Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – Review

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been spending some time catching up on my backlog of games and one I finally finished up was Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

This game weaves a beautiful story together in a dark visual novel that highlights it’s main characters’ journey into a land called Northmen. You play a Celtic warrior named Senua who is on a mission to the mythological Norse land of the dead called Helheim.  This game is loaded with mythological lore, historical fiction, and non-fiction that helps bring this story to life in a very dark but beautiful way.

This Norse based story is extremely impressive but the story isn’t the only thing that immerses you into this dark world as the designers brought together an impressive sensory mechanics system for the game as well.  During the start of the game, you are given a prompt to play with headphones so you get the full effect of the simulated three dimensional sound environment.  Once you throw those headphones on you will be immersed into a mass sound of voices that haunt Senua who constantly talk to her and brings a very creepy aspect to the game.

These voices Senua hears are a crucial part of the story, and also gameplay throughout as they can help with advice, and also such things as arguing with her, tear her down, and pick her up at just the right time.  This mix of voices, paired with the soundtrack and visual story brings an experience that is worth every minute put into the game.  Hellblade is also a visually gorgeous game full of darkness, strange lights, and mixed muted colors that fill the world. All aspects of what the creators did tell a beautiful story that truly brings a chill to the bones while playing.  One way the developers immersed you further into the story was the mix of audio and visual distortion that brings a frightening effect of psychosis and hallucination that Senua is dealing with throughout the story.

Most of Hellblade seems to revolve around Senua’s senses in the environments and landscapes she is searching through. You as the player will have to search throughout the different areas and figure out multiple different puzzles in the game. These puzzles all have meaning within the game which takes on new layers of depth and opens up the world around you.  A lot of these puzzle moments once figured out can be very rewarding as they open up things like hidden paths and because they are all reinforced by the overall story.

Combat was also a way that brought a lot of interaction with the world and things Senua was a part of.  Hellblades combat was a great experience as well giving you multiple ways to interact with the world around you that paired beautifully with the story and progression system.  I only encountered a few fights where I felt overwhelmed and unable to handle the battle but that was near the end of the story where enemy numbers and difficulty seemed to spike.

This game was beautifully done and the attention to detail that was placed within the atmosphere, storytelling, and mechanics made for a great experience.  Playing as Senua and living out the insanity that was filled in her mind was a different take on a game of this style.  All in all the six or so hour playthrough it took was well worth the time spent seeing what the developers created.  Even though this game came out a couple years ago it’s still well worth a play if you have never experienced it yet.

Netflix’s Marianne – Review

Netflix has recently released one of the most terrifying horror originals to date with an eight-episode French horror series called Marianne.

This film kicks things off into high gear right off the bat with very environment rich scary vibes.  Things start off with creaking, old radio sounds, and even a caged crow that sets the tone for how things are going to turn out in this series.  Set in an old fashioned French house things get dark quick but I won’t ruin the first few minutes, so you will have to watch and experience that for yourself.

Our main character of this story Emma Larsimon who is a successful horror novelist is the center of attention in this epic horror that will keep you on the edge.   The horror series that has made her so successful and rich to boot is also probably haunting her and driving her insane.

Emma’s books about a demon’s wife are based on her real life nightmares from her teenage years.  Emma now grown up and long moved out of her childhood home goes back to the broken-down coastal town of Elden to check up on her parents.  This checkup quickly turns gruesome for Emma as her past quickly catches up to her and the nightmares she had are now haunting her once again.

As with all horror movies, shows, and stories the delivery is key to bringing a good scare to the audience.  Director Samuel Bodin is a fan boy of the old school eighties horror films so his understanding of how to scare an audience is superb. The eerie coastal setting, mixed with the author of successful horror stories as the main protagonist is genius and extremely well executed in this series.

This series also had excellent camera footage and great use of drones that were used to grab some amazing shots of the rocky coast line, and dead winter trees that really added a level of suspense to the show.

One of the best parts of the show to me was the main character Emma as she was extremely complex, tough, demanding, and very self-centered.  She has spent most of her life dealing with these nightmares and has used it to become a horror author rock-star per say.  If you are looking for a show with a strong cast, great story and loaded with suspenseful terrifying moments, then you definitely need to check this show out.

