Mind-Mapping and the

Evolving Story Outline

Mind-Mapping is a brainstorming
technique developed by Tony Buzan in the
1970s. Instead of requiring linear thinking,
as some tasks do, mind-mapping
encourages your mind to make associative
leaps between ideas and images.
According to brainstorming theories, the
technique stimulates new ways of thinking
and it appeals to the parts of the brain that
respond better to visual stimuli and shapes.

How can a Screenwriter

benefit from Mind Mind-mapping might help you to more
mapping?

clearly visualize scenes, settings, images,

characters, themes, dialogues, or the
driving conflicts of the storyline.
You can use a general Mind-map to
generate basic ideas for screenplays, or
you can focus on a particular aspect of
your project the defining characteristics
or motivations of a character, for instance.

Tapping the unconscious

mind

Mind-mapping is a way for the unconscious

mind to translate its ideas on paper in a
manner that bypasses the convention of
sitting before a word processor and
organizing thoughts into logical sentences
and paragraphs.
The process takes advantage of the brains
ability to work in short, intense mind bursts.
You are able to scribble your ideas on paper
in a short, intensely focused time period and
feel artistic at the same time.

How does a mind-map work?

What will I need? How do I start?

What will you need?

A pad of plain or colored paper, as large you are

comfortable with. Try paper that is not 8 X
11. You will have more space to map out your
ideas, at the same time that you get away from
conventional ways of thinking about creative
writing.
A set of colorful writing instruments (pens,
crayons, magic markers, etc.)
Marisa DVari actually suggests fruit-scented
markers. To wake-up that part of the brain that
responds to sensory stimulation.

Let us mind-map
Ready, set, go

One goal of mind-mapping is to work as

rapidly as possible, catching as many
associations as you can and not
censoring ideas you might later think are
dumb or not exciting enough. Accept
everything that comes to you.
You do not have to work in complete
sentences. Use phrases or words that
have meaning for you (even if they might
not make much sense to another reader).

Creating a visual map

Start

with a central image (picture)

or word. Place in somewhere near
the middle of the page.
Draw pictures, use lines, or bubbles
to show connections between ideas
as they occur to you.
The map can be messy and sloppy.

Our Group MindMap

And your individual
mind-maps

Elaborating on the MindMap

After you have finished the map, rest for

a few minutes.
Then ask relevant questions and try to
answer them on your mind map, such as:

Why?
Emotions?
What is at stake?
What are the possible risks?
Is this character material for an interesting subplot?
How?

Translating the Mind Map

What

will you get out of this process?

After you complete the mind-map try to

analyze it. Ask yourself the following
questions.
What themes emerge?
What did you notice about your storyline,
character, action, etc., that you had not
thought of before?
How can details from the Mind-map be
integrated into your project?

Summary
You

can analyze the mind map by

writing a short narrative about
what you discovered.

Credits
The

suggestions for Mind-mapping

offered in this Power Point
Presentation were adapted by Prof.
Loretta Collins from Marisa DVaris
book Script Magic: Subconscious
Techniques to Conquer Writers
Block. Studio City, California:
Michael Wiese Productions, 2000.