How to Use Mind Mapping to Outline A Book

When I wrote my first book I used index cards. I wrote one element or idea on each card; such as, a topic, question, quotation, or a reference. Once I had all of my cards written, I sorted them into stacks of related topics. Within each stack, the cards were sorted into a logical order. Each stack eventually was a chapter in the book. Sometimes it was helpful to tack them on a bulletin board so that I could see them easily.   

A linear outline is often used listing the main topics with relevant information under each topic. From there you can form the paragraphs. The main topics could be the chapters in your books. This is more challenging for me since I am very visual and I don’t always see an immediate relationship to my ideas. I prefer to start with the cards and then move to a linear outline.

I recently came across mind mapping.  (The Mind Mapping expression is a registered trademark of Buzan Centres.) I have used the technique for several posts and a book that I am currently working on. A mind map is a perfect tool for a visual learner like me. I was using a form of mind mapping when I organized my cards on a bulletin board. It is easier to connect ideas and see what doesn’t fit or what should be moved to a new area. The more detail you include the easier it will be when compile your final document. The more you planning and research you do before you write the faster you will complete your book.

Diagram via flickr

Studies have shown that people don’t think in a linear manner. Thoughts often pop into our head and we jump from topic to topic. Mapping your thoughts will help you pull them together in an organized manner while cultivating your creativity. You can put all of your ideas down without worrying about how they fit together. Writing your ideas down in this way will lead you to think of unrelated ideas that may fit in another area.

Mind mapping is a fast way to create material because you write key words and ideas so when you sit down to write your ideas will already be organized. If you are organizing a lot of material for your book, mind mapping will make it easier to see your ideas and how they fit together. If you are suffering from writers block, mind mapping will stimulate creativity through brainstorming. Mind mapping is an effective way to start, organize and finish your book.

Windows has a free and premium version of mind mapping software. Of course you can find a more expensive version if you find it helpful. I have created my own mind map on paper or a dry erase board. 

How do you outline and organize your material for your book? Do you start with an outline or do you have another method?

10 Writing Rituals That Will Help You Be More Productive

Image via flickr

If you write for a living or write a blog post for your business you probably have had times when you have trouble getting started writing. If you write for a living then your income depends on how quickly you can get started and stay focused. 

There are some people that can go to the computer and begin writing immediately. Most of us are not that focused and can be easily distracted by e-mail, twitter and phone calls.  If you are easily distracted it may take you twice as long to complete your writing assignment.  

A writer that spends time gathering information, planning, organizing and setting aside a dedicated time will be more successful than one that does not prepare. Writers that consistently produce written work most likely have a daily ritual they follow. If you want to get more writing done in a shorter period of time you might want to develop some daily rituals. Rituals will help you organize your time and space and get you started writing even when you don’t feel like sitting down in front of the computer. 

1. Set aside a specific time to write. I like to get up early when there are no distractions. Some may want to get other tasks out of the way before beginning. 
2. Free writing. When you set down to write don’t worry about punctuation just let the words flow. You can review and edit your work later. 
3. Keep a pad of paper or recorder with you. As you think of ideas during the day you can write them down or record them. When you sit down to write you will already have some ideas generated.   
4. Choose a different style of writing. Some authors like to start their writing day with a Haiku or a poem.     
5. Word of the day. Choose a word in the dictionary and write a sentence or two using the word. You can “like” the Our Little Books Facebook page and participate in the Our little Book Word of the Day. We would love for you to come up with a sentence using the Word of the Day. It is fun way to get your creativity started for the day. 
6. Write a short story or paragraph. Use the sentence you made from the word of the day and write a short story or paragraph with it. You could also find a sentence in a favorite blog post or book you are reading. 
7. Journal. Journaling for yourself is a good way to experiment with your writing style and explore some of your ideas. 
8. Ask yourself a question each day. I like to write what I am grateful for and how I plan to achieve my goals each day. Think of a thought provoking question and ask yourself the same question each day.  
9. Set up your environment the same way before you begin. Example: clean your desk, turn music on, open the blinds, etc. 
10. Repetition. Doing something in a repetitive fashion helps your brain transition into the writing process. If you do the same routine before beginning to write your brain will recognize the process and will be ready to start. You may need to go for a walk, get a cup of coffee, and organize your work space before getting started. 

What are some of the rituals you use to get started? Have you found ones that are interesting? If you have a day that you are motivated and focused think of what steps you took prior to getting started. Try doing the same routine tomorrow and see if it helps. It may take a few attempts to see what works for you.