Growing Through Blogging

One of the most daunting tasks in blogging is making a schedule for writing and sticking to it!  Personally, for me, I am a night owl and most of my writing is done late night after the family has found their pillows.  I’ve been blogging a lot over the last few months, as well as spending a lot of time on my fantasy novel which takes most of my brainpower and writing focus.

Outside of the fantasy novel I’m working on, and the increased writing schedule here on the blog all my content has been with my podcast; All Things Geekery that my co-host and I do twice a month.  Podcasting was just the next step for my co-host and I as we had both wanted to get into it for a long time.  I’ve still got a huge passion for writing and always will, but my focus has changed on how that content is published and driven.  Which is all based around the outlets I’ve chosen to create material in like WordPress, Podcasting, Twitch, Writing etc.

My love for writing started when I was a kid and has continued through my adult years and blogging was where this crazy journey really changed things for me.  Blogging is such a great way for writers to grow and connect with an audience or just have that creative outlet for the pure enjoyment of writing. This outlet gives us a way to go in-depth with our topics unlike most social media outlets, aka micro-blogging outlets like Twitter.  I’ve enjoyed blogging for years and it’s given me a place to hang out with others in my little corner of cyber-space.  If you’ve spent any time at all blogging or writing, you know it can be tough and at times brings some stress with it.

So with that being said, here are just a handful of tips I’ve learned over the years which I hope help you all in your writing adventures.

1. WRITE THOSE IDEAS DOWN

You never know when a good blogging idea is going to pop up, so hot those things down!  I personally go old school and use a Moleskine journal for my blogging ideas along with sticky notes, which I use different colors for different topics.  It may sound like madness but it works for me and helps keep me organized for my writing schedules. Especially now that most of my writing is going towards my book.

2. BACKLOG & SCHEDULING

Learn to schedule posts best you can and how they fit into what you want your writing life to look like. If you have time and can do it, schedule posts throughout the week and keep a backlog of posts if you are trying to hit a specific number of posts per week or month that you can quickly choose from.

3. GUEST BLOGGING

Find you some blogging friends that will allow you to do guest blogging, and or co-blogging as that’s a great way to market your content and grow each other’s sites.

4. STOCK UP

You never know when an idea will hit and you’re looking for an image of sorts to show off this lovely idea you want to blog about. Browse through images you want to use for your blog posts and keep a stock in a folder for future posts.  This will help with the last-minute search for an image, though lately, I’ve been making my own depending on the topic.  See what works best for you and your schedule.

5. MAKE A LIST & CHECK IT TWICE

Make yourself a list of items to check before you hit that publish button.

6. BREAK IT UP

Break up your posts into multiple parts if they are running long. This will help keep the reader’s attention and hopefully coming back to check out those next parts.

7. CHAT IT UP

Use those comment sections as it can be a gold mine.  Watch for questions and good topics for conversations and even potential notes for future posts.

8. DON’T SWEAT IT / DON’T STRESS IT

Life happens and if you are like me well then blogging is a hobby, so don’t stress if you don’t make those post counts you wanted.  The best thing to shoot for is consistency but when you can’t don’t sweat it.  I try to post twice a week but that doesn’t always happen.

9. REFURBISH THAT CREATIVITY

Don’t fret about reusing previous posts or topics either.  You don’t want to repost the same exact post you’ve already used, but when you are in a crunch and the creative juices aren’t flowing, then maybe an older post will kickstart things again….rework that thing and use it!

10. LEARN TO HAVE GRACE

Give yourself some grace. This is a journey that should be filled with fun and moments of learning, but also filled with mistakes and curveballs!  When you find that crazy typo or sentence that makes your eye twitch, or just doesn’t make sense at all…..”DON’T WORRY” Learn from those mistakes and let those moments become part of the journey, part of the fun and something that makes you want to become better.

These are my bread and butter items I use whether I’m writing a small blog post, or working on my novel series.  Hopefully, these few items will help you along your writing/blogging journey as much as they have helped me!

Lost in Space Season 2 – Announcement & Official Trailer

We won’t have to wait much longer for Netflix’s Lost in Space Season 2 as it was just announced at New York’s Comic-Con it’s coming to the streaming service on December 24th, 2019.  Netflix also released the first trailer for season 2 shown below.

