My liking for mapping stuff wants just a tad clarifying. Drawing maps, mountain and forest here, town here, etc, oh'yesss.Are you familiar with mind mapping?
Some call it clustering.
Scribbling and drawing over paper...uh, thought balloons!...just like...no, not like in a comic.
Say you're working out story plot. Start with the idea, the character, the situation, that you want to explore. That's your main thought balloon. Jot down around it ideas that come, briefly: each idea in its own thought balloon, and however it's linked to the idea that sparked it. You're not writing yet, only mapping out how you might write.
Some thought balloons go nowhere. Some finish looking like a buncha carnival balloons. They might pick you up, take you anywhere...I like that image!
This mindmapping's as useful when it's time to fit together story puzzle pieces already written. Seeing how it all fits. Or doesn't, and needs...something. And it's freeform, so you can try new directions, play with it however you like.
Protag's comments box ain't config'd for me to paste in a tiny descriptive drawing. Why should it be, eh? If you go to my blog, you'll see a map of Steiffa Saves Her School :)
[The above, an excerpted conversation from Bolsheviki's Mage Hunting, appearing at Protagonize...THE collaborative writing site...You really should visit.]
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I've been mind mapping so long...almost forgotten where I first heard of it...years ago.
Then, a study tool recommended for college students. Mapping a thesis. Making notes easily during long lectures. This was before laptops. Even using a micro-cassette recorder, notes still had to be jotted out after.
Tony Buzan.
Just love Google...Many thanks, Mister Buzan!
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