How to Outline your Book and Chapters with Mindmapping Judy Cullins C. 2003 All Rights ReservedMindmapping is better than linear outlining because authors can use flexible thinking and relativity in writing their book. One can add and subtract a thought or phrase from a mindmap easily. Mindmapping is an excellent way to start, organize, and finish your book.
What is Mindmapping?
Mindmapping is a color-coded outline of main ideas, sub topics and details, printed on different colored branches connected to
center. In center in a circle, you will list your main idea, such as your book or chapter title.
For "The One-Minute Sales Person", Spencer's mindmap would have had seven different colored vertical branches coming from that center, so details can be put on connected horizontal branches. (much easier to read)
What are advantages of Mindmapping?
First, a mindmap is open-ended and open-minded. No more squeezing new "ahas" or ideas into strict, tight form of linear outline. You can make mistakes in your mindmaps. Imperfection leads to creativity. When you get an idea for chapter one, you can just add another branch off main one. Mindmapping expands flexible thinking, making for better writing.
Second, mindmaps use only three to five concrete or color words on a branch. These key words help jog our memory. Under Chapter One "Attracting Passion," I added several horizontal lines that represented format that follows. One line had "opening quote," next one "introduction," next one "Jerry's Story," next "Food for Thought and Action," next, "Passion Hot Line," last line, "practice."
Third, mindmaps speed up your writing because you only write key phrases. When you sit down at computer, from your color-coded map, answers will flow naturally. If you need to fatten up your chapter, just go to your chapter file folders where you keep your research.
