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The Benefits of Mind Mapping for Writing (And How You Can Get Started Right Away)

Crafting a bestselling novel isn’t for the faint of heart. And not just because of all the writing, editing, and marketing. Trying to keep all those plot points, characters, settings, and other details straight can be a major challenge. And the further in you get, the more difficult it becomes. 

Fortunately, there is a way to streamline your writing process and reign in the complexity of your story’s world. Mind mapping for writing can help you get organized, stay focused, and write faster. And that means you’ll reach the finish line of your story sooner. 

But mind maps aren’t just for writing fiction. They can be used for all types of writing. And you don’t even need a stash of pen and paper. With mind mapping software at your side, you’ll be able to write better blog posts, research papers, and more .

Keep reading to discover how a mind mapping tool could be just the jumpstart your writing process has been needing.

What is mind mapping anyway?

Mind mapping is a technique that can be used to brainstorm ideas, organize your thoughts , or remember something more easily. The basic idea is to create a map of your thoughts by connecting related ideas with lines and arrows. This can help you to see the connections between different ideas and to remember information more effectively. 

Mind maps come in a variety of styles, from timeline mind maps to Venn diagrams . And each kind of graphic organizer offers unique benefits.

How can mapping be useful in writing fiction?

As any novelist knows, writing a book is no easy feat. You don’t just have to come up with a compelling story. You’ve also got to keep track of all the different characters and plot threads. 

Mind mapping can be a helpful tool for keeping everything organized. By creating a mind map, you can visualize the different elements of your story. 

For example, you might brainstorm story ideas for a single book or an entire series. Then, you could create a timeline mind map to give yourself a clear picture of when events take place. You could even include significant events that happened before or after your story. Mind maps can also help you flesh out your characters. They offer a place to describe them physically, psychologically, and in other ways. 

And with mind mapping software , you can even add images and links to show relationships to other characters or places.

How do you create a mind map for a story?

Want to know specifically how to mind map for fiction?

First, you’ll need to think through the kinds of mind maps you’ll need. Will character maps be beneficial? Could you use mind maps describing particular scenes or settings? Would a timeline be helpful? How about a mind map that divides your story into its various beats?

Once you’ve decided which mind maps will be best for your story, choose mind map templates that fit your need. Mindomo has a host of templates specifically for literature and writing. There, you’ll find everything from characterization study maps to story maps and more.

Once you’ve finished your mind maps, they can be used as a guide when writing the actual story. They’ll make it easy to ensure all of the important elements are included.

But a mind mapping tool won’t just help you keep each individual story straight. You can also use them to track your progress, setting yourself milestones for each section of the book. And if you ever get stuck, mind maps can provide a handy way to jump-start your creative juices. After all, they’re the perfect tool for brainstorming.

How can mind mapping be useful in other types of writing?

Maybe you’re not a fiction writer.  That doesn’t mean mind mapping isn’t for you. Mind mapping benefits extend to any type of writing.

Start by brainstorming your ideas and then organize them into categories. Once you have the structure of your post, use your mind map to identify your central topic. You can also use the mind map to come up with good ideas for supporting points. Then, you can add them as child branches on your map.

With a clear outline of your post or article, it will be much easier to write the actual content. And if there’s something you’d like to add or change while writing, simply update your mind map accordingly.

For maximum efficiency, you can also use a digital mind map for outlining and organizing the flow of the post. And you may even be able to create a mind map to illustrate your central topic or a supporting idea. Having all these elements at your fingertips will ensure that your blog posts are well thought out and organized. You can use mind mapping to structure an essay with ease.

With a mind map, you’ll save yourself from wasting valuable time and energy on unnecessary rewrites. Having a clear plan in place before starting your writing makes it much easier to stay organized. That way, you can produce better content faster. 

Use mind maps to structure your paragraphs:

Use mind mapping software like Mindomo to create mind maps

While mind mapping may sound like a complicated process, it can actually be quite simple. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen, and you can get started. However, pen and paper will only take you so far. If you really want to take full advantage of creating a mind map, you’ll need mind mapping software.

Mind mapping software like Mindomo makes it easy to create mind maps. You can start with a blank canvas or use one of the many mind map templates available. The software provides a variety of tools for adding text, images, links, and other information to your mind map. You can also customize the appearance of your mind map, including the color scheme, shape, font, size, and lines. Best of all, mind mapping is a fun and effective way to learn and remember information.

No matter what you’re looking to write, Mindomo has mind map examples and templates you can use to get started. Simply choose a template that fits your needs, add your own central topic, and edit it to your heart’s content.

That’s everything you need to know about creating a mind map for your next project.  From brainstorming ideas to tracking progress and getting organized, mind mapping can be a valuable tool for any type of writer. With the help of mind mapping software like Mindomo, you’ll be able to take your writing to the next level. 

So, what are you waiting for? Start mind mapping today and see how it can help you produce better stories, articles, and papers than ever before.

Keep it smart, simple, and creative! The Mindomo Team

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15 free mind map tools for writers

A few days ago I wrote about how to use the free online app Miro to plot out a story .

That’s all well and good if you already have an idea for a plot, and now just need to fine-tune it, maybe move some pieces around, add some clues and red herrings, that kind of thing.

But it’s not particularly useful when you don’t have much of a plot to start with.

That’s where mind-mapping tools can help.

In a lucky coincidence, I happen to be stuck in the early phase of my next novel. Turns out, I have to throw out the plot that I’ve got and start over with a new one, because the other one just wasn’t working. It was too similar to my last plot, and there was no way to connect it to my protagonist’s internal character arc in a way that wouldn’t feel clumsy and forced.  So I need to do some brainstorming.

I could use Miro again. It has a mind map function, of a kind. Or I could use pen and paper or move sticky notes around on a wall or floor or draw mind maps in the steam on the mirror after I shower. But who showers these days, amirite?

Anyway, why do something in a simple, familiar, guaranteed-to-work way when I can use this opportunity to test out new tools? And yes, procrastinate. I admit it.

There are a lot of mind mapping tools out there. Some cost a lot of money. I ruled those out right away.

I’m looking for a tool that’s easy to use, has a basic free plan that offers all the features I want, and I don’t want to have to download and install anything. In other words, I want my mind map in the cloud.

If you are the kind of person who doesn’t want to put their stuff in the cloud, that’s fine. And there are a lot of apps that you can download and run locally, including Diagrams.net , Scapple , MindNode , and MindMaster .

But I want my mind maps accessible from any of my devices, and I don’t care if one of their employees leaks my list of possible murder methods. If I become a big-name author who’s obsessed with preventing leaks, then maybe I’ll think about something with better security. But frankly, unless I’m JK Rowling, nobody is going to care about my process. Plus, I’m probably going to blog about it all, anyway.

So I didn’t test any of the downloadable ones. No point in spending a lot of time learning the interface if I’m never going to use it.

Another feature I want is to be able to import and export mind maps in case I change my mind about what platform I use. The most common format is FreeMind, and I want the exports to be free. Finally, I also want it to be pretty.

So here’s a summary of what I’ve got, with my personal, subjective opinions on whether it’s pretty and easy to use. Scroll down for a full description and sample mind maps for each one.

• Ayoa — Free for up to five mind maps then $10 a month. Pretty. Easy to use. No FreeMind exports.
• Bubbl — Free for up to three mind maps then $5 a month. Ugly. Easy. No FreeMind exports.
• Canva — Unlimited free mind maps, upgrade gives you more storage for $10 a month. Pretty. Hard to use. No FreeMind exports.
• ClickUp — Unlimited free mind maps, upgrade gives you unlimited storage for $5 a month. Ugly. Hard. No FreeMind exports.
• Cloud MindMap — Unlimited free maps, ad supported. Ugly. Easy to use. No FreeMind exports. Can install as Google Drive app. Ad-supported version and only slightly improved version of the free MindMaps app .
• Coggle — Free for up to three private mind maps or unlimited public maps, then $5 a month. Ugly. Easy to use. Free FreeMind exports.
• GitMind — Unlimited free mind maps, upgrade gives you unlimited exports for $4 a month. Pretty. Easy. No FreeMind exports.
• Google Drawings — Unlimited free mind maps, add 100 GB storage for $2 a month. Ugly. Hard to use. No FreeMind exports.
• Lucidchart — Free for up to three mind maps then $8 a month. Ugly. Hard to use. No FreeMind exports.
• Milanote — First 100 notes, images, or links are free, then $10 a month. Ugly. Hard to use. No FreeMind exports.
• Mind Map Maker — Unlimited free maps, ad supported. Ugly. Easy to use. No FreeMind exports. Can install as Google Drive app.  Another ad-supported version of the free MindMaps app , this one with a few more improvements.
• MindMeister  — Free for up to three mind maps then $5 a month. Pretty. Easy to use. FreeMind exports cost money. Can install as Google Drive app.
• MindMup — Unlimited free mind maps, upgrade gives you more storage for $3 a month — or completely free with Google Drive integration. Ugly. Easy. Has free FreeMind exports.
• Mindomo  — Free for up to three mind maps then $5 a month. Pretty. Easy to use. FreeMind exports cost money. Can install as Google Drive app.
• Stormboard — Free for up to five mind maps then $10 a month. Ugly. Hard. No FreeMind exports.

If you don’t care about FreeMind exports, Ayoa and Coggle are both pretty and easy to use, with Ayoa giving you five free maps instead of three, but Coggle’s premium plan costs just $5 a month, half that of Ayoa.

MindMeister and Mindomo are both pretty and easy to use and have FreeMind exports if you fork over some dough, and both have three free mind maps and a $5 a month paid plan.

But MindMup turned out to be my favorite. It’s uglier, but its easy to use, and when I installed it as a Google App I got unlimited free mind maps plus super easy integration with all my other Google Drive stuff. And I have a lot of stuff in Google Drive — I use Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Gmail, Google Calendar, probably other Google services I’m forgetting about, and I already pay extra for storage

If you’re a big Google platform user like me, you can go to your Google Drive home page, click on the gear icon at the top right, click on “Settings,” then “Manage Apps,” then “Connect more apps” then type “mind map” to get a list of apps that you install directly into Google Drive. Once installed, you can create a new mind map by going to your Google Drive home screen, clicking the “+ New” at the top left, hovering over the “more” on the menu, and selecting your mind map app. Once you create a new mind map, the file will appear in your Google Drive where you can organize it the way you would any other Google Drive file.

So let’s get started.

Brainstorming a crime with Ayoa

Ayoa is an online tool that’s free for up to five boards and $10 a month for the premium version for unlimited boards. So it meets my reasonable pricing criteria. Downsides include the fact that full integration with Google Drive, so that you can save your mind maps there, costs money. It also doesn’t support importing FreeMind or other open mind map standards.

I’m going to go through the steps of creating a mind map in detail with Ayoa, because it’s the first one that I’m using. Other platforms, for the most part, have a similar approach.

My books are a blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery. The setting is a medieval world — but it’s virtual reality. The protagonist kind of has a magic power. And he solves crimes.

So let’s see if I can use an Ayoa mind map to come up with some ideas for a crime that my protagonist can solve.

First, you go to the free Aoya signup page .

I signed up for Ayoa using Google, so it only took a couple of clicks and I didn’t have to fill anything in. But you can also sign in with Facebook or Apple, or create a standalone account from scratch.

Then you can choose between creating white boards, task boards, or mind maps. I want the mind map.