It feels like ages have passed since I finished watching that last episode of Season 1 thinking I can’t wait for Season 2 but that wait is coming to a close very fast.  Season 2 is going to take place seven months after the events of Season 1 wrapping up, and this season is going to have some major plots to work through.  Everyone is a bit older, hopefully wiser, and somewhat battle-scarred from the previous tasks they went through.  So I’m sure we are going to see some of the coming of age drama and the kids taking on a bit more of a grown-up roll.

Netflix also revealed a new cast member is joining the crew for Season 2 which is JJ Field playing the character of Ben Adler, the “Chief of Advanced Systems and Artificial Intelligence”.  This new character seems to have a big tie into the overall larger plot of the story unfolding as a clip shown during the panel had Alder telling the Robinsons of another AI, called Scarecrow which will tie the story together from the mysteries the Robinsons uncovered in Season 1.

Netflix wasn’t shy about showing new things coming to the show as they also previewed a clip of the Robinsons turning the Jupiter into a “Space Sailboat” to cross a sea on one of the planets they’ve landed on.  It looks like Season 2 will see the Robinsons exploring multiple planets in the five-planet system they discovered at the end of Season 1, and also find out more details about the origins of the mysterious Robot and where it truly came from.   I’m sure throughout the 10 episodes of Season 2 we will see more surprises and mysteries that the Robinsons will have to uncover and of course get themselves out of those tricky situations they are oh so good at.

 

The Beauty & Challenge of Writing Fantasy

Since I’ve been back to a more frequent schedule of writing both on my novel and here on the blog I wanted to take a look at some of the challenges of writing fantasy, scheduling time for it and doing what you love.

First of all, I just want to say how much I love epic fantasy, both as a reader and as a writer. To me, this genre is unmatched in the way you can make anything possible, with no boundaries on your creativity or imagination.  This type of freedom in writing opens up so many possibilities but also brings in a lot of challenges as well.

I think everyone who has put a pen to paper or their fingers on a keyboard has run into the issues of staring at a blank page and thinking about all the things you could put down on the said page. It’s hard because once you start writing, you can and will be constrained at times by what you write on that page.  When that light bulb moment kicks in and the initial idea becomes a reality for you it’s like a thrill ride honestly.  Not really knowing where it’s going to take you, or what is coming up around the corner can be exciting and frighting all in the same moment.

For me, one of the biggest challenges and joys of writing comes with the creative freedom you have over the story and how it’s being told.  Ultimate possibilities are within the power of your fingertips and absolutely no one can tell you what should or shouldn’t be done when writing.  There really isn’t a rule book when it comes to this stuff, as you as the author can invent entire worlds filled with culture, history, and whatever you want it to have.  The challenge though comes in once you start writing those ideas, as it must be consistent across the story just as things would be in real life, but you have a different set of rules you can play by per-say.

Another challenge you will probably encounter is around world-building and unfolding the history and creation in the story itself. I tend to immerse myself in the process, inventing names, cultures, beliefs, trying to envision them all in my head. This is extremely challenging and time-consuming, but once you have that idea solidified like you want it is very rewarding and freeing.

Building characters is also another challenging place when writing. It’s hard to stick to one point of view when writing an epic fantasy novel, so finding a balance between points of view to that character’s personality and connecting them with the audience can be tough.  I’m working on my first novel right now and it’s been a long enjoyable, tiresome, exciting time but the challenges have been overwhelming at times.

Overall I wrestle with myself a lot and the world I’m creating as I will spend hours trying to make things perfect before they ever hit the page.  Unfortunately this has caused a lot of unwritten things that probably could have been written badly and fixed while editing.  I began book plotting which helped with this madness and over the last few years has kept my mind somewhat straight on where the story needed to go…..and allows me to visually see the overall plot, sub-plots, and timeline.  When I began seeing things tie together, I simply could not believe what I was reading honestly.  I was kinda shocked that things were making sense and that what I was reading was working.  Ultimately, seeing this epic story, set in a made-up world come together is my reward.  Having that sense of freedom and joy while writing is hard to explain but for everyone out there who has experienced it and managed to push through the challenges knows how rewarding writing can be.

