Mind mapping is a technique for organizing information that was developed by Tony Buzan. You can show huge amounts of information on one sheet of paper. It uses drawings and words connected by curving lines. It represents the way our mind connects information. I've used mind mapping to organize presentations, placing an entire presentation on one sheet of paper.
The best way to understand how mind mapping works is to see it for yourself. There are various mind mapping websites that contain dazzling mind maps. One site is Mindmapart.com. One book is Use Both Sides of Your Brain by Tony Buzan.
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| My Day |
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| Detail of "My Day" mind map |
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| Greater detail of "My Day" mind map. |
I plan on posting from time to time what new techniques I'm learning about mind mapping for fiction. If anyone of you already use mind mapping for fiction, please let me know. If any of you try using it, please let me know the results.
3 comments:
Your post jumped out at me from the list. Mind mapping, eh? I was intrigued. Like usual, I had to stop by to see what you were up to over here. It sounded pretty sci-fi.
I guess I do something similar when I plot. At first, I did it with cue cards. Then sticky notes all over the wall. (My St Bernard kept knocking them off with her tail.) Now I use the notebook I refer to in my research post. Same effect (no yelling after the helpful dog).
It works wonderfully to identify which conflict relates to who and affects who and how it was resolved. The notebook is by far the best option because I can make those arrows and circles digitally. My drawings suck, plus the dog doesn't get involved.
Thanks for the link, I'll check it out!
Checked out that link, and it hit me; what a fantastic way to brainstorm for ideas or plot answers!!!! I AM SO USING THAT. (Mine won't look that pretty though.)
Thanks Richard.
I usually mind map for poems, but I've never tried it with fiction. Thanks for a new slant, Richard.
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