There’s a few templates to choose from, but none of the pre-made ones seemed really appropriate so I went with “Create blank speed map.” Ayoa has a little guide that takes you through the process, in a pretty cute and easy way. Bonus points for Ayoa.

The nice thing about this tool is that as you add branches, it automatically rearranges everything to fit.

I was able to come up with five crimes off the top of my head — murder, rape, theft, blackmail and embezzlement.

Once you sign in — I signed up with Google — you have a choice of building whiteboards, mind maps, and task boards. Good to have other options, in case you decide you like Ayoa and want to use its whiteboards for story planning or if you plan to work with collaborators and want to create task boards.

I opted for the mind map.

Ayoa gives you a bunch of different templates to start with. I started with a blank speed map, but if I decide to stick with this app, I’ll probably check out some of the other options in the future, including the book review template.

The first time you create a new mindmap, Aoya guides you through the process, showing you how to add nodes and branches.

A node is any of the boxes or circles in a mind map. Branches and sub-branches are things that come off of it. A node might have a parent node that it’s connected to, a child node that connects to it, and sibling nodes which are other nodes connected to the same parent branch. You can hover over a node and click the green plus button that appears, or click on a node and hit enter to create a sibling node or a tab to create a child node.

This is the basic design principle that all the mind maps I’ve tested this week use. In fact, after I did a couple of these, I started skipping the guided tutorials because all the interfaces are basically the same.

Hitting “enter” to create a new sibling node and “tab” for a child node is very simple and intuitive and lets you build a mind map very quickly without thinking too much about the layout and design. Many of the apps on this list using the same system. Those that do make you click on a button to add a new node, or force you to drag a node icon from a menu bar. Both are annoying. If you’re a vendor reading this — please fix your interface so it’s consistent with industry standards.

Above, you can see my first mind map. I started out with just a few basic crimes — murder, blackmail, theft, rape, and embezzlement.

Yeah, that’s pretty weak. Well, that’s what Google is for.

After Googling around for different types of crimes, I added arson, counterfeiting, environmental crimes, data theft, bribery, and a few others. After a while, it was getting counterproductive. Did I really want my hero investigating violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act? Actually… maybe… in a later book… I might be able to turn that into something!

Now, the next step is to come up with examples of that crime that would work in my universe. For example, for murder, someone can be shot with an arrow, or stabbed, or trampled by a horse, or pushed off a roof. You can insert images and emojis, but you can’t add file attachments like Google Docs or Word files.

If the map gets too big to fit on your screen, use the scroll wheel to zoom in and out, or drag the map around.

If I were to use this for real to plan my book, I would keep going with detailed options for more of these. Probably not all of them — just whatever strikes my fancy — and keep going only until something rings a bell with me. Once I worked my way all the way out to the end of the mind map, I’d pick my favorite options and then add more branches, about how it would work out with different antagonists and different motives. For example, some of my potential antagonists might be too squeamish to stab someone in the back, or their motive might be strong enough for assault but not for murder.

You can change the mind map’s style at any time. there’s a “display options” button at the top left that lets you switch to dark mode, change the board type, change the style and colors of the nodes and arrows, and change the board’s background color.

Brainstorming crimes with Bubbl

In  Bubbl , the first three private boards are free, and after that it’s $5 per month. You can sign up by registering with the site directly, or with your Google or Facebook accounts. You can’t import any files, including FreeMind, and you can only save as images or text, no FreeMind exports. If you want to share your maps with others, you have to upgrade.

On the plus side, it’s a very simple app and easy to use and you can attach images — but if you want to attach more than one image per mind map, you’ll need to upgrade.

Overall, it’s simple to use but all the limitations mean it’s not one of my top choices for mind mapping platforms.

I also don’t like the way it looks.

Brainstorming things to steal with Canva

If you don’t know about Canva yet, you’re in for a treat. This is a fantastic tool to make social media banners, short story covers and book cover mockups. The book covers it comes up with aren’t good enough to sell, unless you’ve got maybe a specialized technical book, but they’re good enough to give you some personal inspiration, or for a temporary work-in-progress cover. And Canva is great for creating covers to illustrate short stories or blog posts.

And best of all, the free plan has unlimited documents. The only limit is the 5GB of cloud storage they give you. The paid plan, at $10 a month, gives you 100GB of storage. Canva also has downloadable apps for the PC, Mac, Android and iOS.

Canva also has mind maps .

The thing is, though, Canva is design software. It’s not actually mind mapping software. So the mind map templates it offers are more pretty than functional. So, for example, you can’t just click and add a tree branch to your mind map. You have to cut and paste an existing design element and drag it into the place you want it. It’s a little like using Miro for mind mapping, except that the design features are even more generic and less specific to flow charts. Plus, it doesn’t support the FreeMind open mind map standard.

I use Canva a lot for other types of designs, but I’m going to pass on using it for mind mapping.

Above, you can see a simple mind map of potential items to steal. Oh yeah, I’ve decided on theft as the crime. To create this mind map, I picked one of the mind map templates that Canva had and replaced their text with my own. If I want to add more items, I’d have to rearrange the whole mind map. I can click on each of the circles and move it around, or make it bigger or smaller, or change its color, and then I’d have to move all the other circles, and move all the lines, and it would be a big mess.

So Canva is great if you like the designs they offer and have the same number of items as their design has, but if you want a mind map that makes it easy to add new items and that readjusts itself automatically, Canva is not your bae.

Brainstorming crimes with ClickUp

ClickUp offers unlimited boards in the free plan, but a 100MB storage limit. For unlimited storage, it’s 5MB per month. But while ClickUp has a mind map tool that’s nice and interactive, the platform itself is more of a project management system with a lot of organizational features designed for corporate teams.

So while the pricing is good, and ClickUp is a good option if you plan to work on big projects with a lot of collaborators, it might be overkill for an individual writer.

The ClickUp mind map has only the minimum features — the sub-branches are easy to add and to change the text on but not to move around. Any node can be expanded to a full detail page or converted to a task for a team member to do. But it’s not particularly pretty. There’s no “undo” if you make a mistake. And you can only go two levels out. So, overall, not particularly practical for a good mind map. Plus, it doesn’t support the FreeMind open mind map standard.

Brainstorming motives with Cloud MindMap

I found Cloud MindMap in the Google Drive app store. I don’t even know if you can install it directly. The good thing about it is that it’s completely free. You just have to be tolerant of the ads on the side and bottom of the screen. It’s the ad-supported version of the free MindMaps app ., with some very basic improvements such as the Google Drive integration.

It’s easy to use, though extremely ugly. You can export as as image, and change the colors of the nodes and lines and do some basic text formatting, but not much else.

To create a new child node either click on an existing node and hit “tab” or mouse over an existing node, click on the red circle that appears and drag it over to where you want the new node to be. There doesn’t seem to be an easy way to create a sibling node.

At one point, I seem to have accidentally switched over into moving-things-around-but-no-typing mode. I saved the mind map to my Google Drive, closed it, opened it again, and I could edit the text on the nodes once more. This could just be a bug, since I couldn’t find any indication that it was a special mode. But given how little functionality a mind map app actually needs, it shouldn’t have a bug that a user would encounter after just a minute of use.

There are no templates, no themes, no design options to speak of.

Brainstorming motives with Coggle

With  Coggle , the first three private boards are free, and after that it’s $5 per month. But you can have an unlimited number of public boards. So this is an option if you don’t really care if people find and see your mind mapping boards. Plus, it supports the FreeMind open mind map standard in case you want to bring in mind maps from MindMup or other platforms.

Shift-enter creates a new sibling node, tab creates a new child node, shift-tab moves you to the parent node. You can drag nodes or entire branches around. And you can attach images, hyperlinks, or icons to each node. You can also zoom in and out and move the map around on your screen. It’s a very simple, sleek interface. If you’re looking for a mind map tool that makes it very easy to create mind maps, without a lot of bells and whistles, check this out.

Coggle makes it pretty quick and easy to create mind maps, but there’s no choice of templates or color themes. I’ve looked through their gallery of mind maps, and they all look generally the same, though some of them play around with different node arrangements, icons, or embedded images.

You can export as a PDF, image, Visio flowchart, or a FreeMind mind map so you can move the whole mind map to another platform. You can also drag FreeMind or text files onto the diagram to import them. That was actually pretty cool — I dragged a text file with a list of phrases on it and it automatically created a branch full of nodes, a new node for each line of text.

It also keeps a history so you can easily go back to previous versions of the map. It seems to save each change as a new version.

Brainstorming crimes with GitMind

GitMind offers unlimited mind maps on the free plan, but you need to upgrade, at $4 a month, to export more than once.

You can sign in with Twitter, Google, Facebook or register with the site directly.

The interface is simple and has all the basic functions mind map functions, including image attachments.

GitMind doesn’t support FreeMind imports. You can export as an image, PDF, text or GitMind export file. Each export costs two points, and you get two points when you start. To earn more free points, you can share GitMind on social media.

At first, due to the limitations and the limited templates, I didn’t think I was going to be using this one.

But I actually came back to GitMind for my next brainstorming task, creating a story outline. One thing I like is that you can click to hide all the subbranches, and click to expand them all again.

It’s also relatively easy to move things around. To take a node and all its children and attach them to another node, you just click on it and drag it over.

There are some minor annoyances, like not being able to resize the text boxes and automatically reflow the text. I had to do hard line breaks inside the text boxes to keep the text box from being a super-wide one-line box.

Brainstorming motives with  Google Drawings

Unlimited number of documents, integrates with all your other Google Docs. Has a feature where you can add comments to your text boxes. And once you make a mind map you like, you can save it as a template and use it over and over again.

However, while Google Drive has mobile apps for both Android and iOS that let you view the drawings, you can’t edit the drawings unless you open it in your smartphone’s web browser as a desktop site. Which is really difficult to use on a smartphone screen. Plus, it doesn’t support the FreeMind open mind map standard. And Google Drawings is a general design app, and not a particularly good one at that, so it’s missing the mind map functionality of being able to easily create child nodes and drag entire branches around.

I didn’t see any pre-made mind map templates in the Google template gallery, and couldn’t find many online, either. The drawing below was based on a template from Ditch That Textbook.

There are some pluses. First, it’s completely free. Second, if you’re already using Google Drive, it’s fully integrated with everything you’ve got. So, for example, if you have a spreadsheet where you track your writing projects, you can easily embed live links to the Google Drawing. You can also embed the drawing into a Google Doc word processing document, or into a slide deck, and sharing is simple.

I’m not going to be using it for mind maps. MindMup offers the same degree of Google Drive integration, with a better user interface.

Brainstorming a motive with Lucidchart

In addition to having a crime, I’ll need a motive. Time for another mind map. This time, I’ll use Lucidchart . The first three boards are free, and after that it’s $8 per month. But Lucidchart is a general-purpose charting app, so there might be a lot of features there that get in the way. Plus, it doesn’t support the FreeMind open mind map standard. And you can export as an image or as a Visio file, but not as a FreeMind file.

There are a lot of templates here, including more than 20 mind mapping templates, but only three of the mind maps are free. For the rest, you have to upgrade.

Lucidchart is primarily a chart creation tool. The kind of charts you might put in a presentation or a corporate report. So the nodes don’t resize automatically. Hitting enter or tab doesn’t create new nodes like in the dedicated mind mapping apps. There’s a lot of options for shapes and arrow types, so if you wanted to you can customize the look of your chart quite a bit. But the actual mind mapping isn’t particularly easy.

I’m not going to keep going with Lucidchart. All the design features are getting in the way for me, as is the lack of FreeMind imports or exports.