Keep pushing through those challenges, have fun with your writing, and pursue those dreams as the process of learning and seeing your world come together is so worth it.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters Review

Godzilla: King of the Monsters quickly sets the tone that it won’t be the same thing we’ve seen in the past. 2014’s Godzilla rebooted the classic king of monsters for modern audiences, but the latest portrayal of the iconic monster gives us huge monsters everywhere within the first few minutes of the film.  If you came to see monsters, then you came to the right spot as this film is loaded with a more classic outlook on Godzilla and other monsters from the past.

This film was well written and directed in my opinion from co-writer and director Michael Dougherty who you might know from an interesting horror film released on Christmas a few years ago called Krampus.  Dougherty has an eye for suspense and building a story, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters wasn’t short on drama, action, or suspense by any means.

Monsters everywhere in this film! Besides Godzilla, we get to see classics like Mothra, Rodan, and the Hydra King Ghidorah but this time with a little more classic thrown in that takes you back to their origins.  As for Godzilla, as we saw at the end of the 2014 film, he is clearly set on the side of hero and ready to do battle to help protect humanity. If you came to see an award-winning film loaded with Academy Awards and the best acting you’ve ever seen then this isn’t the film for you.  This is purely an action-packed monster film loaded with HUGE monsters destroying everything they touch.  The human interaction between the monsters is well done in most scenes, between the moments of fear to the occasional understanding that Godzilla is here to help.  All in all the actors pulled off a fun and exciting movie that was a blast to watch and fun to see what the director had around each corner.

We came to see Godzilla kick some monster butt, and this film delivered on that more so than any other to date including a massive monster battle including an exciting, final battle between all the monsters.  King of the Monsters keeps you engaged with its story, monsters, explosions, and more…..and if you are a Godzilla fan then this movie is everything you could have possibly hoped for.  The film looks absolutely amazing with its impressive beasts, to technology it brings.  One major thing King of the Monsters did was to give the audiences MONSTERS and a lot of them as the 2014 Godzilla film was a bit lacking, but I’m excited about the next installment…..that is if they pursue the little hook they left at the end of the film.

Gears 5 – A Pleasantly Surprised Review

Let’s talk Gears 5 shall we as it’s managed to pleasantly surprise me, both in terms of its gameplay and its story.  Honestly, I wasn’t overly excited when Gears 5 was announced but knew that I would end up playing it eventually to see what the story was about.

If you look at the overall series and the longevity this game has held it’s dang impressive.  We are now six games in on the Gears franchise and the story just keeps getting better in my opinion.  The developers really took their time it seems to give Gears 5 a well rounded and established character base.  I personally wasn’t a huge fan of Gears 4 but with the newest story picking up right where Gears 4 ended, it puts 4 in the almost worth playing category for me…..or you can just ***Spoiler*** watch the recap of the ending of 4 before you kick off the new journey in 5.

Gears 5 makes absolutely no attempt in trying to fix what isn’t broken and I love the fact that what has worked they are staying with!  We have a rock-solid story-based 3rd person shooting game loaded with mayhem that just looks good, plays good, and keeps you engaged. Combine all of that with an open world feel and a set of multiplayer modes that range from the old and classic to fresh and new on both the co-op and competitive gameplay, is to me what makes this one of the best action games of the year so far.

Gears 5 Campaign Review

Gears’ third-person action has evolved slightly over the years from game to game, but in Gears 5 they have added a new companion named Jack!  This little robot can now be controlled to help you pick up weapons, unlock doors, safes, and a host of other handy options throughout the game.  You will also be able to earn new abilities for this little guy that can be quite useful in combat, such as reviving you and your allies, stunning enemies, cloaking you and much more.  To get these abilities you will find upgrade components throughout the world which can help you customize what this little companion can do.

Overall the Gears’ combat still feels dang good and keeps you engaged along the way.  The weapons in this Gears’ felt good as well and the default weapon you start with….you know that good old Lancer was a constant goto for me.  We had a the Overkill shotgun return from Gears 4, and good old classics that have been refined just a bit it seems. The overall weapon balance feels great between the old and new toys we get to play with.

