Mind mapping a new idea for a movie script
Tuesday, March 3, 2009

I have made a little investment in one of those mini-laptops, a so called notebook. Now I sit on the bus with a minimal screen and a keyboard a little bigger than the palm of my hand and am as happy as a child on Christmas.

The first thing I did was sketching on my next project in a freeware, mind mapping program called FreeMind. It was the first time I used it for other than slight testing. Actually it was the first time I mind mapped an idea for script at all.

I found mind mapping - at least in FreeMind - to be an easy way to do the first sessions with an idea. I wrote down the actual outline for story in an ordinary document, but the environment, the characters, the different situations, the names were perfect for mind mapping.

A mind map on paper has its advantages: I can draw arrows as I like, I don't have to follow any rules or patterns and its chaoslike appearance is supposed to make its easier to remember its contents. But doing it in a computer gives me features I can't gain on a paper-version: I can add and remove as I please, I can go back and add another node and the mind map expands; I can also add images very easy.

I do believe in the power of pen, paper and sticky-notes, but I am also a great fan of digital media. They serve different purposes. I like the idea that it is so easy to make a copy and that my written thoughts do not vanish because a paper is lost.

Any experiences you would like to share?