Brainstorming motives with  Milanote

In  Milanote , the first 100 notes, images or links are free, and after that it’s $10 per month.  Has Google and Apple sign-on options.

When you start out, it asks you what you do — I said writer — and then it takes you through to your first mind map in a very simple guided tutorial. Just a couple of clicks and I was there, plus in addition to mind maps it gave me a bunch of other writer-specific templates, including novel plan, character profile, story outline, and world building. Nice!

But, it doesn’t support the FreeMind open mind map standard.

And the interface isn’t as user-friendly as some of the other platforms. For example, to create a new node, you have to click on a blank area of the canvas — to deselect whatever node you were in before — then drag a “note” from the top left corner of the interface to where you want it. Then click on the node, and drag the little arrow icon in its top right corner to the parent node to create a line. Then click on the node to change its color using the icon bar at left, and click on the line to change its color, unless you want them to be the black and white defaults. Then type your text. Hitting “enter” or “tab” just adds lines and tabs inside the note — it doesn’t create new child or sibling nodes. And you can drag around a node — and all attached nodes follow — but the rest of the map doesn’t rearrange itself to move other nodes out of the way. So you can put nodes on top of nodes and make a mess.

You can add images, comments, hyperlinks, to-do lists or attachments, group cards into columns, or embed other boards inside your main board. You can also publish it to the Web, or embed it into a blog post or website.

You can export as a PDF, image, Word document, HTML, or plain text, but not in the FreeMind format that lets you easily move the mind map to other platforms.

It’s pretty easy to use, and the interface is nice and sleek, but it doesn’t make it as easy to add nodes as other platforms do. Also, you can’t click on the background to drag it around — you have to use the scroll bars at the bottom and on the right.

On the plus side, it does have other cool templates. Here’s one for a short story plot, that I used to outline my next short story.

I do like some of the functionality that Milanote has, and it can look really pretty. Am I willing to spend $10 a month on it? No, I don’t think so.

Brainstorming motives with Mind Map Maker

Mind Map Maker seems to be a clone of  Cloud MindMap , but with a couple more features. I also found it in the Google Drive app store. And like Cloud MindMap, it’s completely free and ad supported.

It has a website, but the home page looks like something created a decade ago as a hobby project.

It’s easy to use, though extremely ugly. But it has more features than Cloud MindMap. There are some additional formatting options, like borders around the nodes, and you can add images and attachments. The color picker is also much better, and there are more ways to save files.

To create a new child node either click on an existing node and hit “tab” or mouse over an existing node, click on the red circle that appears and drag it over to where you want the new node to be. Hitting “enter” twice adds a sibling node. You can drag branches around, but you can’t move a node from one branch to another.

When you create a new node, it doesn’t place it intelligently, and you can easily wind up with new nodes on top of each other that you then have to move around to see.

Again, there are no templates, no themes, no design options to speak of. I installed this app via Google Drive.

I actually decided to use this app — ads and all — as an embed in my novel writing database. Another feature of this app that seems to be unique is that the app makers offer unlimited free storage, if you don’t mind that it can be accessed by anyone with the URL. For example, here’s a quick story plot mind map .

Feel free to play around with it. If you do, and save it, it will create a new URL that only you will know — unless you share it, like I just did.

It doesn’t look like the images are saved in the free public save option, but they do get saved when I save it to my Google Drive account. I really like this app. It’s free. You quickly learn to ignore the ads. You can save locally, or to Google Drive. You can’t export as a FreeMind file or text file, and for future versions I’d like to see the creators add those options. Also, it’s hard to move a branch from one parent node to another. Right now, I just copy the whole branch and paste it where I want it, then delete the old one. It would be nice if they offered a feature where if you drag a branch on top of a new node it would disconnect from the old one and attach to the new one automatically. But those are pretty mild quibbles.

Brainstorming an antagonist with MindMeister 

So, I need a bad guy. Time for another mind map. This time, I’ll use MindMeister . The first three boards are free, and after that you have to upgrade to a premium plan, which is $5 per month.

The free version supports imports from the FreeMind open mind map standard in case you want to bring in mind maps from MindMup or other platforms. I tried it out and the import function works well.

It also lets you log in with Google and with Facebook single sign on. I logged in with Google.

You can add emojis, images and videos to each node, and attach longer notes, comments, tasks, and file attachments. The attachments can be files from your computer, or from Dropbox, Google Drive, or Evernote. You can drag nodes and branches around, change shapes and colors, font sizes.

If you don’t like the light blue theme, you can switch anytime to one of more than a dozen other color themes, or you can customize your own shapes and colors.

It saves previous versions that you can revert to. And, if you’re working in a team, you can create presentations from your mind maps, basically videos that show you building the mind map. It’s kind of cool, and if you worked for a corporation and you had a bunch of people working together creating mind map it shows who added what.

You can save your mind map to your computer or Google Drive as outline or as a MindMeister file. If you upgrade, you can also save as an image or PDF,  as a FreeMind file, as a MindManager file, or as an XMind file. The FreeMind export is particularly useful if you want to move your mind map to another mind mapping platform, but you have to pay to be able to do that.

It’s easy to use, has all the functionality I would need in a mind map tool. But the lack of FreeMind exports in the free version, and the limit to just three mind maps in the free plan makes it less appealing than some of the other on this list.

On the plus side, you can install it as a Google Drive app.

Brainstorming crimes with MindMup

MindMup has unlimited boards, as long as each one is under 100KB in size. For $3 a month, get boards of up to 100MB in size each, plus collaboration features and revision histories. Another difference is the free option only keeps your maps for six months, and the paid version keeps them indefinitely. But you can save your maps to Google Drive to avoid that limitation.

After playing around with this, I strongly recommend that if you plan to use the free version, start right out with the Google Drive option. I was literally not able to figure out how to save and reopen mind maps using the free option — it kept telling me to activate the premium account first. Which I didn’t want to do.

So, my recommendation is to follow this tutorial for setting up MindMup with Google Drive . It’s pretty quick and easy, and then basically it looks and feels like MindMap is just another Google app. Except you can’t open it  with the Google Drive app on your mobile device, not even to look at it. But. BUT. If you open Google Drive in your mobile browser, then the interface is fully functional! And we’re in business!

If you’re the only one working on a file, I also recommend turning on AutoSave in the File menu.

Now, to the interface. Adding, deleting and moving branches around is pretty easy. There’re buttons in the top menu bar for adding child branches or sibling branches, or you can double-click on a node and then hit “enter” to create a sibling branch. You can drag branches around, and all the child nodes come along for the ride.

You can also add images, notes, emojis, and attachments of all kinds. I created a MindMup mind map of more than 5GB by attaching files and images and MindMup didn’t tell me that I was going over the file size limits.

You can change the image thumbnail by going to Edit > Node Icon/Picture and changing the dimensions. The edit menu also lets you change the font on your nodes.

There’s also one unique feature I haven’t seen in other mind mapping apps — you can show or hide different levels. So, for example, you can show just the first layer of nodes, or the first two layers, or all the layers, or anything in between. So if you’re using this as an outlining tool, or a timeline tool, you can add or hide layers of detail. I like this very, very much.

Overall, this is one of my favorite mind map tools. The basic version gives me everything I want — unlimited file sizes, unlimited number of boards, easy sharing via Google Drive. Plus, Google Drives has a built-in revision history feature, in case you want to go to an earlier version of the map. And if you’re worried about MindMup going out of business — say, because it does such a bad job managing the free and the premium accounts — you can export all your maps in the open FreeMind standard, which is the most commonly used standard, and supported by MindMeister, Mindomo, Miro, MindNode, and Coggle.

I do wish it had better graphics for the nodes, but there are several themes you can switch between on the fly, and you can customize your own theme.

Brainstorming motives with Mindomo 

In  Mindomo , the first three boards are free, and after that it’s $5 per month. It supports the FreeMind open mind map standard in case you want to bring in mind maps from MindMup or other platforms.

You can sign up with Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Office 365, or Apple. I opted for Google. And you can import from a bunch of different file formats, including FreeMind, the most popular open mind map format, as well as Mindomo saved files — in case you run into your limit and save old ones to your computer — MindManger, Mindmeister, XMind, Bubbl, SimpleMind, iThoughts, and more.

You can create a couple of different types of charts, not just mind maps but also timelines, Gantt charts, business plans, break-even analyses, company org charts — lots of different business-friendly options. I went with mind maps, of which there are 40 templates to pick from.

The interface is easy. Click on a node then hit enter to create a new sibling node or tab to create a child node. You can move things around by dragging and dropping.

You can also switch the color themes at any time or customize your theme.

You can add notes to any node as well as images, attachments, videos, hyperlinks, and audio recordings.

I like the sleek, clean look of the interface. It really lets you focus on creating the mind map.

You can export as a text file or a Mindomo file. If you want to export to Excel, or a PDF, or Word, PowerPoint, image file, or FreeMind you have to upgrade to a paid version. And exporting to your computer is free, but exporting to Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive requires an upgrade.

I like the interface very much, but the lack of FreeMind exports is worrisome. And forcing people to upgrade to get an image export is just nickel-and-diming, since you can just do a screen save.

You can install Mindomo as a Google Drive app but it doesn’t increase the number of free mind maps you can have.

Let’s move on to the next app.

Brainstorming motives with  Stormboard

In Stormboard , the first five boards are free, and after that it’s $10 per month. It doesn’t support the FreeMind open mind map standard.

To sign up, you can create a new account, or log in with Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn or Facebook. As usual, I opted for Google and then picked the free personal plan.

The first annoying thing is that they invent new words for things. What is a “Storm”? Is a folder? A board? I decided to do their tutorial, and created a new storm, and chose the “Mind Mapping” template.

Then I clicked the green “add” button at the bottom to create a new node and typed in “Motives.” Now to add child nodes… can’t figure out how. Tab doesn’t work. I create a new node using the “add” button, but it’s not connected to the first node.

This seems to be more of a sticky-notes-on-a-whiteboard app than an actual mind map. Even though the preview of the template showed arrows. I searched the entire interface for how to add arrows and couldn’t find it. I clicked everywhere on the sticky notes. I clicked on the little arrows that show up on the sides, but they didn’t do anything.

Okay, I Googled how to do lines. It seems that those arrows on the sides do do something — you can click and drag to another node to connect them.

So the way this works is you create a new node, then you drag one of the arrows to another node to connect it.

This is too much of a pain to use. Also, I can’t figure out how to export a board. And it looks like you an import a spreadsheet but not a FreeMind file.

MindMup isn’t the prettiest of all the apps I’ve tried over the past few days, but I do like the fact that there seem to be no limits on how many maps I can have.

And I wound up going back to GitMind to do my plot outline.

But overall, I’d have to say that there’s no perfect mind map app.

The thing is, a mind map requires very minimal functionality. And, if you integrate with Google Drive and use Google Drive to save the files, it doesn’t even have to take up any of the app developers’ storage space. I think this is a great opportunity to do a Dropbox-style freemium app, where all the basic features are free and the interface is attractive and easy to use.

So far, I haven’t found one.

Am I missing any apps? Email me at [email protected] .

Edited by Melody Friedenthal

Maria Korolov

MetaStellar editor and publisher Maria Korolov is a science fiction novelist , writing stories set in a future virtual world. And, during the day, she is an award-winning freelance technology journalist who covers artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and enterprise virtual reality . See her Amazon author page here and follow her on Twitter , Facebook , or LinkedIn , and check out her latest videos on the Maria Korolov YouTube channel . Email her at [email protected] . She is also the editor and publisher of Hypergrid Business , one of the top global sites covering virtual reality.

