Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Mind Map Your Writing Plans!- Guest Post by Patricia Anne McGoldrick
It is a new year. January 2011 is just flying by so it is reassuring to look at my writing plan mind map and to see that I am making progress.
Let me reassure you that my writing plan is not carved in stone; however, it is a visual guideline to remind me of goals that I want to pursue in my writing, directions that I want to take.
For me, I have found that making a mind map is the most convenient and helpful way to sketch out the directions that I wish to pursue in my writing.
For my purposes, I have made a mind map that reaches out in six different directions:
- Poetry
- Non-fiction
- Reviews
- Fiction
- Essays
- Blog
These are the focal points of my writing with varied emphasis on each branch.
From these, I have listed some preliminary topics or titles. As the year goes on, I may adjust these topic areas.
Along with my yearly plan, I make a more specific monthly mind map. This does not take a long time to construct by hand with paper and markers, or electronically with software such as Inspiration 9.
As I learn of markets, contests, and submission calls, I input them into branches of the monthly map. When the month is over, I check off completed tasks, note if work is done rejected or still awaiting a response.
This gives me a quick overview of monthly progress and provides a heads-up awareness of possible directions for the next month.
With the use of colour markers, graphics, or drawings, I have been inspired to monitor my progress each month. In addition, I can go back to the original yearly plan to check for directions, as well.
Mind mapping writing plans by year and by month is a useful strategy. It works for me!
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on the new site will receive a free ebook from The WM Freelance
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3 comments:
This is a wonderful idea, Patricia! Thanks so much for sharing... I'll have to try it out.
~Laurie
Glad you like it Laurie.
Mind mapping has been a fun, useful strategy for me.
Let me know how it goes for you. I tried making them with markers & paper long before using the software version; I still us the two versions, depending on the day.
Patricia
Thanks for letting me know about other good stuff! I'll also try it!
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