I love mind maps, both the hand-drawn maps I create on index cards and on every scrap of paper in my office, and also computer mind maps.
For computer maps, I use MindManager, and it's great to see that MindManager now has a blog.
If you're a MindManager aficionado, here's a map-organizing tip from the blog:
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First, create a Master Map. Every time you need to start a new map, don’t go to File: New. Instead, open up your Master Map, find the place where you want your new map to reside, insert a new topic, name the topic, then choose: File/Send to/MindManager as new map.
MindManager then opens a new map with the topic title in the center, and away you go. Instead of shoving yet another file folder in yet another musty file cabinet, you have kind of blossomed a new fruit off of your tree. It’s a beautiful thing.
Once I started this, it slowly sunk in that I was saving my visually. I just started this this week. But I already feel my anxiety level dropping as I realize that I am going to have a much easier time finding and, if necessary, moving my maps.
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Complete how-tos on creativity and mind maps in our up-coming video tutorials
BTW, I'm always being asking HOW I use mind maps. So one of the first video tutorials I'll be creating for Pro Write will be how to create mind maps, both the hand-drawn variety and the computer variety.
(If you're concerned that you need drawing skills for the hand-drawn maps, no, you don't need to be able to draw – just doodle. :-))
I'll follow that up with a series of tutorials related to each of our workshops, and of course since I use mind maps all day every day, you'll get additional insights into mind mapping for easy and fun creativity in those tutorials.
Please watch for them. They'll be unique tools that you can use to kick your writing career into overdrive. :-)