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Mind Map Template

Capture and expand on your ideas using Miro’s free mind map template, featuring time-saving automated diagramming tools. Get started in seconds!

Trusted by 65M+ users and leading companies

About the Mind Map Template

The mind map template is a well-organized, ready-to-use graphic tool for your next brainstorming session. Ideal for visual learners, this diagramming method avoids the rigid structure of other ideation techniques, focusing instead on the free association between concepts and ideas — connecting creative and logical thinking.

Miro’s free and fillable mind map template is exceptionally easy to use, with seamless drag-and-drop features and an infinite canvas to expand your diagram on as you need to. We’ll share more tips on how to make the most of our mind mapping template in the following sections.

How to use the mind map template

Miro’s free and customizable template makes mind mapping easy. You can fill it in as you brainstorm on your own or collaboratively with your team, whatever fits best in your work mode — whether you work remotely or in person.

Here’s how to use the mind map template in Miro:

1. Open the mind map template

Scroll to the top of this page and click on Use template . That’ll open the mind map template on a new Miro board, allowing you to start editing it. Simply click on the blue Share button on the top right of your Miro board to invite your teammates to work on the mind mapping template together in real time.

2. Start with the central concept

The large purple rectangle in the center of your mind map template – the one that says “problem” – highlights the specific question or central topic you’re trying to explore. It’s worth giving your team 5 minutes to brainstorm a few ideas when deciding on the main concept. When you’re ready, double-click on the pre-written text to replace it with your own.

3. Extend your mind map with branches

Mind maps always start with a central topic and branch outward as they expand. At the end of the first set of pink and purple branches, you’ll find empty text boxes labeled “type something.” Click on these text boxes to add your first few follow-up ideas. To rearrange the branches, simply click and drag them around. Repeat this step with the rest of your branches in the mind map template.

Pro tip: Need more branches? Save time using the mind map template’s automated diagramming tools. Click on any text box to reveal the + button, and click on it to generate a new branch from that point that automatically comes with a text box on the other end.

4. Customize the mind map template

Miro’s mind map template is easy to customize, and there are several steps you can take to truly make it your own. Try changing branch colors, text colors, or font styles. You can even add context to your mind mapping template using sticky notes , stickers and emojis , or dragging and dropping your own images and documents.

5. Share your mind map template

Want to walk your teammates through your mind map template in real time? Use Presentation mode to run live sessions straight from your Miro board with plenty of features to maximize participation — including reactions, and having others follow your cursor.

Rather work async? Use Talktrack to record immersive and interactive video walkthroughs that you can share with your teammates to watch in their own time. You can even start comment threads right on your Miro board and tag people in important discussions using @-mentions.

And if you’d rather export your Miro board as a PDF or image, we’ve got you covered. Just click on Export this board on the top of your board and choose your preferred file format.

When to use a mind map template

Mind mapping is one of the best ways to capture your thoughts and bring them to life in visual form. Beyond just note-taking, creating a mind map can help you and your team become more creative, enhance memory, and solve problems more effectively.

Here are a few scenarios where the mind map template comes in handy:

Brainstorming: Whether you're generating ideas for a project, planning an event, or coming up with solutions to a problem, mind maps help to organize thoughts creatively and expansively.

Project Planning: Mind maps can outline the steps, resources, and timelines for a project. They provide a visual representation of tasks, making it easier to understand the project's scope and sequence.

Problem Solving: When facing a complex problem, a mind map can break it down into smaller, more manageable components. This makes it easier to identify potential solutions and their implications.

Presentations: Mind maps can be an effective tool for preparing and delivering presentations. They help in structuring the presentation's flow and ensuring that all key points are covered.

If you want to learn more and improve your mind mapping skills, take a look at our guide to mind mapping .

Share your expertise on Miroverse 🚀

Publish your own template and help over 60M+ Miro users jump-start their work.

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Is Miro’s mind map template free?

Yes, Miro’s mind map template is 100% free. Just scroll to the top of this page and click on the blue “Use template” button to get started.

Who is the mind map template for?

A mind mapping template is useful for almost any purpose, particularly anytime you find yourself needing to expand on an idea. Professionals across industries use mind maps to boost creativity and develop out-of-the-box solutions — including creative professionals and product owners, developers, business managers, and teachers.

Can I export my mind map template to other tools?

Absolutely. You can export your completed mind map template to multiple different file types, including PDF, CSV, and as an image. Alternatively, you can generate a link or an embed code to share your Miro board. Miro also integrates with over 130 apps, including popular tools like Jira, Trello, and Asana.

Is Miro's mind map template interactive?

Yes, the mind map template is interactive and fillable online, which means you can start customizing it right as you open it in Miro. Edit pre-written text, change colors, and add as many branches and text boxes as you need.

Get started with this template right now.

Phylogenetic Tree Template

Works best for:.

Diagramming

The Phylogenetic Tree Template is a powerful tool that allows scientists and researchers to visualize evolutionary relationships between species. It is a visual representation of the history of the evolution of life on Earth and helps users identify the relationships between other organisms and their ancestors. The key benefit of this template is that it organizes complex data and makes it more understandable to everyone. Additionally, it offers an efficient way to collect and analyze data, saving time and effort and enabling users to identify significant patterns and relationships in the data.

Presentation Template

Presentations, Education

At some point during your career, you’ll probably have to give a presentation. Presentations typically involve speaking alongside an accompanying slide deck that contains visuals, texts, and graphics to illustrate your topic. Take the stress out of presentation planning by using this presentation template to easily create effective, visually appealing slides. The presentation template can take the pressure off by helping your audience stay focused and engaged. Using simple tools, customize a slide deck, share slides with your team, get feedback, and collaborate.

Startup Canvas Template

Leadership, Documentation, Strategic Planning

A Startup Canvas helps founders express and map out a new business idea in a less formal format than a traditional business plan. Startup Canvases are a useful visual map for founders who want to judge their new business idea’s strengths and weaknesses. This Canvas can be used as a framework to quickly articulate your business idea’s value proposition, problem, solution, market, team, marketing channels, customer segment, external risks, and Key Performance Indicators. By articulating factors like success, viability, vision, and value to the customer, founders can make a concise case for why a new product or service should exist and get funded.

Outcome Mapping Template

Diagrams, Mapping, Project Management

Use Miro’s outcome mapping template to improve your operational efficiency. Outcome mapping will help you visualize all the possible strategic outcomes for your upcoming project, allowing you to see into the black box to identify any potential challenges along the way.

Parking Lot Matrix Template

Project Management, Ideation, Meetings

When the creative energy is flowing, a workshop or meeting will yield a lot of new ideas — but not all are on-topic or currently feasible. Roll them right onto a parking lot matrix, a simple, effective tool for separating the best ideas from those that are promising but could use more research or discussion. This template will let you easily make your own parking lot matrix, which will come in especially handy during long meetings (and when you have teammates who tend to go off-topic).

Concept Map Template

Education, Mapping, Brainstorming

Use the concept map template to create new ideas, structure your thoughts, and bring your innovations to life. It allows you to explore connections between concepts and let your creativity flow in an organized format. As a result, you’re able to visualize how to bring your new ideas to reality and how various concepts relate to each other.

ThinkWritten

How to Mind Map a Novel Plot

If the idea of a traditional outline seems intimidating, a mind map might just be the right solution for you. Mind Maps are great for brainstorming ideas, keeping organized, and can help you make progress in writing your book.

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If the idea of a traditional outline seems intimidating, creating a mind map for writing your novel might just be the right solution for you. In this post we’ll share the basic process of how to mind map a novel plot, as well as some tips to make it an effective plotting strategy that works for you.

What is a Mind Map and Why Should I Use One to Plot My Novel?

A mind map is a visual representation of ideas and how they all relate to one another. Mind maps are great for brainstorming ideas, keeping organized, and can help you make progress in writing your book.

While there are no set rules for what your mind map should look like, they generally do follow some basic similarities. Typically, a mind map is created on either a blank sheet of paper or on a blank screen if you are using a mind map software tool such as Scapple.

The mind map begins with a central topic in the middle, and then new ideas can be added, moved and connected to different ideas as you begin to brainstorm and think of different story lines.

Novel Plotting Mind Map Examples

One of the easiest ways to understand how to mind map your novel is to look at a few examples. With just a few different examples, you can easily see the many different ways a mind map can help you in brainstorming for ideas and organizing the flow of ideas!

Note: If you like these mind maps shown below, each of these mind map examples we use below were used with the software program Scapple from Literature & Latte – the same company which gives us every writer’s favorite software Scrivener. It’s one of my favorite writing tools!

Mind Map Novel Example #1: Little Red Riding Hood

In this example mindmap, we are looking at the familiar tale of Little Red Riding Hood. While the original story of course is not a novel with chapters, the storyline and plot is familiar enough that it will help you identify some of the different aspects of how we went about organizing the ideas in a mind map.

This first example of Little Red Riding Hood is a very structured method of mind mapping your novel. It lists the characters, the setting, the point of view, and a rough outline of the 6 main scenes/chapters I would include if I were writing this story as a book.

Using a mind map in this way is a great method to use when you already have a good understanding of your plot, characters, and the different scenes that will happen in your novel. Being able to move your different notes and connect them as needed gives you a lot of flexibility!

Mind Map Example #2: Half Baked Book: When You’re Not Sure What Your Book is About Yet

With our first example, we know the story of Little Red Riding Hood well and have a very good idea of how the story would unfold.  We knew the characters well enough in advance that I did not write out a lot of the details.

However, when you are starting with your very own novel and characters you created out of your imagination, it is helpful to just brainstorm every possible idea you have first – especially in the case of a “Half Baked Book” – when you have a seed of an idea, but don’t actually have a fully developed plot yet.

Using a mind map is a great way to get some ideas for who your main characters will be and what events will unfold. Once you get all of your ideas down, you can go back to clean up and organize the sequence of events and decide which ideas are worth keeping – and then of course move onto actually writing!

Here’s my initial brainstorm for a “half baked” book idea:

I started this mind map above by simply trying to figure out who my characters would be and what the setting would be. Then I thought of what was happening in this story – why is this story happening in the woods, and why are the characters there in the first place?

Before long, within about 10 minutes I had a whole idea for a novel!

While it’s not exactly a novel I think I am going to write anytime soon, it certainly was a fun creative exercise to challenge myself to come up with a novel plot like that on the fly using a mind map!

How to Mind Map Your Novel

Now that I’ve given you a couple of examples, learning how to mind map your novel is pretty simple. There are no straightforward “rules” about the wrong or right way to do this – and since it is entirely a fun creative writing exercise, you should absolutely have fun with it and go with whatever flows and works for you!

Here are the main steps to create your mind map:

Step 1: Choose Paper or Digital:

The two most common and easy ways to create a mind map is to either create it on actual physical paper, or to use mind mapping software like Scapple, which is what I use in the mindmap diagrams above.

There are benefits of choosing paper – you can draw, doodle, highlight, add color, add illustrations, etc. You are not limited to using just words and lines!

However, there are also benefits to using a mind mapping software such as Scapple. My favorite part about Scapple is that you can export your mind map data into an outline of all of your notes. This makes it super easy to move onto the outline process if you enjoy writing from a basic novel outline.

Once you have your format chosen, you are ready to get started!

Step #2: Start with a central topic in the middle of the page.

