Juiced On Writing

I’ve recently provided some articles on how I am currently using Mindjet MindManager Pro 7 for my writing project. However, MindManager has just had an upgrade to Version 8, with a whole swathe of new functionality which looks interesting from a writer’s viewpoint.

Over the last weekend, I received, as a MindJet customer, some invitations to a web-conference to introduce this new hush-hush functionality. Unfortunately due to work commitments here in the UK, I was unable to attend.

However, the news is getting out now, towards MM8, and the most comprehensive review of these new functions can be found on The MindMapping Software Blog, which has been fortunate enough to have worked with a copy of the new version over the past month.

Looking at some of these new functions, and one in particular, I can see a great lot of help – and potential, for myself, and my writing projects. The write-up also points out functionality which exists in some respect with my version – MM 7, which has got me thinking also.

The following features look interesting, to say the least -

1. Map Parts

MM 7 comes with some map-parts and you can create your own also. You can design, say a table, with some fields, and have this saved as a map part to use elsewhere on your mind map. And the drag and drop functionality makes these a breeze. There are Smart Map Parts for file explorers, an excel linker, and news feeds map parts – bringing in RSS feeds. Some are setup for you, but you can create other RSS feeds which update into your map.

MM 8 comes with more inbuilt map-parts, including Google, Yahoo and MSN searches, and Facebook and Myspace Smart Map Parts also. The potential for other social networking map parts – particularly for ones such as Twitter, is appealing.

All of the above can create a very easy one-map platform for research. Not only will the writer have access to their own files and folders, but the internet, via the search map parts, and with the social networking potential, a one-stop dashboard could be created to keep them up to date with that side of thing, while working on their research or writing projects.

2. Flash PDF Export

My own MM7 version can export to images, or PDF, but the new Version makes use of the latest Adobe PDF and Flash technology, meaning the PDFs of Mind Maps can have expanding and contracting branches, plus clickable links within the PDF.

This is a truly exciting export feature for me, and one which has me considering the upgrade costs to Version 8. Let me show you what I mean -

The above is a quick snapshot of the mindmap I am currently creating alongside a large PDF document for a Guide to Writing Resources. The four coloured boxes indicate four large sections of resources, and the many sub-topics under these. For the sake of the image, I’ve opened up some of the actual sub-branches off of three of these, all are links to external resources.

The PDF itself will have a table of contents, but this mind map is a subsidiary document, and also a visual contents reference. Plus it has quick working links to hundreds of resources. Expanded, it is a huge document in itself.

The Mind Manager 8 implementation of Flash PDF exports means that this visual table of contents can be provided as a PDF, and readers can expand the sub-branches as they please. If I could find a way to incorporate that PDF and my detailed written one, then I would be a very satisfied information product writer.

PDF exports with expanding branches, clickable links, search and zoom functions means that MindManager 8 provides every user with an excellent way of getting their maps out to readers in an interactive form. Those readers will already have a Adobe Reader, and will not need to be sent to download the MindManager Viewer itself.

3. Flash SWF

Along with the new PDF Interactive export, this new export function in MindManager 8 (Called the MindManager Player) can export to straight Flahs SWF files. This means you can post your mindmaps to a blog or website, and your website visitors can use these interactively also.

For writers assembling their ideas, works and possibly research via a website, perhaps a wiki, this appears an excellent facility, and would also give me the opportunity to keep a website MindMap updated for a subscriber list, or as a bonus for those who have downloaded some information from my site.

4. Collaboration and Access

I have not made use of the collaborative aspect of MM 7’s Mindjet Connect function. Connect provides a webspace for collaboration on mindmaps posted there. For a combined writing project across town, or across countries, this is an excellent idea.

However, with MM8, further methods for accessing Mind Maps have been created. Not only is there the Connect service (with a purchase, you get six months of access to this) but there is now a solution called MindManager Web. If you can afford subscriptions to all of these, as a professional you will have some excellent tools for sharing and working with mind maps, both on an individual basis, and collaboratively.

5. A Productivity Dashboard

Finally, I’ve previously used two examples of creating a dashboard for projects. The first is an example of a project dashboard for a scrapbooking project, a full album of themed scrapbook layouts. Along with this actual album, I am also currently writing an ebook on the topics included as designed layouts. The dashboard works for both the design and writing projects for this particular dual-effort.

My second is the smaller dashboard or master mind map I am using for my current fiction writing project, the NaNoWriMo novel. This was profiled in this entry recently. This particular dashboard works by being the first document I open up, linking to other mind maps I use on an hourly basis, excel spreadsheets, and executable files to open my writing software.

Dashboards are the latest craze in the mind mapping world, with many people seeing the productivity aspects of reigning in all your other documents and workflows onto one organised document. With Mind Manager’s hyperlinks, and attached document inclusions, and now the Search and File explorer map parts, integration with Microsoft Office programs and files, it is becoming more and more possible to create a Dashboard for your life – at least around your writing workflow, but hey – I’m also tempted to include some school schedules for my daughter into the thing.

The Get-it-Done Guy has just posted a blog post on his use of a personal dashboard, and he makes a good point about the potential for such a map to become a book.

Links in this Article:

• Mindjet MindManager Pro 8 – free 30 day trial available.
• Comprehensive review of MM8 features on the MindMapping Software Blog
• Get it Done Guy’s post on personal dashboards
• Alternative MindMapping applications – without all the same features, but some are free.

These posts may also be of interest:

1. Note Keeping Software for Writers [Escaped] Escaped From The Ultimate Guide for Writers (free to download...