Mind Mapping For Story Writing
Templates ✏
More advanced
Mind Map vs. Outlining 🗒
A mind map for your story should not be the same as an outline of the chapters/sections/paragraphs (but you can make an outline later too, if you want to!)
An outline is a linear plan of the sections of your story
A mind map should be a collection of ideas, in no particular order
Add wild and whacky ideas to your mind map! 🎇
It's much better to add wild ideas, and then edit them down later than to never have the ideas at all, or to forget them
Nothing is too wild, too odd, or too weird, even if you have no idea how it will fit with your story.
add things as soon as you think about them!
Use the structure of the mind map to show the connections that sparked your ideas
Getting started
Use these template links to get started quickly. Create your copy of the template to edit using the copy icon 
in the top right of each page:
Important Basics 💡
Note down any idea, nothing is too wild!
Add connected child branches for related concepts
Drag your ideas around the page to organise them
How long should I spend mind-mapping before I start writing?
Do not judge, or edit, ideas until later
Try to be quick, without pausing
Mind mapping is about being as creative as possible - don't restrict or limit ideas too early in the process
It's up to you, a simple mind map can be created very quickly before moving on to writing, or you can also spend as long as you like!
If you're mind mapping for a school project, your teacher might have guidance about how long to spend
Help! I'm stuck, I can't think of anything! ⁉
Write down literally anything, the first thought or nonsense that comes into your head!
Don't judge yourself, there are no 'wrong' answers in a mind map
Sometimes, having too much freedom can be paralysing, there are too many choices to make!
To solve this, try adding a challenge. Making things "harder" can help get the creative thoughts flowing!
What if your story takes place entirely within a single instant, with no time passing at all?
Keep typing words on your keyboard for one minute continuously, whatever happens, even if you find yourself typing complete nonsense
What if something completely prevented your characters from communicating with each other?
What is the most stupid, ridiculous, crazy, thing that could happen. Then, what would happen next?
the greatest story can come from the most 'stupid' idea