It helps to begin with creating a central topic in the center. This would generally be the working title of your story, or a summary of what the book would be about. For example, “Little Red Riding Hood” would work as a title for that if you were to mind map the entire story of Little Red Riding Hood.

Step #3: Create Sub-Topics:

The next step is to start creating sub-topics. You can organize sub-topics any way that works best for you.

For example, you may have a sub-topic for characters, and then a sub-topic for each character, and go even further with sub-topics for describing your character’s personality and traits.

In my half-baked novel mind map example above, you can see I even left notes that I wasn’t sure what to name my main character!

You can then do the same thing for plot, setting, themes, and any miscellaneous ideas you might have during the process.

There are no rules, so just keep going. One of the advantages to using a digital software program for mind mapping? You won’t run out of paper or space to keep those ideas flowing! You can also very easily move and re-arrange items, giving you a lot of flexibility during your creative writing brainstorm process.

6 Tips for Working With Mind Maps for Writing a Novel

Tip #1.  use colors.

Making your mind map colorful will keep it more exciting and interesting. You can use any color scheme you’d like. Most mind map software programs will allow you to customize the colors of lines and borders.

Using different colors can be helpful for organizing different thoughts and sections of the mind map – for example, you could use the color red to link together common themes or ideas, or the color blue to signify a specific character.

If working on paper, pull out those colored pencils and pens! Not only does this make it more exciting, but it helps exercise the creative side of your brain to get the ideas flowing freely.

Tip #2: Add Images if Desired

While Scapple does not have a way to insert images that I am aware of, there are many other online mind mapping software programs that will allow you to insert images. You can also always doodle some of your own pictures if working on paper.

Tip # 3. You Get to  Determine How Detailed it Needs to Be :

Some people suggest only writing a few words per line, while others may write full blown characterization summaries. It’s entirely up to you how much information your mind map contains!

If it seems overwhelming at first, short sentences and phrases are really all you need to get started. Don’t worry if you don’t have a whole lot of details just yet, especially if you are working with the “half baked novel” seed of an idea and don’t have a fully developed plot or list of characters yet.

If you’re not sure of all the details yet about who your main characters will be, using character development questions can be a helpful starting place. You will also probably feel A LOT better about the process if you read our other article on novel planning: How to Avoid Over Planning Your Novel .

Tip # 4. Remember Practice Makes Perfect :

Just like any new skill, practice will help you become better at making mind maps. Try to make it a regular practice for anytime you get an idea for a story idea.

Making a mind map is a great creative writing exercise to help your mind flow and relax to open up to new ideas and thoughts.

Up for a creative challenge to make more mind maps and incorporate them into your writing practice? Try creating a mind map from one of our creative writing prompts we feature on our website!

Tip #5. Try Both Digital and Paper Types of Mind Maps :

Some people prefer making them on the computer, while others enjoy drawing and coloring them out. Try them both to see what you like best.

Sometimes, I might even start one on the computer and then create another version of the same mind map on paper, because it really does seem to make a difference when your brain is stimulated while you are holding an actual pen or pencil in your hand!

If making on paper, using colored pencils or pens can really help stimulate the creative side of your brain.

You can also always possibly create a digital version of your mind map using a program like Scapple which will make for a very quick easy export to outline format when you go to actually sit down and start outlining and writing that novel!

Tip #6. Think of it as a Free Write:

Mind mapping needs no planning or special skills. Don’t dismiss any ideas you think of while creating your mind map and make a place for it on the map. Try to work quickly, as this will help with making associations.

Sometimes it can be helpful to set a timer, as this will ensure you don’t spend too much time thinking about it. The less thought you put into it and the more you treat it as a method of quickly capturing flowing ideas however the associations may come out of your brain – the more creative and beneficial your results can be!

Learning to mind map for novel planning, plotting, and character development can be a LOT of fun as a writer – and it can be a useful skill for many other types of writing as well. You can use this same process for memoirs, non-fiction books, and more!

Have any other tips for how to mind map a novel? Have you used the mind mapping process to brainstorm your book ideas or to plot a novel? We’d love to hear your experiences: Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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17 comments.

Excellent article! I recently bought a book on plotting called “Pen the Sword: the universal plot skeleton of every story ever told” by Adron J. Smitley. It’s improved my writing dramatically. Walks you through the entire process of plotting your novel from beginning to end through such easy steps anyone can use it to write a novel. I highly recommend Pen the Sword to any writer!

Thanks Marsha, we’ll have to check that one out!

Good read! I will definitely try mind mapping, it seems to be a great way to expand on half baked ideas. Just one thing about the images in Scapple: I had a look at it and found that inserting an image is as easy as dragging it from the explorer to the Scapple canvas. So don’t discard Scapple for that reason! 🙂

Good to know! Mind mapping definitely helps organize those ideas that are all over the place!

This was so helpful! I have been struggling to find a way to orient myself and my main character to my story. This helped so much. Thank you!

Glad it was helpful for you Amethyst! I love mind maps, it really helps to visualize where the story might go!

I really hope you add language Arabic

Hi Jafar, I am not fluent in Arabic, but if you have any suggestions on translating I’m happy to hear them!

These are truly great! It reminds me of the first mind mapping tool I used, GitMind.

All of your articles are amazing. Those are really helpful. Thank you so much for writing them. I started writing recently. I will follow your instructions as I found they are a really good way to write a novel.

Thank you, i think this is so important. I will make the mind map now, bcz now im inspire to make this mind map ^^ thx!!

Hi thank this is a great idea everyone in my family is doing it thank u again.

Thank you so much ma’am… amazing article…

Excellent piece! With short stories, I’ve always started (after having the germ of an idea) with handwritten notes, then written by the seat of my pants. Works fine, and I’ve sold a couple dozen stories.

But now I’m attempting longer, more complex pieces, and need a way to keep track of all the elements. Read a book about outlining, but most of it was the author lecturing me on what makes up a story and how to create an antagonist, etc. That, I don’t need instruction in. Just needed a little organization for when my mental whiteboard gets to complicated. What you’ve shown here looks what I need.

I’m glad you found it helpful! 🙂

I really love this Idea. I am going to try this.

Glad it inspired you Lisa!

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10 Free Mind Map Templates in Word, Google Docs, and ClickUp

Praburam Srinivasan

Growth Marketing Manager

February 13, 2024

When managing a project or simply brainstorming, your thoughts and ideas can get tangled up like yarn after a cat’s finished playing with it. A mind map is like a knitting needle—it helps you weave ideas into a beautiful sweater of a plan! 🧶

Mind map templates let you visualize and organize concepts and information by providing a ready-made framework you can use right away. Anyone from students to project managers can benefit from such a tool for planning, decision-making, and problem-solving.

In this article, we’ll share 10 of our favorite mind map templates . Take advantage of their numerous benefits and witness your learning, teaching, or project planning process unravel!

What Is a Mind Map Template? 

What makes a good mind map template, 1. clickup simple mind map template, 2. clickup blank mind map whiteboard template, 3. clickup project mind mapping template, 4. clickup agency management mind map template, 5. clickup user flow mind map template, 6. clickup bug & issue tracking mind map template, 7. project quality mind mapping template in word by template.net, 8. short story mind maps template in word by template.net, 9. blank mind map template in google docs by gdoc, 10. project management mind map template in google docs by gdoc, choose the best mind map templates for your project.

A mind map template is a pre-built digital mind map that gives you a framework to start your brainstorming sessions . These digital maps have many advantages over pen-and-paper ones.

They allow more space and freedom to make mistakes and modifications. They also provide additional functionality, such as adding media, links, and other elements.

Mind maps are similar to concept maps , which are great for outlining complex relationships between several main concepts. Another related tool is the flowchart , which is a diagram depicting a step-by-step of a process or system.

An effective mind map should follow and allow you to visualize your thought process. To serve that purpose, a good mind map template needs to:

• Have a clean layout : A logical hierarchy that clearly defines the main topics, subtopics, and their relationships
• Be well-designed : Shapes, colors, and other visual elements make the document more engaging and aesthetically pleasing
• Allow for customization : The template needs to be adaptable to various uses and purposes
• Facilitate communication : Real-time collaboration features, such as notes and comments, help you brainstorm as a team

10 Mind Map Templates to Use in 2024

Be it for personal use, teaching in school, or project planning , a mind map template helps bring concepts to life! 🌱

We’ve selected 10 of our favorites to get you started. They work in ClickUp , Word, and Google Docs, and the best part is—most of them are free. Take a look at our top list and choose a template that matches your thinking style.

The Simple Mind Map Template by ClickUp stays true to its name—it’s our most straightforward thought-mapping tool for visualizing ideas and tasks.

In this mind-mapping template, the main concept is called the root , whereas the subtopics are nodes . Their relationships are represented by connectors, which you can color-code to introduce an additional layer of information.

The template comes in two modes:

• Task mode : The nodes are interactive and they represent tasks. Click on them to open the Task Window and reveal or add more details about them, such as assignees, checklists, and attachments. You can also add comments and track time
• Blank mode : The nodes are static and don’t include any additional information. This mode is intended for visualization rather than project planning

This mind-mapping template is as intuitive as it can get—all options are a click away. Drag and drop nodes to move them around and double-click on them to edit the text. Zoom in and out and navigate the template by expanding and collapsing layers—for note-taking, idea generation, and real-time collaboration with your team.

If you prefer something more colorful and interactive, give this ClickUp Blank Mind Map Whiteboard Template a try and start from a blank canvas. It’s a mind map in ClickUp’s Whiteboard , allowing for more flexibility and freedom to express your creativity . 🌈

With a mind map design in Whiteboards, you can not only create multiple mind maps but also decorate them with other elements, such as:

• Sticky notes
• Website cards

The template’s visual elements provide additional insights without overcrowding the map. Feel free to doodle, add other shapes, and modify the color scheme—anything to get your point across!

As in the previous template, you can move the nodes where you need them. Select the plus sign next to the node to add a sub-node. You can add connectors (arrows) to indicate a relationship between the nodes, regardless of their layer or position. 

Create a mind map online in blank mode by default, so nodes aren’t tied to tasks. You can create tasks separately and place them around the map if you need to. 

When dealing with complex projects, it’s helpful to break them down into components to get a clearer picture of the tasks at hand and understand their dependencies . The ClickUp Project Mapping Template happens to be the perfect tool for that. 

This free mind map comes with several views. The first is the Getting Started Guide, a document explaining the different elements and how to use them. 

The next one is the Ideas List view . It’s the home of all your data. In the fields, you can sum up key information about each task, such as status, assignee, team, and comment. You can then group, filter, and sort tasks to prioritize them. 

Finally, the template contains a Mind Map view in task mode . Nodes and connectors appear in different colors, indicating their statuses. You can change the categories and colors to better suit your project workflow . Click on the two arrows next to the node text to manage all the task details.

Note that you can effortlessly create a mind map for any other project as well. Create a hierarchy of tasks in List view, then add a new mind maps view, and voila—the map will magically appear in seconds. ✨

Managing an agency is like conducting an orchestra. It requires skill, precision, creativity, and a sense of rhythm to make the performance harmonious and dynamic.

This Agency Management Mind Map Template by ClickUp helps you bring together all ideas, tasks, and strategies to create a symphony of productivity .  🎶

While the previous mind mapping templates are easy to use for even the most inexperienced users, this one is more advanced and takes some getting used to. Luckily, the template comes with a comprehensive guide to help you master all its features.

