Dustin Wax of The Writer’s Technology Companion wrote a post about mind-mapping software. I wrote about the joys of mind-mapping here, but I was specifically talking about how effective it can be to put aside the keyboard in favor of a pen and paper.
I’ve played with mind-mapping software, but the freebie versions I’ve tried are not very inspiring. So when Dustin announced a contest with *premier* mind-mapping software as the prize, I thought, “Well, who am I to decline?” The entry rules are quite simple: divulge from where you get your ideas.
In the spirit of the contest, I decided to MIND-MAP my response — oh, how clever am I?
Here’s your peek into my mind (click the image if you actually want to read).
So, where do you get your ideas? Am I missing some brilliant resources?
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Zoe, interesting picture–you clearly draw on a lot of sources.
I’ll stick to one area–where I get ideas for blog posts.
As I read my favorite blogs or surf the Net for information, I bookmark posts or stories that resonate with me. I often incorporate them into a future blog post, but it could be months down the road.
Since I run a writing blog, I search Google News for new and interesting stories about writing, especially as they relate to trends in the field or discuss the quality of writing skills out there. I use these as springboards to make the point I intend to get across in my posts.
As evidenced by a recent post, I also pay attention to my surroundings and sometimes notice funny typos.
Also, I simply read a lot, whether it’s magazines, books, blogs, or newspapers.
Jesse – Searching Google News is a great idea. I use Google News Alerts for other topics, but it never occurred to me to search for writing news!
Not that I write nearly as much as you do (though I do grade a whole lot more!), but I also get tons of ideas from public radio. I’ve become almost addicted to WHYY’s NPR station because they always have such interesting stories about topics I would never even consider looking into on my own. Sadly, I’m at work now by the time BBC News Hour comes on, but I can relate to your love of it, as over the summer listening to it was another of my daily rituals.
Also, I noticed that you have “Sopranos” on your map. Lots of inspiration there!
Zoë, I think there is another interesting source for good ideas: “dreams”. They can be internal desaires or a potpourri of all the things you have paint in your brainstorming picture.
@ Caren – NPR is a great choice. They have lots of podcasts, so it’s easy to pick and choose the juicy bits!
@ Terroglobo – I kept a dream journal years ago, and I want to get back into the habit. It’s tricky, though — unless I catch it within 30 seconds of waking up, the dream trickles away…
I only write my blog for fun, so there is no necessity to write anything. As with conversation in real life, I therefore blog when something has stimulated me to say something. This could be something that has happened at work, something on the news, something someone else has blogged about, or even just a thought that has sprung to mind for no logical reason.
To my scientific, and lacking in creativity, mind, it must be very difficult for artists of all kinds – I don’t really see it being possible to be creative deliberately, more as an outcome of something else – I might come up with a creative solution to a problem, or something might stimulate me to create, but to actually sit down and think “I need to be creative, what can I write about/draw/make/do, and what might stimulate this creativity” must be next to impossible
Chris Rigby´s last blog post..Link
I love reading about dreamscapes, like your Geeky to the Core dream. I like how slippery-slidey they are. Sometimes my dreams wake me up. That’s when I pay special attention to them.
Today I’m up at 5:00 am b/c a former boyfriend who dumped me was chasing me in the dream. I had to wake to get away from him. Yesterday Obama woke me up! http://betaphilings.com
betaphi´s last blog post..Why I’m voting for Obama
I like the mind-map. Have you tried clustering? ( The term was popularized by Gabriele Rico’s 1983 book Writing the Natural Way: Turn the Task of Writing Into the Joy of Writing.) I actually prefer it to mind-mapping when I need to get ideas out on paper or to explore topics.
Alain Lemay´s last blog post..Helping Bloggers get some exposure!
Where do I get my best ideas? Life experiences both present and past, watching birds and bugs, going inside and wondering, letting go and letting it happen. It’s all in there, someplace! G.
Grace´s last blog post..A Shared History
@ Alain – What’s clustering? Sounds intriguing…
I totally agree with you Zoe, there is just no way to replace pen and paper. Especially for ideas. I have my black Molskine notebook with me everywhere I go and am constantly scribbling ideas, notes, and doodles in it. I read a hilarious article a while ago about how all the new corporate execs were loving their Moleskine notebooks. They said “It’s like a PDA without batteries!”
Oh the irony…
When technology becomes more complicated and difficult to use than the medium it was made to replace, it’s time to go back to the basics. I think there is no better tool to get ideas than a simple pen and paper.
Mind Mapping… My borderline OCD likes this!
Thomas´s last blog post..How To Write A Halfway Decent Letter
@ Stephen – That’s a hilarious quote. I carry around a Moleskine or two also
I tend to write non-linear thoughts in a linear fashion in my ruled moleskine. Perhaps it would make more sense to do something more like what you do, although I kind of like reading my entries and seeing the nonsensical order of sentences. Organization has many benefits for quality writing. However, for my own entertainment I like to be reminded of the chronology of my ideas.
I see on your map talking to boyfriend but no listening to boyfriend…
Guy Tessler´s last blog post..Looking my Home Screen in the Mirror
I love to mind map, too. Yours is almost pretty enough to frame! Sometimes just sitting down with a piece of paper and pen to make nonsense doodles is enough to help me get my thoughts straight.
So how did you do in the contest?
Laurel Plum´s last blog post..Basic Kitchen Organizing Part 3 – Inside of the Refrigerator
@ Morgan – My idea-dumping and brainstorming is a mix of listed scribbles and mind maps like this. I usually don’t start mind-mapping until I’m ready to expand an idea.
@ Guy – You got me! I passed your comment on to him, and he pointed out I could have avoided the whole problem by saying “speaking with” instead of “talking to.” I’m guilty in my phrasing, but I promise, I’m a good listener : )
@ Laurel – No results posted yet! Last time I won a random drawing was actually a coloring contest when I was a wee girl — not much luck with those since.
There are usually a couple of phrases bouncing around my brain looking for something to connect them. If they are sticky enough, they’ll attach to something I’ve heard, experienced, or read, and I’ll go from there. If they are not, they go in the drafts queue, currently holding 53 drafts, so I can get back to them when I’m feeling a little dry.
cog´s last blog post..woman in white…
@ cog – Brilliant, you’ve actually described my own process as well. Except my drafts queue is scattered into different notebooks and desktop folders…suppose I should do some streamlining.