QUICK NOTICE: Ways to Organize Your Thoughts

Image representing XMind as depicted in CrunchBase
Image via CrunchBase

Once again Bits du Jour has me rushing out a notice to readers about some discounted software.  Today I’m mentioning two programs that promise to revolutionize the way to keep and organize your thoughts, ideas and information:  XMind Pro 3 and 3D Topicscape Pro.  Both promise to take Mind Mapping to a new level.  Both are quite expensive, so the major discounts offered by Bits du Jour are most helpful.  To confuse matters, both also offer “lite” versions for free.

I must admit to some frustration.  I don’t have time enough to evaluate these programs in any detail before announcing them to you.  XMind Pro 3 is available on discount today only — reduced to $49.00 from its usual $129.00.  3D Topicscape Pro is available at discount price on Thursday [though you can download it today for evaluation] — discounted to $49.99 from its normal price of $89.99.

I’m intrigued by both of them.  I’ve been aware of MindMapping since Tony Buzan first introduced the concept a couple decades ago.  I’ve played with it, but never found it suitable for the way my own mind works.  I’m more comfortable with the traditional hierarchical tree outlining approach.  Both of these programs promise to move back and forth between trees and mindmaps, along with additional organization methodologies, offering different ways of looking at your material.

Personally, as a writer, I don’t find the writing itself that difficult, at least once I get my butt in the chair.  On the other hand, I constantly struggle with organizing the mass of ideas and data I accumulate.  Maybe these programs might help.  Or perhaps another one will suit me better.  The Brain, for example.  Or MaxThink.  Oh, the wealth of choices overpowers me.  Someday, I’ll devote myself to evaluating all of them and posting an overview article about the tools available to organize one’s thoughts.  [SECRET:  such an article will be perfect for one of the new blogs I'm working on.  Stay tuned.]

Do any of you have experience or insights into ways to organize your ideas and information?  Please share it — leave us a comment.

By the way, I’ve collected a bunch of related posts from around the web for those who want to explore the subject further.

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