It takes up an entire space and consists of numerous folders, each containing several lists and views. The folders cover the most important aspects of agency management:

• CRM : Lists of leads, deals, accounts, and contacts
• Scope of Work : Documents outlining the work you’ll perform for each client
• Billing and Invoicing : Invoices and Invoice Tracking list
• PostSale Engagements : Incoming Closed Deals, Projects, and Resource Management
• Small and Large Client Projects : Project Management and documents for online meetings
• Client Feedback : Feedback form and results

The template comes with eight pre-built automations to streamline your workflow . You can edit them and create custom automated actions. 

To create the best possible user experience, you need to design it carefully. With this User Flow Template by ClickUp , you can map out the process to understand what it looks like for the user . That way, creative professionals can catch inconsistencies and gaps in logic and fix them before the app or website goes live.

That task may sound boring, but this mind-mapping template isn’t. It uses fun shapes, colors, and graphics to convey different steps and elements, making the process much more dynamic to showcase your main idea.

In this template, the different shapes represent terminals, activities, and decision points. You can add connectors to indicate the direction of the flow and attach screenshots to show what each step looks like from the user’s perspective. As with other Whiteboard templates, you can insert additional elements, work from different styles, and views to provide more value.

To ensure their product runs and sells well, developers need to constantly work on perfecting it. As that involves a lot of information, they need a way to organize and visualize it. That’s what the ClickUp Bug & Issue Tracking Template is all about!

It’s a powerful communication tool connecting engineering, support, and product teams, as well as customers and other stakeholders. It helps cut down on those mundane and unnecessary meetings while ensuring everyone follows the correct steps involved to track issues and bugs.

This folder-level template contains several lists and views:

• Template Guide
• Defects Master List
• Reported Bugs
• Limitations & Workarounds
• Team Docs (Processes and FAQs)

In the main folder, you can also find the Bug Submission Form . Distribute it among users to collect feedback. After completion, ClickUp will automatically turn it into a task to save you time. You can also add automations and integrate with your favorite dev tools such as GitHub, GitLab, and BitBucket.

Create a mind map out of any of the lists to visualize the work ahead of you or outline the bug reporting and resolution processes. To do so, go to your list of choices and add a new Mind Map view. Select the task structure to use the existing hierarchy and keep the map interactive.

As a product or service provider, it’s your duty to make sure your customers are getting their money’s worth . That keeps them coming back, fosters long-term loyalty, and strengthens your brand. 💪

The most effective way to achieve that is through a solid project quality assurance plan. Use the Project Quality Mind-Mapping Session Template in Word by Template.net to devise the plan and visualize its structure.

The template has three main branches:

• Quality Management : Proactive approach, includes instructions for preventing issues and promoting quality from the get-go
• Quality Management Plan : Outlines the strategies and resources that need to be employed to ensure quality
• Quality Control : Reactive approach, refers to the monitoring and inspecting of products, services, and processes, and detecting and addressing issues

To download this template or other mind map examples, you need to subscribe to one of Template.net’s paid plans.

Although less grandiose in size than novels, short stories still take an enormous amount of work. After all, you have to pack a whole universe of creativity into a small constellation. 🌌

Luckily, there are many helpful tools to help you organize your thoughts and craft an engaging story . One such is this Short Story Mind Maps Template in Word by Template.net. 

The diagram branches out into five parts, each representing an essential aspect of storytelling:

You can add more branches to map out specific ideas. This intuitive Word mind map allows you to visually connect and expand upon your story elements, ensuring a cohesive and compelling narrative for marketing or any other purpose.

If planning is a pain point for you, try this Blank Mind Map Template in Google Docs by GDoc . It provides a solid, multi-purpose framework for structuring and arranging your ideas and plans . 🛠️

Of the mind map examples in this list, this one couldn’t be any easier. Follow the downloading instructions and launch the template in Google Docs. Fill it out box by box, tick the checkboxes next to the tasks as you complete them, and see everything come to fruition as you log more ideas to the doc. 

With over 12 sub-topic nodes, the template gives you plenty of room to ideate, but you can always expand it. Its minimalistic design is clean and doesn’t distract from important issues. 

Beginnings are often the most difficult part of project management. Even if you have an exceptional idea, putting it into words and defining actionable goals can feel like a never-ending marathon at times. 😮‍💨

That’s where the GDoc Project Management Mind Map Template in Google Docs comes in. It’s your go-to tool for strategizing the next steps of any project and tracking all of its crucial aspects . 

Unlike the previous mind map examples, it comes pre-filled, giving you a robust baseline to work off of when starting to plan. It includes the following project steps:

• Project Integration
• Schedule Management
• Cost Management 
• Risk Management
• Procurement Management

You can always modify the template to make it fit better with the current project or your preferred workflow. 

Not sure which template to choose? Check out a brief rundown of their most notable benefits:

No matter the purpose or project scope, mind maps make complex concepts and processes more clear and more manageable. Start using these templates today and map your way to brilliance ! 🦸

You might also like our take on the top 10 AI Tools for Mind Mapping and Brainstorming in 2024

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23 mind map examples for brainstorming & planning

Whether you're designing a product, managing your strategy , or defining project goals, visually communicating an idea helps collaborators understand what you want to accomplish. If you're having trouble putting your idea on paper, a mind map can help get you started.

Mind maps are diagrams that start with a central concept or question, and branches into subtopics and related ideas. These maps help you visualize how ideas connect so you can find new solutions.

In this article, we share 23 mind map examples and templates to help you find the best one for your next project.

1. Simple mind map example

Best for: first-time mind mappers and ideas that need developing

The simple mind map template centers around a main topic, goal, or problem. This brainstorming tool offers a shared visual space to put your ideas on paper (or an online whiteboard ). This mind map illustrates how ideas flow and branch into subtopics.

The sky's the limit when it comes to how you can use and adapt this mind map template to your own needs. A project manager might use it to:

• Brainstorm project requirements: You can use a mind map to break a big project into smaller pieces or individual steps.
• Present ideas to stakeholders: Mind maps present complex ideas in a simple format, making it easy for big-picture thinkers to understand the project.

Design tip: Start with one central theme and collaborate with your team to collect new ideas and flesh out concepts during a brainstorming session.

2. Bubble map example

Best for: early-stage planning and collaborative brainstorming

Bubble maps are a popular mind map type. While the simple mind map template includes subcategories, not all bubble maps take that approach. Instead, use them in early-stage brainstorming to help your team lay out core ideas. Once everyone contributes their suggestions, you can assign roles or create a project plan .

Design tip: Color-code bubbles to categorize them or note who added them.

3. Flow chart example

Best for: proficient mind mappers tackling more complex projects

Flow charts create more dynamic connections between subtopics than other mind maps. While most mind maps revolve around a central idea, flow charts outline a series of steps and processes from beginning to end. Their branching structure can also map different routes to the same solution or workflows teams follow in parallel.

On the product side, creating a flow chart visualizes how you want to make a deliverable or how users will interact with it. The sequence of steps helps order your priorities and fine-tune processes.

Design tip: Use arrows to denote the flow of information or the order in a process.

4. Problem-solving mind map example

Best for: individuals or teams solving an issue

A problem-solving mind map drills down on a central issue, its causes, and solutions, detailing the complexity of a problem. Causes, effects, and any unintended consequences of your response all tie together. As a result, problem-solving maps frame a challenge from every angle.

This map plays a role when:

• Facing a complicated business problem
• Organizing a response to an issue
• Outlining the causes of a challenge you’re facing
• Weighing solutions to find one that’s the quickest or most cost-effective

Design tip: Color-code your responses based on who’s tackling each aspect of a problem.

5. Opportunity solution brainstorming example

Best for: managers and teams working toward a specific outcome

This mind map helps you brainstorm solutions to create a desired outcome. Unlike problem-solving templates, this map focuses on an end goal, not an obstacle in your way. It breaks comprehensive goals into more manageable stages and lets you note any resources needed along the way.

For a better collaboration, review the mind map with your team for their insight and revisions. After a project starts, teams can use the template to stay coordinated and on the right track.

Design tip: Color-code boxes or lines for business objectives to note which teams handle which solutions.

6. Project management example

Best for: project managers looking to visualize complex projects

A project management mind map lets you focus on project specifics without losing sight of the big picture. Large projects can take coordination between departments. This map shows how teams work alongside each other to meet specific goals, and managers can use it to improve workflows and increase efficiency. You can also use this mind map to:

• Facilitate project meetings
• Split tasks among your team
• Define team goals and priorities
• Onboard new software
• Document problems and potential solutions
• Map out the steps to achieve project goals

Design tip: To limit the size of your mind map and stay organized, consider breaking off secondary processes into a new mind map.

7. Time management example

Best for: project managers assigning and prioritizing tasks

This time management template uses the mind map format to order tasks over a project lifecycle. You can consider the project the central topic for this chart. Arrows leading to a milestone contain steps in development. The template also gives space for requirements, team assignments, or tools needed to complete tasks.

Time management mind maps help teams and stakeholders gauge progress over a project lifecycle. If certain steps run under or over time, you can make changes to the timeline.

8. Product development mind map example

Best for: product managers, designers, and developers

This product map template breaks new initiatives into features, story points, and debts. For agile developers, this map outlines their process in clearly defined steps and sprints. Thanks to its nonlinear structure, teams can see how they work in tandem. It also encourages collaboration with a suggestion box in the corner.

Mapping developers' progress on a shared map makes tracking each team’s dev work easy. You can also use the map to check which devs have tackled a particular feature or story point. This mind map organizes fast-paced development into an easy-to-read format.

9. Business planning example

Best for: founders, investors, and business leaders who want to visualize their strategies

Business plans are documents listing a company’s objectives, identity, and processes. This mind map visually organizes and connects related parts of a business plan, which helps you brainstorm the steps to your goals, choose where to invest resources, and refine your strategic planning .

This holistic view of your business should include a few key elements:

• A high-level description of your company
• The products or services you offer
• Marketing strategies based on your competition
• Financial information
• Management summaries for your team and company leaders
• Operations information on your teams and processes

Design tip: Use the mind map at the center of this chart to lay out core business information. The surrounding diagrams help build out these initial ideas.

10. Organization structure example

Best for: HR and management teams

An organization structure mind map outlines the departments and teams within a company. You can use it to identify leaders who make decisions and employees who carry them out. Lines between roles also show who reports to whom.

Employee icons can list an individual’s role and other helpful information, like the time zone they work in. As a result, you can see who is responsible for what. New hires can also use this mind map to learn the company structure.

11. Logistics flow example

Best for: distributors and order fulfillment teams

A logistics flow mind map visualizes how you fulfill customer orders. The chart notes internal distribution to warehouses and customer deliveries, outlining the next step at every distribution stage.

When delivering items at a large scale, well-defined processes are key. This mind map charts a consistent process you can use for order fulfillment. It also visualizes the ramifications of changing your approach, reminding you how changes affect downstream steps.

12. Financial planning example

Best for: individuals setting a budget

A financial planning mind map tallies income, expenses, and financial goals. The map organizes short-term expenses like bills and long-term ones like retirement savings. It also tracks your current income and future earnings from a pension.

This template paints a holistic picture of your cash flow and income-to-expenses ratio. It also lets you weigh financial goals against your current financial position so, you can set attainable goals and avoid overspending.

13. Sales funnel example

Best for: sales managers and their teams

This sales funnel template maps the process of moving leads down the sales funnel. The subpoints related to each topic sit inside the funnel instead of in nodes. Under each topic, you can note problems, methods, and considerations for moving customers along.

