If you use an iPad or have an iPhone or iPod touch, I have discovered a great free mind mapping App that can help you with planning your stories. It is called Total Recall. The maps are easy to create and edit at the touch of a finger and it is a brilliant way to organise your thoughts and ideas.
This is, of course, if you are one of the lucky people who are able to plan their stories. I am not one of those writers. How I wish I could plan. I have sat with a notebook in my lap or with my new beautiful mind mapping bubbles just waiting to be filled in and come up with a big fat nothing.
The only way I can write a story is by coming up with the kernel of an idea. I then sit down and write...whatever comes into my head and gradually the story forms. At this point I don't even know how the story will end. A walk with Bonnie helps to pull all the parts of the story together and sows the seeds of an ending and by the time I get back to my computer, the story has usually come together in an organic way.
The good news this weekend is that I have sold my first story to Woman's Weekly.
Congratulations on the WW sale :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm like you. I rarely plan. I prefer to leave it to my characters to tell me the story x
So glad that it isn't just me! I always feel as though I am not doing things 'properly' by not planning.
DeleteWell done on success with Women's Weekly - I haven't yet cracked that one yet! Thank you for lovely comment on my blog too (The Literary Pig). Can't believe you are down the road from me - I live in Ashington. We should meet up to celebrate being Womag writers!! Are you a member of West Sussex Writers?
ReplyDeleteI know. Isn't that funny! Yes let's meet up sometime and no I'n not a member of West Sussex Writers.
ReplyDeleteMany congrats on the short story sale, that's a real achievement, WW aren't easy to sell to. Thanks for the heads up on the app. I'll download it straight away, I do use mind maps, it's about the only bit of planning I do being generally a seat of the pants writer!
ReplyDeleteYes, I was very pleased with the sale - especially as there was a bit of mix up and confusion!(see disappointed post). Glad you like the app - let me know what you think once you've tried it out.
DeleteWendy, this is excellent. As someone has also said, WW are a hard nut to crack - and you cracked it! :) Thanks too for the info on the mindmap app, this is a great wee tool :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Marianne. I am looking forward to reading 'The Blue Suitcase'.
DeleteMind maps are great for planning too. From setting up a simple meeting agenda to organizing a research proposal, the usage varies depending on your need. Our real-time collaboration features help you plan and organize better as a team. From what I've used, the real-time collaboration support is superb in Creately Mind Mapping Software . Its easy to create mind maps and there are 100s of mind mapping templates and examples as well. Has anyone used it?
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