5 Different Ways Writers Can Use Mind Mapping

March 24th, 2011 · 10 Comments

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By Leslie A. Joy

What are mind maps?

Mind maps essentially take note taking combine it with brainstorming and put it into diagram form. You can use mind maps to organize tasks, ideas, or concepts, solve problems, or as a writing framework.

Mind maps consist of one central point in the middle and then branch out to sub-topics and sub-sub topics. A blank mind map looks something like this:

That’s a super-super basic example, but you get the idea.

Advantages of Mind Mapping

Mind maps allows for easier brainstorming, easier idea organization, and increased creativity because they aren’t based on linear thinking. By using this type of structure as opposed to a more linear approach, it allows your brain to connect concepts you normally wouldn’t connect and encourages a much more free-flowing view of ideas and concepts.

Mind maps also activate the right side of your brain-which is known for creativity and intuition. As a result, mind maps can help you solve problems you’ve been stuck on. Plus, mind maps are much more visually appealing than a list of notes.

There are numerous ways that writers can use mind mapping. I’ll be covering some of the more basic uses.

Use # 1: Outlining a Blog Post, Magazine Article, or Other Type of Copy

If you’re not sure how to structure a piece of writing–or you’re stuck on a particular part–mind mapping is a great way to work around with. Mind mapping helps you visually structure the post, can allow you to see connections you might not have seen before, and can even help you generate future post ideas. For example, if you notice that one section of the map is getting larger than the other side, that subtopic might make an excellent follow-up post to the one you’re currently writing.

Use # 2: Blog Post Ideas

Mind mapping stimulates increased creativity. It also allows you to visually see connections that you wouldn’t normally see in a linear list. Combine the two and you have a perfect storm for generating blog post ideas.

Try putting a topic in the center, setting a time, and generating ideas from there.

Use # 3: Side Project Ideas

As a writer, you’ve probably considered different ideas on how to increase your income through side projects such as ebooks, coaching, and so on. Whether you’re looking for new ideas or you have an idea but aren’t exactly sure what to do with it (you want to write an ebook, but aren’t sure on what), mind maps are a good way to go.

With a mind map, you can easily brainstorm and then connect ideas to each other. For example, if you frequently blog about training dogs, you could put some of your more popular blog ideas in mind map form and see what you generate from there. Maybe instead of just one ebook idea, you find you have enough for a series, or even a full-length book.

Use #4: Managing Clients, Tasks, and Projects

Mind mapping can be a great way to visually lay out all the work you have to do–whether it’s a variety of blog posts, a variety of client projects, or one larger project like a blog launch or ebook.

With mind mapping, you can easily brainstorm EXACTLY what tasks need to be done and then easily visualize which tasks need to be done in what order.

If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can color-code certain types of tasks and then easily batch them. For example, if you have to write a large number of blog posts, you could make list posts in red, how-to posts in blue, and review posts in green. Or you could make researching in red, writing in blue, and editing in green.

This allows you to easily see what needs to be done for more streamlined efficiency.

Use #5: Marketing Plans

Marketing can be the bane of every writer’s existence. You need to do it to get work, but either you aren’t sure of what marketing techniques to use OR you have so many ideas for marketing techniques that you don’t know which to pick.

Mind mapping to the rescue.

With mind mapping, you can lay out every marketing you idea you have and easily see how they fit together for the big picture. It also gives you a nice visual of how spread out you’d be and how much work it would entail. With all your ideas broken down in a mind map, you can easily pick the best ideas, and then actually implement them.

10 responses so far ↓

1 Susan Weiner, CFA // Mar 27, 2011 at

I love using mind mapping for my writing projects. It’s a winner!
2 cmdweb // Mar 28, 2011 at

Mind mapping is a great way to get the skeleton of an idea down on paper so that you refer back to the individual strands later when you’re fleshing them out.
And the great thing is, you can do it with just a pencil and a piece of paper.
3 Laura Spencer // Mar 29, 2011 at

Hi Susan and cmdweb!

Thanks for your comments. I thought Leslie did a great job of explaining how mind mapping works.
4 amy // Jul 18, 2011 at

Mind mapping is a great exercise and is basically brainstorming. It’s a way to get creative and think outside the box. Drilling down on a topic will lead to many other variations and widen the net for your thoughts and finished product.
5 Laura Spencer // Jul 20, 2011 at

Thanks Amy! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
6 Loreem // Oct 17, 2011 at

I’m curious how mind mapping activates the right side of your brain. I’m not saying your wrong I just would like to know how that works.

Great post btw.
7 Laura Spencer // Oct 18, 2011 at

Hi Loreem,

This is Leslie’s post, so I don’t have her specific sources. However, I’ve heard the same thing.
8 Jemimah // Apr 4, 2012 at

I have read and heard about mind mapping as a useful tool for writing, and even in coming up with a speech. Sadly, I have ever tried using it. I am not really the truly linear person. I think I can work fine with it. Now, I have one more nudge to start using the technique. Thanks for this post.

Jemimah of White Space
9 Do You Let Your Writing Breathe? // Oct 16, 2014 at

[…] recent posts, we’ve been talking about inspiration, where ideas come from and even how to use mind mapping to get the most from your […]
10 mindvectorweb // Aug 3, 2016 at

Worth reading this post. I love Mind Mapping.

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