Sales methods tend to change over time—documenting your approach can help improve your process or switch tactics if one strategy doesn't interest leads. Specifically, you might use this map when deciding how to approach a lead or collaborating on new sales strategies.

14. Human resources onboarding example

Best for: HR employees

This mind map lists your HR department’s tasks when onboarding a new hire. The mind map breaks up priorities based on time, so the tasks due before, during, and after the new hire’s first day appear in their own category.

This chart keeps HR teams organized during onboarding. HR leaders can also give it to new hires for reference or share it with managers to refine their processes as business needs change.

Design tip: Include a picture of the employee and some basic information to personalize the chart.

15. Job hiring example

Best for: managers and HR teams

This mind map charts the process of filling a job opening on your team. Unlike the onboarding template, this map follows a more high-level approach. It breaks the main hiring steps into subcategories and allows you to fill in company-specific information for your hiring strategy.

Job hiring templates help managers and HR teams design a hiring process where they can cooperate on strategic decisions and priorities. Listing job criteria and hiring best practices on this mind map also keeps them accessible.

16. Web design example

Best for: domain owners and Web designers

This Web design template gives a high-level overview of what will go onto your Web pages. This map paints a picture of your Website’s UX by including high-priority links in the header and footer, search functions, and images. While you can organize pages for blogs and features, that doesn’t come at the cost of mapping your core page structure.

You might use this template when:

• Working in the early stages of Web design
• Picking your Website’s core functions
• Designing your Website’s interface

17. Site map example

Best for: Web designers and developers

This site map template allows you to map out how pages connect on your Website. While the Web design template focuses on UX, this chart focuses more on subdomains and links connecting pages. Illustrating your site architecture helps optimize it and ensure pages link together intuitively. Managers and Web designers can also share suggestions and feedback on the map.

18. Blog structure example

Best for: content marketers and Web developers

Blog mind maps visualize the structure of an SEO-optimized blog page. They list the categories covering topics related to your business and the number of articles within them.

Developers can use this template to understand the full scope of a blog they'll build. It also allows marketers to hone in on keywords that capture the most traffic. Since blogging is an important marketing element, building an optimized blog can draw in new customers and help define your user personas .

Design tip: Include topic ideas underneath the lowest boxes to brainstorm the kinds of articles you want to write.

19. Meeting agenda example

Best for: meeting leaders or team members who want to contribute to an agenda

This meeting agenda template blurs the line between a mind map and an agenda. Like a mind map, it's built around a central topic—in this case, the meeting—and team members can add discussion points or additional notes. Your agenda outlines the points covered in your meeting, whether it's a regular get-together or preparation for a new project.

20. Transportation example

Best for: individuals and businesses planning transportation

Transportation mind maps outline the logistics of planning transport. They account for the cost, time, and resources that go into getting from point A to point B. You can also adjust these variables based on where you're going and when. This chart lets you organize transportation options in a central place your team can refer to at any time.

21. Event planning example

Best for: event organizers

An event planning mind map outlines the tasks needed to prepare for a special occasion. Instead of branching into nodes around a central topic, categories revolve around tasks due at different intervals. You can also enter event details and ideas into an overview section. This template helps event planners stay organized and share their schedules with vendors and other stakeholders.

22. Note-taking example

Best for: those taking meeting or class notes

Note-taking templates provide a visual alternative to writing bulleted notes on a page. With this template, you can note how broad concepts break off into smaller ideas and explain their differences.

This template shows visual learners how ideas connect, and conveys information more quickly than reading down lists of facts on a page making it one of the best mind map examples for students. Use it for:

• Listing crucial ideas during a lecture
• Sharing information with someone who couldn’t attend a meeting
• Summarizing the main points in a lesson

If you're looking for a more straightforward note-taking template, consider these:

• Meeting notes template
• Sticky notes template

23. Creative writing example

Best for: writers and editors who create story overviews

Creative writing mind maps visualize the most critical elements of a story—your plot, characters, themes, and setting all relate when writing a narrative. With this map, you can create a visual relationship between specific themes, chapters, and characters.

Mapping a story lets you hone in on its most essential qualities. Whether that means charting a central theme or the story's climax, you can highlight the story's main message. You can also use this template to pitch your story to agents and publishers.

5 key characteristics of mind maps

If you’re new to diagramming, you might not recognize mind maps on sight. Plenty of diagrams help with brainstorming, but mind maps play a key role in early-stage ideation and planning. Typically, a mind map has five elements:

• The chart revolves around a central image or idea.
• Themes branch out from the main idea.
• These branches include a keyword or image labeled on their lines.
• Less important topics typically only appear as "twigs" on these branches.
• The branches form a unified structure made up of individual nodes.

Mind mapping FAQ

We’ve answered a few common questions about mind maps below.

What is the best type of mind map?

The best mind map depends on the specific task you’re planning for. When you need to manage a project, design a Website, or make financial plans, there’s a mind map for it. If you’re in the early planning stages, a general template will likely suit you better. For that, we recommend the simple mind map , bubble map , or flow chart .

What mind-mapping best practices should I keep in mind?

On top of choosing the right template, here are a few tips to make the most of your mind map:

• Color-code related ideas to visually associate them.
• Use arrows and icons to show how ideas connect.
• Make sure your mind map branches out from one central topic or idea.
• Keep the text short and clear to let the visuals convey information.

Do I need mind map software?

You don't need a dedicated service to make or customize mind maps. However, platforms like FigJam offer the chance to collaborate on mind maps remotely via our online whiteboard tool. We also provide a library of over 300 templates to help kick-start your creativity.

Improve team collaboration with FigJam

Mind maps aren’t just places to list ideas. As you can see from the mind map examples above, these diagrams give you the space to think through solutions and explore ideas collaboratively.

The good news is, you don't have to create a mind map from scratch. Get started on your next project using our FigJam mind map template . We also provide a library of over 300 templates to help kick-start your creativity.

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Blog Graphic Design

40+ Mind Map Templates To Help You Visualize Ideas

By Bronwyn Kienapple , Nov 14, 2022

How can you connect ideas, show the relationship between parts and expand on concepts?

There are plenty of mind map templates available online to help you with creating a mind map . But, most of them are boring and they all look the same.

Unfortunately, a boring mind map is not going to engage your potential customers or stakeholders.

In this post, I’ll share 40+ unique mind map templates you can use right away, tips on visualizing business strategy using mind maps, plus a mind mapping software recommendation. What are you waiting for? Let’s get started right away.

What happens when I click one of your templates?  You’ll be asked to create a free Venngage account. Then, you’ll enter our online drag-and-drop editor. Just so you know, some of our templates are free, some require a small monthly fee to use.

Mind map templates (click to jump ahead):

• Strategy mind map templates
• Brainstorm mind map templates
• Project management mind map templates

Idea mind map templates

• Marketing mind map templates
• HR mind map templates
• Health mind maps templates

Bubble map mind map templates

• Concept map templates
• Mind mapping software recommendation
• Mind mapping FAQs

Looking for a shortcut? Watch this handy video for an overview of some popular mind map templates and how to use them in your business processes: 

1. Strategy mind map templates

Mind maps blend logic and creativity — which is why execs rely on them to organize information and encourage creative insights.

Business professionals can use strategy mind maps to plan their sales or marketing strategy, conduct research and development, plan for growth and organize projects.

Communication strategy map

Healthy employee engagement requires a plan. An internal communication strategy will make sure your teams stay engaged — meaning they perform at a higher level and your company benefits from an increased profit margin .

HR execs and managers can use this strategy mind map to plan how they intend to communicate and what goals will help guide their strategy.

Design Tip :  Color selection isn’t just important for making your designs look nice. It’s also an important part of making your charts more readable. Color can help you organize information and draw attention to specific points.

Strategic thinking map

Mind maps are perfect to outline strategy because they let you see the big picture of your subject and  organize the details.

Reduce overwhelm, break information into manageable chunks and organize insights with a strategic mind map.

For example, this strategic mind map template is actually numbered so you can visualize a process and the steps required along the way.

You could use the template above in your  business plan  or pitch deck for your new company or venture.

The process may even prompt new creative ideas as you look at your problem in a new (visual) light.

Strategic planning map

Strategic planning needs to be more than a list of actions and goals. You need to outline an established step-by-step process your teams can follow to meet their goals.

• Include key stakeholders such as employees, suppliers, owners and customers.
• Define your target customer.
• Define what you want from your stakeholders and what they want from you.
• Only then can you define your strategy based on this information.

The following strategic planning map template takes into account the internal team, customers, KPIs and what tools they’ll use to reach their goals.

Design Tip : The supporting ideas in the mind map above are all different colors, which helps them stand out from one another. This makes the mind map easier to scan.  Use a free tool like Coolors or ColourLOVERS to try out different color palettes.

Marketing strategy map

A successful marketing strategy needs to look at what your company is already doing well and what it needs to be doing to reach its goals.

Goals need to be specific and the strategy map should address the steps required to meet them.

In this marketing strategy mind map, different goals are broken out by the types of marketing required to achieve them.

After that, the team has put together bullet point ideas to achieve the goals.

Of course, you can use the above strategy mind map for any industry — not just marketing.

Design Tip: Brand your mind map template with one click. Venngage’s My Brand Kit tool lets you add your brand colors . The tool grabs a color palette automatically from your website and applies it to your mind map template.

In the example below, I changed the above mind map template’s default color palette to Venngage’s brand colors with one click:

Business strategy maps

Business strategy requires that you are both realistic and ambitious about what you can achieve.

That’s why it’s important to set high level goals but also know what factors affect those goals. And then run experiment to test how you can impact these goals.

This product launch map addresses all aspects of the process what the specific metrics will be to measure success and what factors will be at play to affect that success:

A collaboration strategy includes multiple aspects that you need to expand on in this smart strategy mind map. The bullet points make the information easier to understand. There is also plenty of room to elaborate on points and build on the strategy.

Something complex like a  growth strategy  will probably require extra explanation. Which is why this business strategy map template has room for an introduction and bullet points.

The mind map shows the main goals of a business growth strategy. A brief introduction under the title of the mind map helps readers understand how the different branches play into the strategy.

A plain and direct design is effective when you want to communicate information as clearly as possible, like in a business plan , report or internal presentation .

A neutral background with a few accent colors (like in the smart diagram example below) will prevent your mind map design from looking cluttered and overstuffed.

Still, even in internal communications, color can be used strategically to make your mind map easier to read.

While you can use a different color for each idea, you can also use colors to connect ideas like in this example.

Each of the three branches has its own color. This emphasizes the three branches of the strategy and makes it easier to scan for specific information.

Nonprofit strategy map template 

Nonprofits typically begin the strategic planning process by writing up a SWOT analysis . Then, the staff and board can begin defining how their nonprofit can further their mission.

This means identifying measurable goals and figuring out what’s a priority, according to the National Council of Nonprofits . This nonprofit strategy map looks at how to best conduct an evaluation, including what tools to use and different approaches.

2. Brainstorm mind map templates

Want an effective brainstorming session? Focus on quantity over quality, says Wrike .

That’s right: you’re in the exploration part of your project, so be open to as many possibilities and new ideas as possible. Encourage employees to throw out their filter and embrace a flow of ideas–both good and not as good.

Brainstorm bubble map

A brainstorm bubble map can be collaborated on in real time online, which meshes well with the current need for remote teams .

And open discussions can result in only a few people talking and getting stuck on their ideas. Collaborating online could open up the table to fresh thoughts.

