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Post by firestorm78583 on Feb 4, 2012 11:42:47 GMT -5
Does anyone use idea mapping or mind mapping when writing?
I recently aquired a program that lets you create idea maps. I thought that this would be a good way to keep track of who is doing what and when. Also I thought that this could work out the character quirks and positives. I'm looking for other uses as well and was looking for suggestions.
Also, does anyone think this is a time-waster, and I should try a different approach?
Thanks in advance,
Will
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Post by Divides the Waters on Feb 4, 2012 16:11:20 GMT -5
It might help with continuity. I say that anything that helps you write well and productively is a good thing.
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Post by Kessie on Feb 9, 2012 10:38:06 GMT -5
I just looked up mind mapping. It looks like a really interesting, visual way to keep track of major plot ideas. Like something you'd draw on poster paper and stick to the wall above your desk and add to periodically.
Kind of like the one that Heinlein reportedly had. Only his was a timeline with major discoveries and advancements, and he'd write books at various places on that timeline. I always thought that was an excellent idea.
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Post by yoda47 on Feb 9, 2012 11:22:15 GMT -5
We had a mind-mapping class at a place I used to work.
It doesn't work for me, but it really worked well for a lot of people.
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Post by j2starshine on Feb 12, 2012 22:29:04 GMT -5
I did something like that, I think. I got a big poster board and mapped out something with a world I've created, but it was after I had done a rough draft and was trying to figure out stuff about the world, the races, etc I agree with divides the water, if it works for you, do it, but the only way you'll know is if you try it. And like yoda, it might not work for you, but trying it you might discover more about yourself and your writing process.  |
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Post by firestorm78583 on Feb 13, 2012 1:04:29 GMT -5
Yeah, A timeline was what I was shooting for, but the mapping program allows me to show relationships between ideas. I think that will help me link the story together, especially, when I have a "Meanwhile, back at the ranch" chapter to give the reader a cliffhanger or breather.
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Post by yoda47 on Feb 13, 2012 9:52:12 GMT -5
I make an encyclopedia like structure to keep tack of my story world. It makes more sense to me... www.aarondemott.com/encyg/index.shtmBut by all means, if you haven't tried mind-mapping, give it a go. I saw some people that I wouldn't have called creative really take off after tying it. |
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Post by j2starshine on Feb 13, 2012 14:40:31 GMT -5
The encyclopedia thing is kind of cool. I've been doing a lot with Microsoft Office OneNote and I love it. It is a great way to organize info and you can hyperlink to related stuff, but I guess that is different than mind-mapping, but perhaps it can be used to mind-map...hmmmm... The only thing I don't like about the program is not being able to do formulas like in Excel.
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Post by marshwriter on Feb 14, 2012 5:26:57 GMT -5
Once upon a time I used a single notebook... yeah, that only worked right at the beginning of worldbuilding. ;D I then went on to a normal word file, One Note and then found (thank you Writing Excuses podcast) WikidPad (http://wikidpad.sourceforge.net/) and I find it works perfectly with the way I write. Everything links with everything else using links you put in yourself (like your very own Wikipedia). At the moment I'm using it for all my worldbuilding and even save my short stories in it so that it's easy to refer between stories set in the same world. I'm not very good with technology, and I found this program dead easy to use and can really recommend it. ;D I even keep track of character names in other stories I write so that I don't end up using the same name over and over again.  Marsh  |
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Post by yoda47 on Feb 14, 2012 9:53:32 GMT -5
marshwriter: That's pretty much exactly what I do, but I do it all manually... I've been building websites for fun and (a tiny amount) of profit for several years now. So for me, it's easier to fire up Notepad and slap a few p and a tags than to learn a program to do it for me... yeah, I'm weird that way...  I find the encyclopedia very helpful for stuff like remembering what color hair or eyes someone has (especially minor characters...), or who the navigator is, that I last wrote about 100 pages ago... It's also helpful to keep consistant, how many miles is it from the border to the capital? Did that ship have 20 or 40 decks? Instead of trying to remember, or flipping thru hundreds of pages, I just look up the article. Works for me anyway. Also, I love behind the scenes info. For example, I have the Dragonlovers guide to Pern and People of Pern (behind the scenes info for Anne McCaffery's Pern), I have Memory Alpha bookmarked (and a few of the tech manuals... Star Trek reference works...) If had been more impreessed with Harry Potter, I'd probably have whatever the ref. work for that one was called... So, I figure if I love this stuff, my (future hordes of...) readers will too. So, two birds with one stone. Refrence for me to help keep my story worlds consistant, and bonus extras for the (as of yet, mythological...) readers... (one thing I do have to do when I'm done editing the book is go back through and tighten the writing in the articles, make it more immersive, and add details too. I start with just bare bones stuff, so that leaves me room to be creative when writing...) |
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Post by firestorm78583 on Feb 14, 2012 12:09:09 GMT -5
When I first started getting serious about writing this book, I would (and still do) use the "Character Sheet" approach for each of the characters. Imagine having a page that listed more details than a D&D character sheet.
Now, I don't have all the details filled out on everyone (favorite food, parents names, etc.) filled out on everyone, only when it comes up in the story. Often I will write the story, and then go back and fill in the blanks on the character afterwards, in case I need to reference it later.
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Post by marshwriter on Feb 15, 2012 0:55:08 GMT -5
marshwriter: That's pretty much exactly what I do, but I do it all manually... I've been building websites for fun and (a tiny amount) of profit for several years now. So for me, it's easier to fire up Notepad and slap a few p and a tags than to learn a program to do it for me... yeah, I'm weird that way... So, I figure if I love this stuff, my (future hordes of...) readers will too. So, two birds with one stone. Refrence for me to help keep my story worlds consistant, and bonus extras for the (as of yet, mythological...) readers... (one thing I do have to do when I'm done editing the book is go back through and tighten the writing in the articles, make it more immersive, and add details too. I start with just bare bones stuff, so that leaves me room to be creative when writing...) Wow, wish I had the know-how to do it manually! Getting a new background on my blog was struggle enough! ;D But I agree - one day (when I have those hordes of readers wanting to read every bit of info ever written on the fantasy world) all my notes will prove to be useful (and dare I say interesting  ) for someone other than myself... |
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Post by Kessie on Feb 15, 2012 10:40:36 GMT -5
That's when you make stuff up on the fly because you know the world so well. Although having a fan wiki of your stuff is nice. Naomi Novik says that the Borg-like hive mind of the fans don't forget details and facts. :-)
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) for someone other than myself...