Here is another prewriting option.

Mind mapping, concept mapping--call it what you want. It's a different way to approach creative projects from the traditional outline.

I have enjoyed this alternative since I participated in the Central California Writers Project a while back. Its open-endedness appealed to me immediately.

So I will provide a few online demos--Inspiration and Bubbl.us.

And of course there is the ever-effective pen and paper. When I camp out at a coffee shop and use this method, I make a habit of taking a photo of the work for some digital backup. (Not that I would e-e-eever misplace my notebook or anything like that. ;-> )

Okay, it's your turn. Create your own cluster of ideas. If you're using paper and pen, take a photo of it and share it. If you're going digital, please do send your sample, even a portion of it. Side benefit: Before we share something, we often give it one more look and that can generate a little more clarity for your project.

Looking forward to seeing your results.

Tim

[email protected]

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Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.

John Steinbeck

Okay, in the short video that follows, I demonstrate how in short order you can create your own mind map for a story. It's very basic, of course, but I just wanted to show how easy it is to create one. I used Google Slides, but PowerPoint works just fine. Whatever digital tool works for you...For speed's sake, use those copy/paste techniques demo'd in the video. I've added templates to this lecture, one in PDF format for a quick pen-and-paper effort and one in PowerPoint format for you to customize as you see fit.