Those of you who have been reading Essential Prose for a while know that I love mind maps. I use them both to brainstorm and to organize my ideas. In the spirit of revitalization that I spoke of in my last post, today I sat on the floor with my markers and whipped up a new mind map. For those of you who don’t blog, feel free to insert the word project in place of the word blog throughout this post — it will be just as useful!
Why bother with a blog mind map?
Last November, I posted a mind map that explored where I wanted to go with this blog. The process helped me see what I was actually doing with my blog, and the directions I could use to expand it. Since awareness of where you stand and where you’re going is never a bad thing, I decided to do a new mind map of this blog. The result is at the top of this post.
Mind mapping your blog can be helpful for a few different situations:
1. When you are beginning a new blog.
2. When your blog starts to feel stale and you’re seeking some changes.
3. When you want to see a broad picture of what your blog is accomplishing.
Questions to ask while making your mind map
I take a very loose approach to the process, because mind mapping is only engaging if you customize it to your flow. You could read dozens of books on proper ways to mind map and which colors and shapes to use, etc… but that would make many people run away screaming from the page.
One important point is that you should make the mind map only for yourself. Don’t make the initial mind map with intentions of showing it to others — you can always clean it up and make a second version if you need to. With the mind map you see above, I happened to decide after making it that I’d like to share it with all of you. But if you begin with an audience in mind, you’ll likely censor yourself more.
When you sit down on the floor with your markers, I’d recommend keeping two things in mind: what you’ve done, and what you want to do. It’s completely fine to merge both categories onto the same mind map, or you can choose to make separate ones.
Once you’ve finished sketching out the mind map, you’ll have a very valuable tool in your hands. Look at the ideas that came out and ask yourself questions:
Have I addressed all these ideas?
Do I want to include all these clouds of thought?
Are there underlying threads I can use to make new connections?
What next steps can I take to act on these new ideas?
Since I highly respect your perspectives on this blog, I’d like to invite you to answer any questions that my mind map brings to mind. Tell me what you’d love to see, what you think isn’t accurate, what you think is relevant, or what you think is irrelevant — whatever comes to mind!
To start the discussion, here are a couple things I noticed.
I noticed that this mind map was a much expanded version of my first blog mind map. Am I trying to cover too much? Or is the common thread strong enough?
I also noticed that “travel” appears on both lists, yet I rarely write posts focused on travels. I’ve had several requests via Twitter asking me to write more about my travels, which got me thinking about how much those experiences form and shift my ways of thinking. Would you be interested in hearing more about my travels, or do you think that belongs in a separate venue?
I can’t wait to read your feedback, and hear your thoughts on the mind mapping process.
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The saddest part of having a super-small apartment is the lack of space for spreading out and having a really good, really big brainstorming session. I know it can be done in a notebook or on normal sized paper, but there’s nothing like having a huge whiteboard on the wall and running back and forth jotting things down…
I actually have one wall I might be able to do it on, but the texture of the wall is too bumpy (think stucco inside!) to allow paper or rollup whiteboard to function.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s last blog post..Banish Fear Through Community
Fascinating to get this glimpse into your blogging posture. I gain a great deal by putting these types of word maps together and also like to run my blog through programs like woordle to see how much my idea of contents matches my out put.
Richard Reeve´s last blog post..The power of “as if…”
“You could read dozens of books on proper ways to mind map and which colors and shapes to use, etc…” Right! and many mind mapping gurus take just this prescriptive approach and would have you believe that theirs is the only way.
After years at it, I’ve concluded that there are many ways of doing mind maps, and the right one is the right one for the individual making the map at that time for that task. As you rightly say, if it needs to be presented to others, it can be re-worked with the audience in mind.
I do think it’s useful for mind mappers to read of many information- and idea-mapping techniques, though, to extend their toolbox. What’s right for me when planning a blog post, will often not be best when I start laying out ideas for a book. And when I’m guiding my 9-year-old as he plans a school inquiry project, something different again will be needed.
Mind mapping is so mind expanding that I often wonder why the gurus want to put limits around it with their ‘rules’.
Roy
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The mind mapping wiki
Hi Zoe,
Thanks for the great post! I’m one of your readers who would LOVE to hear more about how you ended up living in thailand.
curiousjessica´s last blog post..What I’m grateful for.
