We are on Day 3 of the Write Tribe Festival of Words #6. On Day 2 we wrote about a resource we have or use. The Day 3 prompt says: Feature a map and write about a place either real or virtual. I’m going to cheat a bit and feature a different kind of map – a mind map. You can say that the place is virtual, because it relates to the blogging world! So mind maps and blogging it is.
Mind Maps And Blogging
I was introduced to mind mapping by a friend when we had to come with a series of articles for a website some 12 years ago. My friend also gave me a copy of Tony Buzan’s ‘How to Mind Map‘. Buzan popularized the idea of mental literacy and a thinking technique called Mind Mapping earlier used by Leonardo da Vinci and others. I began to use mind maps to plan training programmes, and found it so useful. Then I experimented with mind maps and blogging with good results.
What are mind maps?
A mind map is a diagram used to visually organize information. A mind map is hierarchical and shows relationships among pieces of the whole. It is often created around a single concept, drawn as an image in the center of a blank page, to which associated representations of ideas such as images, words and parts of words are added. Major ideas are connected directly to the central concept, and other ideas branch out from those.
Mind maps can be drawn by hand, either as “rough notes” during a lecture, meeting or planning session, for example, or as higher quality pictures when more time is available. – via Wikipedia
A mind map differs from traditional note taking or a linear text, as information is structured in a way that resembles much more closely how our brain actually works. Being both analytical and artistic, it engages your brain in a much deeper way, bringing to use all its cognitive functions.
How to can mind maps help you blog better?
Mind maps are a fantastic way to write down new ideas and then explore various connected ideas. You can start with a single idea and then develop various supportive/ connected ideas as the occur to you. Or you can take an old, popular blog post as the basis or the central idea and then develop a series of blog posts around it.
I’ve put together a list of 10 ways to use mind maps for blogging. Believe me, there are many more.
How to Draw a Mind Map
- Start in the middle of a blank page, writing or drawing the idea you intend to develop.
- Develop the related subtopics around this central topic, connecting each of them to the center with a line.
- Repeat the same process for the subtopics, generating lower-level subtopics as you see fit, connecting each of those to the corresponding subtopic.
- Use a variety of colours and symbols. The more visual you are, the more your brain will respond.
- Keep the topics labels as short as possible.
- Vary text size, color and alignment.
- Vary the thickness and length of the lines.
Example – A Mind Map To Prepare for the Write Tribe Festival of Words #6
Have you used mind mapping before? Do you think it would help your blog/ blogging?
Remember to add your Day 3 #WTFOW Post to the linky. We encourage you to read, comment and share as many posts as you can. Don’t forget to use the hashtag ##writebravely and this line in your post: ‘I am taking part in The Write Tribe Festival of Words #6‘. And yes, go ahead and use the badge!
Now show us your maps and where you are taking us today!
SHALINI BAISIWALA says
August 9, 2017 at 8:33 pmI learnt something new today as this is not really known to me. I plan to research this some more and start using it as this seems amazing to me. And colour coding, brings a smile to my face as is 😉
Steph says
August 7, 2017 at 7:30 pmGreat post! I use mind maps all the time. The process helps to clear the mind and find a way to a certain order.
Payal Agarwal says
August 7, 2017 at 6:51 pmThank you for this interesting and creative post. 🙂
Amrita Basu (Misra) says
August 7, 2017 at 1:03 pmI love mindmaps. It’s a cool way to brain dump and get started. Loved the ideas.
Balaka Basu says
August 7, 2017 at 12:04 pmThis is going to be so helpful for my future posts. Thanks Corrine for this helpful and informative post. It surely will provide much more clarity. I guess I will also use this technique while teaching my son, so that he gets a clear impression in his mind.
Esha says
August 7, 2017 at 11:29 amThanks for sharing this invaluable tool with everyone today, Corinne. I was first introduced to mind maps some 17 odd years ago as part of my management program and remember being bowled over by the beauty of it. Its a great tool that we use at home and at work for planning and organising stuff on a regular basis. Now, even my son uses it as part of his school coursework and it is amazing how this tool makes complex concepts so much easier to grasp!
Apeksha Rao says
August 7, 2017 at 11:26 amGreat post Corinne. I find mind maps very handy, when it comes to developing a story.
akshata ram says
August 7, 2017 at 10:08 amThats a great concept to put together ideas, its visually appealing and a great way of getting a coherent idea of what one needs to do. A great take on the prompt
Charu Sareen Gujjal says
August 7, 2017 at 9:12 amI have been teaching mind maps to my students, especially while teaching poetry. It simplifies the way of learning. Somehow I never tried it myself for blogging. Your post encourages me to do so. Thanks.
Modern Gypsy says
August 7, 2017 at 8:59 amMind maps can be fun! It’s been a while since I’ve done one – maybe I can use it to plan some of my posts for the coming month!
Monika says
August 7, 2017 at 8:54 amMind mapping , what a gr8 idea for the prompt, I cud never think something like this…gr8 post
Team MocktailMommies says
August 7, 2017 at 8:50 amMind Maps…yes its a great tool! I was first introduced to this by my son few years back when he learnt this technique in school. And I instantly fell in love with it. The visual picture always gives clarity and the retention/ recall of the idea expressed in the mind map is pretty high.
As you rightly said, there are different ways in which it could be put to use, specially in the context of Blogging. Out of 10 listed, we the Team MocktailMommies have been using them, but to be honest, unknowingly! Your article has now has inspired me to use this wonderful technique in a better way! Thanks for the informative post!
Anagha From Team MocktailMommies
Kala Ravi says
August 7, 2017 at 8:32 amI think I do follow this ‘mind map’ concept though I wasn’t aware of it. It makes a lot of sense to follow this thought process to increase efficiency and productivity. Thanks for the gyaan Corinne!
Geethica Mehra says
August 7, 2017 at 8:14 amThis is very interesting and a new concept for my blogging. I use to hot down points on a paper for my write ups but this is a creative way to go ahead
Ramya says
August 7, 2017 at 8:01 amWe used to prepare mind maps to brainstorm ideas when we test any application. Iam a software tester . You explained it very clearly Corinne.
Bellybytes says
August 7, 2017 at 7:01 amThis is an amazing post Corinne. Mindmaps are useful for every day tasks like even planning a day. I will have to adopt this strategy to have a less frenzied working day. Thanks for sharing. Good to still see you blogging in these trying times.
Sheethalsusan says
August 7, 2017 at 1:26 amHave read about this, but haven’t tried yet. Thanks for sharing it. I think personally this is the time for me to try this technique.
Shalini R. says
August 7, 2017 at 1:21 amThank you for introducing us to this technique, Corinne. So glad that you’ve detailed steps and many resources. 🙂
Zainab says
August 7, 2017 at 12:12 amRecently a friend also told me about the mind map, & seeing all the details is really helping me! Will make apne soon & colour code it 🙂