with mind-maps, let us know.
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what a great post I never thought of that before, mind mapping. I’m going to start doing that today, that should help me get over the writers block I’ve been experiencing. thanks
Mind mapping really is a great way to come up with new and uniquely creative ideas!
Great post. I find mind-mapping to be an excellent tool because sometimes, my brain doesn’t want to think in a linear, step by step way. You might miss out on a great idea your mind wants to let out if you force it into a restricted thought pattern!
Good insight, Leanna. I’ve had a complete change in my life – especially with my online work – since I started mind-mapping. It has been revolutionary for me!
I’m finding it to be especially helpful for blog posts! Also blog direction-finding! It is fun to find those especially far-out ideas and figure out ways to make them work, to make a blog more unique and memorable.
Glad to read this. I keep trying out mind mapping and then losing it. think I will give it another try. I have a hard time doing it on paper because I need a giant piece of butcher paper. I always run out of room. And when I do it on the computer – it is still huge and I have to scroll back and forth to read it. but you’ve inspired me to keep on working with it. Never tried to colored pencils – maybe that’s what I need. I definitely find it to be a good tool to start thinking in a less linear way “out of the box” so to speak.
Maybe I just need to go out and buy one of those big pads of butcher paper and a box of colored pencils!
Thanks for sharing a new box of colored pencils with the Writer’s Club, Linda. It is fun to get more organized and have a “picture” to look back to and see where we were planning to go when we loose direction….
Thank you!!
It was fun, Judy! I’m glad we got to do that. I’ve been thinking of taking the pens and pencils back to the Chamber office… we might need to use them again!
I’m not a big fan of computer mindmaps. I much prefer spreadsheets.
However, from time to time, I do enjoy drawing mindmaps in my journal. Hand-drawn mindmaps definitely work better for me.
🙂 Yes… spreadsheets are so helpful!!
I’m really enjoying my 30-day mind map odyssey, and it is turning out to be so helpful for blogging, I may continue using this tool for a long time to come.
I’ve actually never done mind mapping, but you’ve got me interested! The “free mind” link brings me to a 404 error, just thought you’d like to know. 🙂 I googled it though and found a site to download it, but I don’t wanna put it on the work computer. I’ll be sure to check it out when I get on my laptop. Thanks for introducing me to a neat idea!
Thanks so much for the TIP about the bad link! I’ve fixed it now. I’ve always kept a copy of FreeMind on my computers… for years now. Great program! And FREE!
I’m really looking forward to doing a bit more with mind mapping now. I’ve used it in a limited way & found it really useful to help organise my ideas.
As I do more mind mapping I am getting EXCITED . . . this is a great way to work on blog development AND on creating great (long) articles.
Great post. Interesting comment about doing it by hand. This ties in with advice given to writers to get back to the good old pen and paper as our brain works differently when we write to when we type.
I like to do my writing practice sessions by hand too. The stories turn out better… in my opinion. I usually do flash fiction for writing practice. I’ve got quite a collection of tiny stories now!
Hey Linda,
As a long time and avid User of Mind Maps it is always a delight to see someone else being bitten by the bug and “getting” Mind Maps and your first example is an excellent start.
You are right about hand drawn mind mapping being different from using software and that doing it that way will give you a creative boost not offered on the computer.
However, here is a tip that I used to write my last book. First of all I brainstormed my ideas and structure in Mind Map form with a piece of paper and coloured pen.
Then once the creativity was out of the way and I had to get down to the mechanics of actually putting the words behind each idea, I used mind mapping software.
There is a really cool facility in the better programmes where you can write notes behind the keyword and then you can export those notes to either a text file or a word document.
So you having brainstormed the ideas on paper, you organise your structure in the software, expand on each keyword with a few sentences and then press export and out it comes as a word document.
If you need to edit it, just go back into the mind map softearem change the notes or reorganise the order of the branches and then export again.
I found that when I was the export, it was like reading the book for the first time and made it easier to edit.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Michael
PS Regarding Amits comment on Mind Mapping and Buzan, there are a few evangelists for mind mapping out there who do make some wild claims but essentially what it does is allow you to use a thinking tool more in tune with the way your brain naturally works. After teaching it for over 15 years now it is still one of the most powerful advances in helping us use more of our mind that I have come across and as Amit says, if it works for you then use it.
Great information, Michael! I will try that… I didn’t know online mind maps had a note-taking feature and that would help a lot because, as I did the mind-map on this page I had a lot more information moving through my mind on how the events would fit together into an actual plot. You’re right… the mind-map is just the first step.
About Buzan… I really didn’t know much about him when I chose to feature his book. A writing friend told me he used to stay at her bed & breakfast inn in the UK and she had been thanked in a couple of his books, and one of her mind-maps was in one of the books.
She said he was responsible for helping to get her interested in writing… and her first book was recently published! Feast of the Antlion
I’m definitely a fan of mind-mapping as one of many organizational tools; but I’m also a research junkie. A year ago I was introduced to mind-maps. When I dive into something, I really dive in, so I reviewed the research first.
It was actually unconvincing. Perhaps the research was flawed, but I was convinced that all that is truly needed is an idea organization method. If mind-mapping motivates you to do that, then perfect. If journaling does that, perfect. For me, I use excel spreedsheets, and will continue to do so until I read some more convincing research.
As a side-note, Buzan as an author is fond of making extremely extravagant unbounded claims.
Amit, I also use Excel spreadsheets. I keep one open all day long – it is my “gameplan” that keeps me on track with my daily work, and with special projects like e-book writing. Excel is one of the best tools for my daily life.
Hi Linda,
Wow, your mind map looks cool! I’ve done versions of this throughout my adult life and it’s been very helpful to me. I usually do it when I’m preparing for a talk; it helps me get all my thoughts on paper so I can order them appropriately.
I’ll be really interested to hear how your 30-day mind mapping journey turns out!
So far, I still haven’t missed a day of mind-mapping. My goal was to become good at mind-mapping by keeping the thirty day journal. Yesterday I used it to write the blog post below…
Hi Linda,
I’m a newcomer to mind mapping like you as I picked it up a couple of months ago. And when I did, I immediately regretted not doing it sooner. It’s that much fun and that valuable.
I use Free Mind (which I like better than the paid Mind Meister) but have never done mind mapping with a piece of paper and pen(s). With your experience and encouragement I think I’ll give the physical version a try. Knowing the way I mind map and revise though, I might want to do it in pencil or this could get unreadable quick. 🙂
Ah, I didn’t know Mind Meister was a paid program. I’ve had Free Mind on my computer for years but haven’t used it to its true potential. I really love doing the mind maps by hand.