Use this brainstorm bubble map template to work together online in real time using our Business Plan :

Or the findings can be summed up in a mind map and presented to the group in an instant messaging program like Slack or in a presentation. Most of the mind map examples in this post can be used for presentations.

Brainstorming mind map

The success of your business relies on good ideas, cautions McKinsey . It’s important to take the time to figure out how you and your staff can brainstorm more effectively.

A good practice is to come up with 15 to 20 questions for a brainstorming session with about 20 people. The questions should help your team look at the problem in a new, fresh way.

When presenting your findings, try adding the question that generated the best insights in the center of this brainstorming map template:

McKinsey provides examples of insight-provoking questions:

• What’s the biggest avoidable hassle our customers endure?
• What complexity do we plan for daily that, if eliminated, would change the way we operate?
• Who uses our product in ways we never expected?

Explain key findings to the rest of the exec team with this creative brainstorming mind map. Add it to your presentation or report. The icons are a fresh visual way to explain new concepts at a glance.

Or keep things simple by focusing on three key ideas and then breaking down those ideas further using nodes or bullet point notes to show possible courses of action, like in this brainstorming mind map template:

This brainstorming mind map template uses bullet points within its secondary nodes to further explain possible courses of action.

Pro Tip : Planning a strategy such as  SEO topic clusters ? Brainstorming session with your client or boss? Plug your ideas into a mind map and share the design instantly using a private link. Or turn on team sharing with Venngage for Business  to collaborate.

Marketing brainstorm mind map

Marketing brainstorming in a virtual world — how’s that supposed to work?

Try starting the session with a video call, list out ideas and then after the call have everyone comment on the doc what ideas are good or not, recommends the Content Marketing Institute .

The team leader makes the final decision as to what ideas to move forward with.

You can then present these ideas to the senior team or to the client using this cool marketing mind map template, which uses a simple icon for each node:

Design Tip: Replace any icon in your mind map template using our simple online editor. It has an icon library with over 40,000 free icons. In the below example, I replaced the web icon with a WordPress icon.

3. Project management mind map templates

Mind mapping in project management is critical to show stakeholders the complete scope of the project at a glance.

Especially if you’re working with a client, it’s worthwhile to present your ideas in a creative fashion that sets you apart, recommends the Project Management Institute.

Project mind map templates

Use a project management mind map to show a process. Use the template below to highlight the goals of your project and the steps required to achieve them. Or number the colored boxes to show steps in the process (and then steps within each of them).

This project mind map template captures three central tasks visually using icons, aiding comprehension. Add it to your project management plan , presentation or  consulting report .

4. Idea mind map templates

You may be accustomed to writing down ideas as a list or paragraph.

But since many people think better visually, using maps and diagrams can better show how ideas relate to each other.

An idea map is the best way to show these relationships. You can also generate new ideas based on existing points and add them as branches (or bullet points, like in this example).

This helps you (and your reader) from getting confused, recommends MIT .

And in business, an idea map is an impressive way to present and improve comprehension.

To create a mind map that engages your reader, you should follow some basic principles for good  infographic design — especially if you plan on sharing your mind map in long-form content like a presentation.

Your design concept will determine:

• What kinds of supporting visuals you include
• What colors you use
• How you choose to lay out your mind map

For example, this idea mind map template uses an image of a lightbulb as the focal point to reflect the theme of “thinking” and “ideas.”

The supporting visuals above help to illustrate each idea that branches off from the concept of “ design thinking .”

This idea map template makes use of a cloud motif, possibly to signify lofty thoughts. It’s a simple design but can be easily edited to define any concept.

Design Tip : Visual hierarchy is all about creating different visual weights by varying size, shape, color, position, and density. In the example above, the perceived density of the shapes creates two levels of hierarchy–a dense central idea surrounded by lighter, outlined ideas.

You can also use photography to support a theme, like how the sunrise in the below template signals “hope”:

Design Tip : You can change photos easily in the Venngage editor. Open the “Photos” tab and search by keyword. There are thousands of free stock images to choose from. In the below example, I searched “background” and replaced the sunrise photo with a photo of the night sky.

5. Marketing mind map templates

As a marketer, you’re more likely to share mind maps on social media or in a blog post. You’ll want to make your mind map eye-catching by using lots of decorative visuals.

This marketing mind map template makes use of a vintage color palette, icons and a non-traditional (but still easy to understand) layout to attract attention.

This marketing mind map template would work well in a blog post. It has bright colors and attractive mini-illustrations, plus room for text to summarize your concept.

On the other hand, if you’re creating internal documents, such as a marketing plan , you want something simple and easy to follow.

This marketing strategy mind map template uses clean, simple shapes and lines are easy for the eyes and brain to process:

This bubble diagram uses three quadrants to explore three marketing strategies. It’s easy to read; each of the nodes are color coordinated to the main point to help with comprehension.

6. HR mind map templates

While the owner of a small business usually tackles HR duties, as a business grows this becomes unsustainable.

An HR professional is needed to focus on compliance laws, especially when federal laws come into place — usually around 15 employees, according to SHRM .

Whether you’re planning your human resources processes from the ground up or reinventing existing processes, mind maps can help clarify matters.

You can use HR mind maps to visualize:

• Pay structure
• Hiring procedures
• Performance evaluation process
• Companywide staffing plan

This HR mind map template breaks down three central questions that focus on company productivity.

This template looks at the job hiring process and what needs to be done at each step. You could easily upload this to a presentation .

Another critical HR process is the employee performance review process. How often will they be carried out? What will the format be? If there’s a current process in place, is it working? Set up your strategy using this mind map template:

You can also add mind maps to your employee onboarding manual or employee handbook .

Looking for org charts  or roadmaps ? We’ve got templates for that too.

7. Health mind map templates

Whether you’re a health or fitness solopreneur or running a medical clinic or wellness business, you need mind maps that explain key health concepts or even your business offerings.

You can add mind maps to your flyers and posters , to your social media channels, your website’s blog or sales pages and more.

Here are two health mind map templates you can customize.

8. Bubble map mind map templates

Bubble maps are a simple but effective way to explain ideas. They effectively describe the qualities of an event, person, item or idea.

The thing to be described goes in the center and adjectives or even phrases go in the outside circles.

In this bubble mind map template, the thing to be described is “marketing content.” The first set of nodes are forms of marketing content such as webinars and white papers .

The second set of nodes explains the use case or popularity level of each kind of marketing content.

This simple mind map template uses the same idea but opts for lists instead of secondary nodes.

Bubble concept map templates

Bubble concept maps are popular because they are easy to understand and look great on social media , in blog posts or presentations or sales materials.

This gradient bubble concept map template explains the benefits of visual content marketing .

While this template explains the forms of online communication.

This beautiful bubble map uses an autumnal color palette, which pops against the dark background.

While using too many colors can make your designs look chaotic, this one works because the colors are complementary. It’s best used for external communications.

More complex bubble maps rely on visual cues to stay organized. Create a visual hierarchy by doubling up on key connecting lines, for example.

In the bubble concept map template below, the supporting ideas (storage, forms, and generation) connect to the central idea with double lines.

The supporting ideas that branch off from them only use single lines.

9. Concept map templates

Concept maps are often used in education to help teach students. They’re great for visual learners, but any type of learner will benefit from them, according to the University of North Carolina .

They can be used in the classroom and also at home to help students study. They’re so effective because they let you see the whole picture and also break down information and see how it’s all connected.

Creative concept map templates

This cool vintage concept map template allows for a central definition and then breaks the concept into four factors, each with their own definitions.

This more complex concept map template relies on a visual hierarchy to stay organized. Larger circles mean more important parts of creative intelligence. The blue subnodes are color coordinated to their parent circle.

Icons are also helpful to illustrate ideas and make them easier to remember. This mind map uses icons to represent different aspects of non-verbal communication.

Give high-level ideas bigger circles and supporting ideas smaller circles.

More mind map templates and design best practices

Use different shapes to create a hierarchy in your mind map design.

Here’s a bonus way to create visual hierarchy in your mind map: use different shapes for different levels of information.

For example, this mind map uses a camera shape for the central idea to reflect the film theme. Then, the supporting concepts use a black rectangle that draws your attention, with smaller, light circle ideas branching out:

Print keywords in upper case for emphasis

Differentiate focus words from the rest by writing them in upper case. For example, the mind map template below uses upper case for the title and the central idea. This indicates that those are the main points of the mind map.

You could also use a different font to emphasize keywords. Be sure to choose fonts that reflects the theme and style of your mind map.

Create a symmetrical mind map template

Symmetrical designs are pleasing to the eye. They can also make your charts feel more balanced and organized. To create a symmetrical mind map, place an even number of branches on either side of the central idea.

For example, this mind map template has three branches on either side of the central image. The elements on both side are evenly spaced and aligned, creating a balanced design.

Online mind mapping software recommendation

Well, up until this point you’ve understood the importance of mind mapping and how you can use mind maps for note taking, creative thinking, project planning and more.

We’ll now touch on the importance of having the right mind mapping software tools to create mind maps. If you’re short for time, of course you can still brainstorm ideas with a basic mind map that doesn’t have many design elements added. But what if you could create a beautifully, professionally looking mind map within the same amount of time?

If you’re looking for that free mind mapping software, look no further. Venngage’s smart mind mapping tool allows you to create creative, beautiful mind maps in minutes — no design experience required. Yes, you don’t need any special mind mapping technique to create an online mind map like this:

Smart mind map templates

Mind maps are even easier to customize with Venngage’s Smart Mind Maps. You can now add, duplicate, and delete nodes with the click of a button:

Smart nodes allow you to replicate every aspect of the section, including icons, text, colors, and size. You can adjust them after you’ve created the node. Need your map branches to equally distribute? Just click on Tidy:

With these advanced features, Venngage’s free mind mapping software can help you visualize different ideas easily as long as you have a central concept in mind.

How to customize mind map templates with Venngage

• Pick a mind map template from this blog post. Some templates are free, some require a small fee to use.
• Or browse our mind map template library  to see all the templates at once.
• Click the template you like. You’ll be asked to create a free Venngage account.
• You’ll enter our mind map maker tool. It’s drag and drop so you don’t need any design experience to use it.
• Click any node and use the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ to add or delete nodes.
• You don’t need to manually organize the diagram when you add or remove nodes. Click the ‘Tidy’ function to automatically arrange the nodes around the circumference.
• Change the text, icons , or graphics within the template and the node will automatically resize to fit.
• Add your brand colors to the mind map with a single click using My Brand Kit .
• Share or email your mind map within the editor for free.
• Upgrade to download your mind map.

Here’s a sneak peek of what the Venngage editor looks like: 

FAQs about mind maps

What is a mind map.

A mind map is a type of chart that organizes information visually.

Typically, a mind map will stem from a central concept, with supporting ideas branching out from it in a nonlinear order.

Here’s an example:

Mind map design best practices

Ultimately, the design choices you make should depend on the information you want to visualize and the purpose of your mind map.

If you’re not sure where to start your mind map, ask yourself what the main questions you want to answer are.

It could be one question or a couple of related questions. Then, expand on those questions in your mind map.

Most importantly, think about your audience when creating a mind map:

• What information do they need to understand your mind map?
• How in-depth do you need to go?
• What can you do to make your mind map more engaging?

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• 40+ Timeline Templates, Examples and Design Tips
• 20+ Flow Chart Templates, Design Tips and Examples
• 28 Process Infographic Templates and Visualization Tips

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