Also new in the open world feel of Gears 5 comes a new toy you will get to roam around with.  The wind-powered skiff, pictured here lets you tackle a huge open-world map and get to areas fairly quickly as well as going after those optional quests littered through the area. I found that these optional missions are worth the extra time as the rewards were usually upgrades for Jack.  Along with some fresh new weapons, the open world feel, a wind-powered land cruiser and some very interesting boss fights, Gears 5 has become one of my favorites to date of the franchise!

Gears 5 has done an amazing job balancing story, and a heavy 3rd person gameplay mechanic that is still exciting to play!  This series has never really had a bad launch on the games, even when changing from the original developer Epic to The Coalition. Gears 5 brings some very welcome additions to both its gameplay and flow of the story which is why it’s become a quick hit with fans.

The Dragonlance Chronicles – A Nostalgic Review

 

I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic lately, and for whatever reason, the Dragonlance novels have been standing out over the last few weeks.  So, what better way to scratch that itch then dig out your old book collection from when you were a kid and re-read said novels.  Yes, I still have books from when I was a kid tucked away in boxes in the attic…..mainly because we’ve run out of space in all our bookshelves in the house.

If you haven’t read the Dragonlance novels and want a great high fantasy novel to get lost in then I personally would recommend these.

Dragonlance Novels:

History Behind The Books

The Dragonlance novels were based on a series of Dungeons & Dragons game modules. The books came about because the designers wanted novels to tell the story of the worlds they were creating.  After Tracy Hickman came to TSR it was announced that development was to happen on his series of dragons based role-playing adventures.  Hickman’s storyline was chosen for the Dragonlance books due to the twelve-part storyline.  Margaret Weis came into the picture as she was assigned to edit Hickmans “Project Overlord,” as it was initially called, a novel intended to be coordinated with a trilogy of Dungeon & Dragons modules.  The newly formed team plotted the novel and hired an author who didn’t work out.  By this time, Weis and Hickman were so into the project they felt they had to write it and the rest is history.

Breakdown of the Novels

The Dragonlance Chronicles were one of the first novel series I read that introduced my love for the world of fantasy.  The first novel series that I fell in love with of course was JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings.  The Dragonlance Chronicles holds a high place on my list though mainly because I was one of those role-playing geeks of the 80’s. 

Let’s take a look at the first book, Dragons of Autumn Twilight which has a strong character base but the first book does feel over the top at times.  What really stood out to me about the first book were the “Major” characters in the story, and there are a few that were very distinct.  Unfortunately, the story has some downsides and one major part is the characters seem lost, as does the navigation of the overall plot. But, as an introductory novel, it sets events in motion without giving anything away which is impressive to do no matter the genre.  The second and third novels develop completely different, which felt more organic and that the writers were given much more freedom with the plot.

Here’s what I like about the original Dragonlance Chronicles and what brought me back to read them once again:

1. The novels continue to throw extremely creative scenarios and locations at you. Which keep the interest up while reading, as you gotta know what is coming up next.
2. The authors did a fantastic job of balancing the character development, action, drama, and overall plot.
3. The world of Krynn itself as the authors did an amazing job adding a level of mystery to the world which kept you wondering what’s next.
4. The overall pace of the book is done quite well in story development, especially as you get into books 2 & 3.
5. Ultimately the book is called Dragonlance…..so what better than the Dragon War and the evil queen that returns.

To me, these books are such a good mix of the Sword & Sorcery and the High Fantasy genres of the ’80s which I fell in love with at a young age so it’s hard not to like them.  How about you all, what are your thoughts on the Dragonlance Chronicles?  Have you read them?  Let me know in the comments below.

Blaugust 2019: What Is Blank Page Syndrome

Good morning writers, bloggers, and all those who have struggled with this freak phenomenon “The Blank Page Syndrome” you know that moment when writing you look up and realize you have absolutely no idea where to go, or what to do, or what to write about anymore.  Have you ever been there? Chances are if you write in any form or fashion, then yes you’ve experienced writer’s block!