@ Alex – So true — whenever I roll out my paper and materials and expand my space, it inevitably seems to expand my thinking process! An easel with big sheets of paper or whiteboard could be an option…
@ Richard – That’s a great use of Wordle — I think I originally picked it up on your blog
. It helps us take a more zoomed-out view of the directions we follow.
@ Roy – Thanks for linking to that wiki. I do agree with you that it’s extremely useful to expand our toolboxes, and just as important to prioritize flexibility. I love learning new ways to map information, but I think I mainly got interested in mind mapping because I had such an informal introduction to it.
@curiousjessica – OK, one vote for travel! I think I’ll do a post and see what the response is like
.
I’ve become a big fan of mind-mapping lately and love reading about the brainstorming process that others follow! It’s great to see the visual. Thank you for that!!
Leah´s last blog post..Celebrate Your Creativity
I love mind maps, or at least the idea of them.. I’ve tried a few times (after reading your posts actually
and have had one or two good things come of it, but after just sitting down to do one for my own site, found it difficult.. will have to give it another go.. I’m trying to figure out the direction of my site better.. maybe I’m not asking the right riddle in the middle?
Thanks for another inspiring post
Alex Charchar´s last blog post..The Sketches of Leonardo
Ah, I love mind maps. They always look like art to me. Yours is wonderful, and after taking a close look, the only question I have is: when are we going to see more videos? I loved the last one you posted!
Melissa Donovan´s last blog post..18 Do-it-Yourself Proofreading Tips
Hello Zoe! I used a mind map program to help construct the plot to my novel (though it really has a simple plot and deals more with post modern escapism and counter-culture), which is still evolving. It took some getting used to, but has been helpful. At one point, I spent more time on the mind map than on actual writing, but I’ve found a way to balance it all and know the limitations of how to use it effectively without having it get in my way (which is is easy to do as I tend to overdo things and take them to the extreme).
Do you use a mind map program or do you do them all on paper? I’ve tried dozens of different programs, but the one I actually use is Freemind (it’s really easy and free and can be exported as a detailed list)
Bobby Revell´s last blog post..The Ugly Bitch
Hi Z-dub,
I feel like I haven’t been by in a while…sorry about that. Every time I’m here, though, I come away with something of value, so thank you…again.
I’ve been thinking very much about changing course on HTM a bit, as well as about a potential new blog project. Haven’t been able to decide if keeping them separate is the right move or whether combining the two might work. Perhaps it’s the perfect opportunity to try Mind-Mapping for the first time. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Jeb Dickerson´s last blog post..The World Has Moved On
@ Leah – I love peeking at others’ brainstorming — or creation — processes, too! It’s a cool way to envision new connections and approaches.
@ Alex – That’s a worthwhile point about the riddle in the middle (good phrase to coin!). Sometimes it’s OK to have a general word or question, but it can be really useful to spend time framing the question in order to get specific types of responses. Asking who you want to speak to, or why you want people to read your blog… those kind of questions can completely change the outcome — great point.
@ Melissa – Oh, you’re right! I said it made me want to do more video, so now I have to hold to that and get another video post out. Thanks for the reminder
.
@ Bobby – Very cool, I have yet to try mind mapping for mapping out my fiction — maybe because I haven’t worked on a novel-length piece yet. It’s great that you found that balance, because I too find it so easy to get caught up in the planning stage — especially when doing mind mapping. I use Free Mind sometimes, paper most of the time, but I just downloaded a trial of MindJet Mind Manager… seems pretty in-depth, but could be useful! I think paper works best for me when doing the initial brainstorm, and then turning to software helps clean and organize the map.
@ Jeb – Great to see you here
. I’d love to see/hear about the outcome of your mind map… you’ve got a substantial thing going at HTM, but it’s totally natural that you’re still being deliberate and questioning about the directions you take.
This is a great example.. I’ll use some of these examples in my personal mind mapping.
Thanks for posting yours!
Cathy Tibbles´s last blog post..Forums, Alerts, and Mind-mapping
@ Cathy – I’m happy it could be of some use — I like getting glimpses of other people’s thought processes, so I try to share mine too.
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