How A Book Becomes Part of Your Soul- Part Two of Anatomy of A First Book

Last week in Part One of Bronwyn Clee's post on Our Little Books Guest Post Wednesday, she talked about her mental and emotional process in how a story came to being. Today for this week's Guest Post Wednesday, we are very pleased to have Part Two of Bronwyn's story of her writing journey. We would love to hear from our readers about their writing journeys so others can realize that they can do it too! What is your experience? Enjoy Part two of Bronwyn's story.

I adore writing as it soothes my soul and fits with my new life motto ~ self care ~ self pace ~ self love. If I wake up at 5am I can write if I want to and have a nap through the day. I have come to realize that writing is like a constant companion and never far away from my heart and soul. I have note books for everything because I like to be organized – I have notebooks for ideas, notebooks for notes, notebooks for ‘must do’ and notebooks for groceries. Journals for dreams and journals for gratitudes. The more I write the less I seem to have to try and remember. In return, my brain feels freer for more information to softly find its way into my consciousness. 

In finally writing my book to my mum I have been stimulated to write a ‘little book’ that I am very excited about. I know that the creative pathway for further writing has been paved in the most cathartic way through breathing life into “Seven Letters to Mum – Bali on a Wing and a Prayer’. I have also unearthed poems I wrote as a lost teenager and wonder what I will do with them. I love the idea of inviting readers into the lounge room of my soul. I see them in my mind’s eye sitting, relaxing and contemplating life with my little book in their hands. I sense my words provoking deeper thinking and becoming a spring board for change in the most subtle of ways… 

I know this to be true as it has been my experience with special authors who have invited me into the lounge room of their soul and brought about subtle and powerful changes in my life…  Enid Blyton as a child, Clarissa Pinkola Estes informed me as a young mother and still speaks to my heart today. Caroline Myss held my hand through dark days and nights and Napolean Hill and His Holiness the Dali Lama have walked many mountains and valleys with me over the years. My path has been blessed by many great authors whose stories live in my heart and on groaning book shelves… One of my greatest joys will be placing a copy of my first book in my mother’s hands, and the second copy on my book shelf, amongst old friends. 

Bronwyn’s new life motto is “self care ~ self pace ~ self love”. In facing death last year, Bronwyn came face to face with what she truly, madly, and deeply valued most in life. Of course it had always been loving relationships, so she decided that this was her chance to sift and sort and align her life with her core values and only do things she really believe in doing. To find out more about Bronwyn, check out Bronwyn’s websites at www.bronwynclee.com or www.gratitudelog.com/growingratitudes.

Four Key Steps to the Writing Process

Anything worth doing takes careful planning and writing is no exception. If you are writing a blog, article or book, you will find success by following the same steps outlined here.  

1. Pre-writing

Although somewhat counter-intuitive, the pre-writing step may be the most important step in the writing process. If you miss this step you may sit and look blankly at your computer trying to figure out what to do. Pre-writing is the stage where you come up with your idea. While some people may have the problem of trying to narrow down their ideas, others may not be able to come up with even one idea. However, there are several methods to get ideas or inspiration for your next blog post or book.

• Decide on a topic considering your audience.
• Free write – write down everything you already know about the topic. Don’t worry about spelling, punctuation or style. These are ideas only.
• Brainstorm ideas about the topic.
• Use graphic organizers.
• Research your topic online as well as in magazines, books or interviews.
• Organize your thoughts using an outline or diagram.

Begin writing all of your thoughts and do not worry about making mistakes. You will organize and delete irrelevant information later.

2. Drafting

Now just start writing your first draft. Again, do not worry about spelling or punctuation at this stage. You may need to write several drafts before you are satisfied with the outcome so do not spend the time to try to write correctly when you may edit it out later. Put all of the information you researched into your own words. Organize your thoughts into a structure. You may want to leave some of your ideas out and narrow your topic.

3. Revising

After you have completed your draft you will want to make revisions. Take a few hours or days away from your work to be able to look at the manuscript from a fresh perspective when you return. You may need to rewrite a section, rearrange the paragraphs, remove irrelevant data or add missing information.

4. Editing

After all of your revisions are made it is time to get it edited. You will first want to self edit your work. Go through your document line by line. You may have sentences that are hard to understand or grammatical errors. Read your work out loud and read it backwards. All these suggestions will help you find errors that you have missed up to this point.

Even if you are seasoned author you should have a professional editor edit your work when you are done self-editing. It is easy to overlook errors that you have made. It may make sense to you but it may need to be written slightly different to make sense to the reader. Review by a professional editor can save you embarrassment later.

If you follow these 4 steps, your writing should flow into that work that you envisioned from the very beginning