It’s easy to become immobilized with writer’s block, but one of the best ways to get the creative juices flowing again is to give yourself just a few minutes to write creatively about something completely different.  Writer’s block is the brain’s way of saying “Hey I’m tired, I need a break you fool” so put the pen down, stop typing, and go get me a cup of coffee, or let me stare into space for a few minutes.  When writing we need mental breaks, and sometimes as writers, we get in the zone and forget that we need to step away for a bit and take those mental breaks.

Personally, I struggle with writer’s block all the time, but over the years I’ve learned what my brain needs to get past those things that trip me up.  Honestly, this is just something that takes time to discover about you personally and what trips you up when writing.  We could look at every self-help writing book out there, but truth be told, when the ole brain is tired it’s hard to push forward and force writing as it becomes tiresome, and you burn out quickly on what used to be enjoyment and passion.

So if you are at that wall-banging your head, here are a few things to think about and try.

1. Take The Step, Take The Risk

To be a writer means to take risks, putting yourself and your ideas out on a limb, making yourself vulnerable to criticism, maybe even ridicule. Does that make you step back and question if this is something you should be doing?  Just remember this is your little slice of the internet and you can make it what you want, but there will always be the Nay-Sayers lurking around!  You as a writer have to be willing to take that jump and just do what you love.  Remember that no writer can please everyone, and you will never benefit from trying to form your writing around that thought either.

2. Creating an Atmosphere

Open one of your favorite novels and pay attention to the techniques the author used to create atmosphere. What is it about the place referenced in the book that draws you? Drawing an atmosphere when writing can be one of the most creative and relaxing moments you will have when writing.  Whether it be a descriptive word or a creation of scenery for the reader to get sucked into; this is definitely a way to break the writer’s block.

3. What’s In Your Descriptions

Writing is a wonderful way to see the beauties of this world, and it’s a way to describe what you as a writer want the reader to see.  When you write look for new and fresh ways to describe what you want.  Use old drafts or stories you’ve written in the past to practice with or look up some poems to spark a new idea.  Either way getting out of your story for a bit, and looking at new ways to describe things is always a good way to improve one’s writing skills.

4. A Fantastic Fairy Tale

Fairy tales are also a good way to get the creative sparks popping! The whole point of a fairy tale was to dramatize struggles between good and evil for the most part.  So why not take a look at some of those classic gems, because at the heart of fairy tales is a reminder of pure storytelling.  Why not sit down with a good cup of tea, or coffee and try to do a play on one of your favorite fairy tales.  Make it personal and watch what happens.

5. Let That Imagination Run Wild

You don’t have to be a creative writing major to enjoy writing or a professional journalist to write about a passion you have.  You just need to be imaginative.  To have a good ghost story, the ghost needs a house to haunt, or some spooky hotel, right?  Well if that’s the case then what will you let your imagination create for this story to take shape?

Just remember the only one holding you back from writing is you.  Find what you enjoy, write like you’ve never written before, and make it fun while you do it.

Mind Mapping for Blaugust (Brainstorming Week)

Kicking off week number two of #Blaugust2019 with the topic of (BRAINSTORMING) has been interesting as I’ve seen topics all over the board so far!  With that said I have been wracking the brain on what to write about today!

I get a lot of questions around my system of note-taking, my sticky notes, and how I’ve used them to map out whatever I’m writing.   So today’s post is all about brain dumping and mind mapping.

If you are anything like me I’m sure you at one point and time struggle with the idea of what to write when to write, how to write and why would I write! Whether it’s a blog post or book….that can be a big hill to tackle on where to start.  For me, I finally just made the plunge and started writing, and a few years ago jumped in with the #NANOWRIMO group which was crazy good for getting with other writers and learning from them.

This is really where my book idea came to life as I was challenged by other writers to just jump in and begin.  Even though I had no idea really where to start, or what things looked like at the time; I did learn a system and have enjoyed the process of getting to where I am today.

A lot of people don’t write a book or blog post as they simply don’t know how to start.  They possess the idea for a book or a blog, but they don’t know what to do with it. They possess an idea for a book, but they don’t know what to do with it. They can’t imagine how they get from initial idea to a published blog post or that finished manuscript which isn’t a small feat at all so don’t think I’m playing this down.

