How to Use Mind Maps for Article Ideas
When you write for several different outlets, coming up with a continuous flow of article ideas can be a challenge. When I get stumped, I break out a piece of paper and draw a mind map. Mind maps are a form of brainstorming where you use colors and shapes to stimulate the brain.
Here's how I create article ideas with mind maps.
I start by drawing a shape of the thing I want to write about (or just a circle). Right now I need to come up with some art article ideas, so I drew an artist's palette.
I write the subject inside the drawing.
I draw wavy lines spiking out from the drawing, with each line a different color (usually).
On each line, I draw a word that comes to mind when I think of the central idea.
Then, I draw branches coming from those branches focusing on words I think of when I think of the words on the larger branches.
By this point my brain should be connecting words into ideas that can be turned into articles. With my mind map I came up with the article Recycled Art Studio Furniture and Gear.
Try this technique out and let me know how it works for you!
Here are some other mind maps I've made:
how to brainstorm blog posts
how to get ideas
Here's how other people do mind maps:
