- MIND MAPPING SOFTWARE SCAPPLE HOW TO
- MIND MAPPING SOFTWARE SCAPPLE FOR MAC
- MIND MAPPING SOFTWARE SCAPPLE PLUS
MIND MAPPING SOFTWARE SCAPPLE PLUS
Note how I can have a mindmap with two connected centers, plus a list on the side, and then some special charts underneath (I use the system outlined in My Story Can Beat Up Your Story by Jeffrey Alan Schechter). The main way I use Scapple is actually to create character charts, and it’s a huge step up from either mind-mapping or family tree software… I need a chart that can show relationships, but not just familial ones, and also show the passage of time to some extent. I can just start and figure it out as I go along. I don’t have to know what I’m doing right away, decide which idea is “central,” or anything like that. I don’t have to force my mind to be mapped according to someone else’s system. (Disclaimer: I’m not sponsored in any way, nor is anyone at WriteOnSisters, we just happen to adore the program!)Īgain, Scapple isn’t exactly mind-map software, but for me that’s an advantage. So today I’ll be sharing three ways I use the program for writing: mind-maps, character sheets, and outlines.
MIND MAPPING SOFTWARE SCAPPLE HOW TO
Scapple is really fantastic, but possibly also daunting if you’re not sure how to use it.
You type, and then you can copy/paste or format your text however you like, but you can also stick each piece of text anywhere on your infinitely-large page and connect them with lines or arrows any way you want.
It’s something like mind-mapping software, but with more flexibility - L&L calls it a “freeform text editor” and that seems the most accurate description. I can’t imagine why, because it’s equally well-designed and may be even more useful depending on how you like to work. The Scrivener writing program from Literature and Latte has achieved a certain level of recognition in the writing community, but L&L’s other program, Scapple, has flown under the radar. Where can you stick enough notes to outline an entire novel, and how can you back that up reliably? Scapple to the rescue! I love sticky notes, and I’ve used them to organize my thoughts for years, but that method has some problems: notes fly off the paper, or you have to rewrite the same things several times as you move your notes around. If you haven’t already done so, follow her wonderful book blog, power packed with great ideas for reading diverse books and authors. To purchase, you can either get it on the Literature & Latte site or at the App Store.Hannah Givens is always a favorite guest blogger at WriteOnSisters, and we’re thrilled she’s back.
MIND MAPPING SOFTWARE SCAPPLE FOR MAC
Scapple is available for Mac only you can give it a test drive for 30 days. In the meantime you can view a video that provides a good visual overview. In the next few days, I’ll provide a tutorial on how it works and how you can export it into your Scrivener project. As I become more comfortable with the software, I’m sure I’ll get more creative with the brainstorming and feel less restricted with the thought process. I’ve linked some of the possible relationships with a dotted line, a two headed arrow and a solid line. I’ve also enlarged the font and bolded it.
I started out with columns, and tend to put stars by my key points, but in this case I put them in two dark, red jagged boxes. But I provided a sample of what can be done. It’s not all over the place because I’m still getting used to the program. If you click on the image to enlarge it, you can see this is a somewhat linear way of thinking. You never have to worry about running out of space because the virtual paper fits as many notes as you need. I’m currently playing around with it and here is a sample of how it looks: The notes can be moved around, resized, linked, or deleted. Essentially it’s a virtual piece of paper that allows you to jot down notes during a brainstorming session. When you first take a look at it, you might consider it a mind-mapping software, but it really isn’t. Literature & Latte, the creators of Scrivener, have a new product called Scapple.