It wasn’t until I began using the “Brain Dump” method to get my ideas that were just floating around that space in my head, to the paper so I could have a visual.  Some call this mind mapping, but for me, this is just an old fashioned Brain Dump.  Whatever you like to call it doesn’t really matter, just the methodology and way it’s used. Brain dumping will take you from a few grand book ideas to a detailed book outline you can work from to make a manuscript.  This ultimately becomes the go-to place for when you need a guide to take you from start to finish of this novel you’ve dived into.

It’s funny how our brains work as we have an analytical and creative side, so mapping those ideas out for a book or blog post when thinking about that can be tough.  Basically, mind mapping allows you to bring the two sides of your brain together in one location so that all the thoughts and information are easily visual and accessible. Once you’ve learned how to wrangle those thoughts it’s time to take a look at the actual brain dump.  This is the point where the thought has to become a reality.  So….how do you make the brain dump happen?

My favorites and staples when writing is using a large whiteboard to map out my ideas and plot pieces of the story together.  My journal is always a go-to, though lately it’s littered with sticky notes from ideas I need to go back and form into the story section I need it in.  Another favorite is the sticky note and poster board which is always fun for me as you get to move the sticky notes around and write on the poster board as well.

Examples below of my “Plot Board” and “Whiteboard”

On the left is an old push pin board my wife used to use that is currently littered with sticky notes which are all major, and minor plot points of the book. On the right is a large whiteboard that I use frequently…again with the sticky notes.  Each of the sticky notes on the whiteboard represents a portion of the book such as chapter, plot, sub-plot, character info, etc and where they fit into the timeline of the book.  May seem bonkers but visually it has helped me write clearer, cleaner and faster then I ever had before.

Maybe this is a super writing nerd kinda thing, but this is very relaxing and enjoyable for me and that’s why I’m writing this post.  I’m hoping this sparks some ideas for you as well and lights a fire so you can get to moving on that great book idea you have.

Think of the brain like this and hopefully it will help you picture what needs to happen.

Brain Dump Process

• Creative Right Brain is where the ideas flow from and all the magic happens.  The fun stuff clicks on this side of the brain.
• Analytical Left Brain is where the organization of all that creative material you just dumped to the paper happens.  This is where the structure of the book comes from and where your – table of contents and outline of the book will look like.

If you’ve lined everything out and keep a good record of the book and use this process then you can produce some very detailed information and great chapter outlines for your book.

Now let’s look back at the Sticky Notes and how they will help you map this book out. This is the easiest way to make a mind map of your book.

My Favorite Mind Mapping Process:

• Grab yourself a large poster board or poster boards, or even a large whiteboard will work. Get yourself a big stack of sticky notes….multi-colored is what I like to use as I color coordinate topics to specific colors.
• Take a single sticky note in the middle of the poster board and write your topic on it, or a book title, just depending on what you are working on.
• Write all the related topics you can think of on sticky notes and place them anywhere on the poster board.  Sounds like chaos I know, but don’t worry about where you place them, or about organizing them, unless you are absolutely sure the topics relate to one another.
• Fill the board with as many topics as you can possibly think of as this is the “Brain Dump” phase and when you think you’re done, look again as you will more than likely come up with more topics after taking a break, or a step back.
• At this point, I like to take a picture of the board for reference purposes in case I have to take a break or get pulled away for something.  They are called sticky notes, not permanently held in spot notes.
• Ok now comes the organization of the topics.  The analytical side of the brain is ready to be worked right? Look for related topics. Pick up the notes and move them around. Take a close look at what you have grouped together as they just might become the chapters of your book. More than likely, this will be the groups with the most information lumped together.  Just remember this is your book and your board so move things around how you feel fits best, and don’t be afraid to break apart groups into multiple chapters if one is too large. Just make sure you use a different colored sticky note to mark that chapter and don’t forget to name the chapter.
• Use each of the sticky notes you have grouped together under a chapter as a sub-topic that you want to write about in that chapter.  This is where the fun begins as writing guides and book maps are a must at this point.  Sub-plots of a story can make things confusing if you don’t.

Hopefully, these few tips and my insanity have sparked some creativity for you all.  Mind mapping for me is a blast and brings a lot of enjoyment to my writing.  It takes a lot to get a story from your brain to that paper.  Sit down, start slow, find something that works for you and enjoy the process of making the next best book or blog post!