How Writers Can Use Mindmeister

If you’re a writer, you’re probably always looking for new ways to organize yourself. (No? Am I the only organization geek?) okay, so maybe that’s just me.   When I’m writing however, sometimes it’s the odd moments, the odd ideas that pop up that end up posted in a mishmash of post its, binders, papers and things scattered all over my desk.  Especially when I’m researching for a book — I look for the best possible way to stay organized with all my research links, and then because I need to write it down RIGHT NOW,  my thoughts end up on napkins. (If I’m lucky.)

I’ve tested out dozens of number of note-taking options, including Microsoft OneNote. (Which I still use for some things.)  And of course, for story structure and character details, I use my WIP Notebook.  But for research, I like something that is #1, online, #2, allows for all types of media with easy links to viewing and #3, something I can access anywhere.   And what seems to be proving really important, it has to show ME the information the way my brain automatically organizes it.

Translation? A wee bit crazy.

Mindmeister is a brainstorming/mapping tool.  It takes your thoughts and maps them with connections, and then adds connections to that thought, and then that one… and, well, you get the idea.  For me, it was a moment of, “They get me! They really get me!”  I could make connections between something on the top right to the bottom left, and everywhere in between. I can add pictures, links, notes to each box. I can make them bigger or smaller.  So yes, the geeky side of me loves it too.  It’s fun.

And it’s really, really easy.  Here is an image of one of my mind maps. (I have about 12 right now.)  This one is the hub for my research information for different aspects of the next book I’m working on (my third historical romantic suspense or for those who’ve read SOMETHING ABOUT HER, Lily’s story).

And here’s another example of how I’ve used the mind map — creating a Timeline of events that are relevant to the time I’m writing.  I can add locations, descriptions, pictures, links, blocks of text.  Whatever I want.

There is an app for this.  And it connects to my Google Drive, where I keep the bulk of my files as copies so I can access them anywhere.  (Hey that line at the DMV is great for making notes!) I can create as many arms of information as I want.  All those links I find randomly — I can drop them in within a few seconds, be on my way.  No more napkins.  No more notes here and there.  My brain is content to leave those ideas right where they are.

And for those of you using the WIP Notebook,  the Mindmeister maps can be downloaded in a variety of formats if you have a pro account.  It’s worth it.

Which also leads us to the …what if it crashes, gets lost or my information disappears?

Well, I can say with 100% certainty that Mindmeister will do everything they can to get it back for you.  Even after email upon frantic email of “WHAT HAPPENED TO MY NOTES?”  And yes, they will keep tirelessly trying to recover your information even after you’ve canceled your subscription in a huff because you lost eight hours of notes. (Not that I did that or anything…)

See, there was a little glitch between Google Drive and Mindmeister (which has been fixed) and my hours of notes had disappeared. I was frantic.  Probably very annoying.   But Mindmeister staff kept with me,  they kept working until they found my data and restored it.  Now THAT is customer service — to keep going even after the customer has canceled their subscription.

So the bottom line of this? Mindmeister is amazing for a writer’s brainstorming brain.  There’s a free version so you can have a few maps and play around (just long enough to realize you have to have about 20 other maps, too).  Their service is great.  And they provide downloadable formats for your maps in a variety of information, so you’ll always have the paper versions even after you’ve moved onto other topics.

As a tool for writers? I give this an A+.