I'm doing the A to Z Challenge in April using the theme "What to Pack on Your Creative Journey." Today, we'll add mind maps to our metaphorical suitcase.
It is in these shimmering and incessant embraces that the infinite patterns, the infinite Maps of the Mind, are created, nurtured and grown. Radiant Thinking reflects your internal structure and processes. The Mind Map (Concept Map) is your external mirror of your own radiant thinking and allows you to access this vast thinking powerhouse. ~Tony and Barry Buzan, The Mind Map Book (1996)
Mind maps (and similar concepts like word clusters and spider diagrams) are visual representations of thoughts and information.
Here are a couple of examples:
A mind map that I kept while reading The Pomodoro Technique:
A mind map I made to plot my 2017 NaNoWriMo project using the structure from Save The Cat!:
My creative journeys are usually accompanied by several mind maps. Here are some ways to use mind maps for your creative project:
- Record the ideas generated by a brainstorm
- Organize your thoughts when they're overwhelming
- A visual to-do list (penciled dates make it a schedule)
- Plan a week, month, or year
- Experiment with an itinerary for a trip
Are you a fan of mind maps? How have you used them?
About Joy Weese Moll
a librarian writing about books
