This is Good Stuff…and…It’s FREE.
You know I’m a software junkie. I can’t deny it. Think about how the right software, used properly, can be helpful. Would you be writing as much, or revising as easily (The key to good writing) without word processing? I’ll bet you wouldn’t. How did those old timey guys and gals do it?
Today’s offering is one of the best kind…FREE. The software is XMind 2008, a mind mapping software program. Here’s an excerpt from an XMind 2008 review on the Mind Mapping Software Blog that says the software is…
…very user-friendly to people who are just getting started with mind mapping. XMIND 2008 could easily fetch at least US$100-200 based upon its rich feature set, but amazingly its developers are giving it away. You can download it here.
This next part is very telling, especially for those familiar with the famous, FreeMind.
In the free end of the mind mapping software market, XMind 2008 absolutely trounces FreeMind in every aspect of its functionality. If you’ve been thinking about dipping your toes in the water of visual mapping, I can’t think of a better program to recommend as your starting point than XMind 2008.
If you’re unfamiliar with this kind of software, Wikipedia says…
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing.
They provide the following illustration….
The applications in novel writing are obvious:
- Plotting,
- Chapter organization…and reorganization,
- Outlining,
- Character relationships, etc.
For you outliners, there are several types of charts that make perfect fill-in-the-boxes templates. You can then move the boxes around the screen and reorganized them as you see and think of new things to add.
Rather than have me try to explain XMind 2008, try this one minute video, it covers only the very, basics but will give you an idea about what’s possible. Note, it has a (pretty cool, actually) musical accompaniment, so, if you’re at work or the baby’s sleeping, turn down the speakers.
If you go to the XMind website they have several videos of various lengths that walk you through how to use the software.
For those who want to know more, this video is more compressive and very good.
Well, there you have it, free, writing-related software that an independent reviewer says is worth between $100 to $200 dollars—all brought to you by Imagineering Fiction! Who loves you now??
Thank you for stopping by, have a great weekend, and see you again on Monday! Galen.
Themocracy
Yay! This sounds awesome. I’ve used FreeMind with some success…for brainstorming, since I don’t outline. I like the way mindmaps look, visually. This one, looking at your example, looks much better than FreeMind. Thanks for the tip, Galen!
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
As I’m moving around a sentence for the umpteenth time, I often wonder how authors were able to write before the age of computers, too. Watching that video made me think that program is one I might have TOO much fun playing with instead of writing. It also looks like a program that would have been very helpful during sentence diagramming in English class.
I shall give this a try. I like my outlines, but maybe this can be another tool. Thanks Galen!
Elspeth
I think I’ll use this for my next project. Thanks.
I learned mind-mapping about 10 or 12 years ago at a personal development seminar/workshop/convention. It’s the best way to take notes and be able to recapture the thought process in which they were taken, bar none. Course, I do it long hand – but I’m not adverse to trying this software, thanks for the tip!
The Old Silly
Oy!I learned mindmapping from the Tony Buzan Radiant Thinking Book and I really don’t get these computer mindmaps. I taught it for many years to young entrepreneurs and corporate managers. I use mindmaps when creating novels, plays or for almost anything that I want to organize. I always use them to teach. The reason they work for me is the actual thing that happens when you choose and work with the visual metaphor. The words in little boxes don’t get me where I want to be. I recommend that folks who want to learn to mindmap – go to your library and get out Radiant Thinking by Buzan and do what he tells you to. It is a brilliant tool and it is very pleasing to develop your own visual language and have your brain start to work to fill in the missing branch openings with ideas.
I’ve played around with Mind42.com (http://www.mind42.com/) a bit and recognize the utility of mindmaps when planning a novel. I tend to get caught up in the bells/whistles of a program and get off track from what I’m supposed to be doing (plotting/writing!) but still enjoy them. Thanks for the recommendation!