Most of the m ind m ap techniques that have been covered have been as it relates to analy zing inform ation or planning som ething. Mind m aps can also be used to help with reading as well as writing som ething from scratch. Many people use outlines to prepare to write or j ust dive in and begin writing. The sam e goes for reading. Most of us don’t do any prep work before we start reading som ething. We j ust start reading and go from there. But m ind m aps can be valuable tools to m ake us better writers and m ore effective readers.
Mind Maps for Reading
When y ou’re about to tackle a reading proj ect that m ight involve a lot of com plex inform ation or a lot of inform ation that y ou have to retain for future use, y ou should use a m ind m ap to organize that inform ation. Here are som e steps to use to m ake the m ost of a m ind m ap while reading.
1. Start the m ind m ap with the title of the book in the center
This will be a m ind m ap of the entire book and will m ost likely address m ultiple topics as y ou go through the book so it’s best to start with the book title over a central idea or topic.
2. Create direct links to the m ain topics discussed in the book or the book chapters Keep it as easy as possible and m ake sure y ou do this before y ou start reading the book. to try to m ind m ap while y ou’re reading. Focus on reading large chunks of the m aterial then go back and m ind m ap it when y ou’re done. When y ou start, try reading a whole chapter then m ind
m apping the chapter. If this is challenging, reduce the size of the chunk that y ou read. You can alway s increase it as y ou get m ore accustom ed to m ind m apping. When y ou start this process y ou will notice that y ou retain m ore of the inform ation y ou read and are able to access it m uch quicker later.
Below are som e exam ples of m ind m aps created while reading.
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Figure 9-1 Pre-reading Mind Map The m ind m ap in Figure 9-1 was created prior to a reading assignm ent was started. The creator was m aking notes on what was already known about the inform ation in the reading.
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Figure 9-2 Book Sum m ary Mind Map
The m ind m ap in Figure 9-2 is a sum m ary of the Eckhart Tolle book, The Power of Now. It highlights different topics covered throughout the book and acts as a sum m ary of it’s m ost m eaningful topics according to the creator of the m ind m ap. If som eone else created a m ind m ap of the sam e book it’s very possible that it would look com pletely different from this one. That’s the beauty of m ind m aps.
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Figure 9-3 Sum m ary Mind Map
The m ind m ap in Figure 9-3 is a book sum m ary of Eat that Frog! By Brian Tracy. It’s m uch less detailed than the Power of Now book sum m ary and focuses on the m ain points of the book rather than separating it by chapters or sections.
Mind Maps for Writing
Som e writers are diligent about creating outlines as they prepare to write som ething. This is a great habit to start but it doesn’t alway s work for every one. But it does help to have som e kind of organizational plan before y ou start writing. Mind m aps could appeal to m any m ore people
For exam ple, if y our piece of writing will be very character driven then y our first group of sections would be based on the characters. If y our piece of writing needs to cover specific topics then those sections would be those topics.
3. Expand the sections based on how y ou see each one developing as the book is written
This is where y ou can plan how y ou envision the book progressing or highlight different aspects of the topics y ou want to m ake sure y ou cover. This isn’t set in stone but provides a great fram ework to keep y ou on track to touch on every thing y ou want in the book.
4. Start to write y our book
Using a m ind m ap to write can definitely m ake writing m uch m ore organized in a way that helps to peak the creative process. Unfortunately, outlines can som etim es feel like m ore work which is why m any people don’t use them . My goal isn’t to discourage y ou from using outlines but to show y ou another way. If y ou want to continue to use outlines, please do so. But if y ou want to try som ething different, m ind m aps can be som ething to add to y our writing arsenal. By using a preparation process that gets those creative j uices flowing while organizing y our thoughts, y ou will definitely have an im proved writing process.
Below are som e sam ples of m ind m aps created to help with different writing proj ects.
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Figure 9-4 Creative Writing Mind Map
The m ind m ap in Figure 9-4 is one that was created as a tem plate for a creative writing proj ect.
This can serve as a fram ework for all of the proj ects that this writer does especially if she has to write m ultiple books in quick succession. Once y ou do that, y ou’ll be able to take full advantage of m y course on getting y our book on the Kindle and can start m aking m oney from y our writing.
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Figure 9-5 Writing Process Mind Map
The m ind m ap in Figure 9-5 outlines the overall writing process. Som e writers need help organizing how they will write rather than what they will write. This m ind m ap provides a process in an organized way. It can easily be posted on a wall near where the writer will be working so it can be looked at occasionally throughout the process to keep her on track.
Figure 9-6 Character Mind Map The m ind m ap in Figure 9-6 wasn’t created for a written work but it’s still a great exam ple of how
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a m ind m ap can be used to figure out characters in a story. This is a great exam ple of how a m ind m ap can work for som eone who’s a visual thinker. It m akes good use of im ages and sy m bols com bined with words m ainly for labeling purposes.
If y ou notice, the writing m ind m aps are som etim es less colorful and m ore about organizing inform ation to be used later. Som etim es writers aren’t naturally visual because the written word is their creative tool but this doesn’t m ean they can’t benefit from m ind m aps. They ’re not j ust for the people who are visual, they can work for any one. Plus they can help m ake y ou a m ore prolific writer and get m ore books and writing pieces com pleted. This is alway s a benefit for writers because y ou can then have m ore work to get published.