Strategies for Pre-planning Your Novel for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
In the world of writing, brainstorming and mindmapping are essential steps in the creative process, especially when it comes to crafting a novel. These techniques allow writers to generate a multitude of ideas without worrying about their placement or structure.
One popular approach for collecting ideas for a manuscript is mindmapping, also known as brainstorming visually. Examples of web tools for creating timelines include Piktochart and Canva, while for iPad users, there are apps like Timeline and Quicklyst. For those who prefer digital note-taking, options include Notability and OmniOutliner.
When it comes to brainstorming sessions, there are no wrong answers, and the goal is to generate as many ideas as possible. This free-flowing approach can be facilitated by various online tools such as Inspiration, MindMeister, iBrainstorm, Ideament, and others. XMind, for instance, is available on multiple platforms and is praised for its simplicity, speed, and ease of use.
MindMeister, in particular, is a web-based mind mapping tool that stands out due to its advanced editor, which makes organizing ideas a breeze. It offers free and paid versions and is appreciated for its ease of use and ability to visually structure thoughts effectively.
Another tool worth mentioning is Ayoa, an AI-powered tool that combines mind maps, task management, whiteboards, and collaboration features. It's useful for both brainstorming novel ideas and organizing writing tasks, with various views like radial maps and flowcharts.
For those writing a novel, online tools like Novlr provide integrated features beyond mindmapping, such as automatic cloud saving, goal tracking, and offline support. These features can complement brainstorming tools by managing the actual writing workflow.
Outlines are also valuable for curating thoughts on subtopics of a theme after a general outline is established. They are a traditional method for organizing knowledge on a topic, and for iPad users, options include Quicklyst or OmniOutliner.
In summary, MindMeister, XMind, and Ayoa stand out as the best-rounded online mindmapping tools for brainstorming a novel due to their ease of use, features, and platform support. For a focused writing environment, consider combining these tools with novel-specific writing platforms like Novlr.
Jacqui Murray, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, and Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, emphasizes the importance of these tools in the writing process. Her book, Structured Learning, is available on her publisher's website.
Quick jotting of ideas and extensive note-taking during research are both beneficial, and digital note-taking allows for rearrangement, editing, and movement of thoughts into the order best-suited to the writing phase. It's also important for remembering and activating knowledge, regardless of whether one writes fiction or non-fiction.
In the realm of home-and-garden organization, digital note-taking applications like Notability and OmniOutliner are popular options for brainstorming and structuring thoughts effectively. Meanwhile, when it comes to upgrading one's lifestyle with technology, AI-powered tools like Ayoa not only facilitate brainstorming for novel ideas but also manage writing tasks, offering a seamless integration of creative ideas and workflow management.
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