Mind Maps and the Commonplace Book: The Explorer and the Architect of My Ideas

Let’s explore two methods that aid in capturing ideas and crafting easy action plans. I use the Mind Map and its powerful partner, the Commonplace Book (or outline journal).

Together, they form a complete thinking system. The mind map is brilliant for asking the right questions and exploring possibilities, while the commonplace book excels at helping you write the answers and build a clear path forward.

Method 1: The Mind Map (The Explorer's Sketchbook)

The mind map is a classic for a reason. It’s a great method for visual thinkers to untangle thoughts.

• Stuck? Make a mind map.
• Brainstorming? Mind map it!

It brilliantly captures the beautiful mess of your mind. You start with a single idea, like the first star in the night sky, and watch as related thoughts branch out in every direction. Soon, you have a full constellation of connected ideas, revealing the big picture in a single glance.

An explorer's sketchbook, perfect for:

• The "What If?" Phase: Capturing every idea without judgment.
• Seeing the Big Picture: Grasping the scope of a complex subject at a glance.
• Visual Engagement: Activating the spatial reasoning that text alone misses.

The Catch: Its strength is also its limit. The freedom that makes it great for exploration makes it a weak tool for linear execution. A mind map is a brilliant way to ask questions. But it is not designed for writing the answers.

Method 2: The Commonplace Book (The Architect's Workshop)

If the mind map is the sketchbook, the commonplace book is the architect's blueprint. It has a noble, nerdy history. For thinkers like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, it was not a diary; it was an active workshop for the mind (hypomnema in Greek).

Seneca hunted for insights in his reading and wrote commentary, asking, How can I apply this? Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is a perfected commonplace book, a private collection of distilled thoughts used to build his character.

The Commonplace Book is a collection of pre-digested, well-reasoned notes. When it’s time to write or plan, you don’t start with a blank page. You start with an archive of miniature outlines. Your outlining process becomes a matter of arranging these solid blocks, rather than struggling to mix intellectual cement from scratch. 

Find Your Thinking Style: Are You an Explorer or an Architect?

Most of us lean toward one of two thinking styles. Knowing yours is key to choosing the right tool.

The Explorer (The Radiant Brain)

• Thrives On: Visual, non-linear thinking. Ideas are a web of connections.
• Instincts: Loves whiteboards, diagrams, and generating ideas in leaps.
• Natural Tool: The Mind Map.

The Architect (The Linear Brain)

• Thrives On: Sequential, language-based thinking. Ideas are built step-by-step.
• Instincts: Has a constant internal monologue and defaults to “writing it out” to figure things out.
• Natural Tool: The Commonplace Book (Outline Journal).

I’m mostly an Architect. I use a messy mind map to elaborate a wild idea, but I rarely leave it there. For me, the mind map is for collecting ideas. The commonplace book is for turning them into a plan.

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The Hybrid Workflow: How I Actually Use Both

The real magic happens when you chain these tools together. For any project, my flow is simple:

I begin with a Mind Map (Explore) then transform it to A Commonplace Book (Outline & Execute)

Let’s see it in action with examples.

Example: Launching a Lifestyle Vlog Channel

Step 1: Mind Map, the Idea (The "Explorer" Phase)

I use a mind map for a burst of unstructured creativity. I start with a central node: "My Lifestyle Vlog."

• Main Branches Radiate Out: Content Categories, Channel Branding, Production Setup, Growth Strategy.
• Sub-branches Bloom: Under Content Categories, I quickly jot down everything that comes to mind: "Day in the Life," "Personal Growth Journals," "Productivity Hacks," "Achieving Your Goals."

The Value: In one 15-minute session, I’ve visually mapped my channel’s entire potential ecosystem. I can instantly see how my personal interests connect and what a balanced content mix might look like.

Step 2: Commonplace Book, the Foundation (The "Architect" Phase)

The mind map is full of possibilities, but it's not an action plan. Next, I mine it for a specific gem. I chose the video concept "Why I Stopped Trying to Be Perfect" and developed it in my commonplace book.

• From Raw Note to Refined Insight:
  • Raw Note (The Spark): "Vlog idea: showing messy behind-the-scenes. Talk about how trying to have a 'perfect' life made me miserable. Focus on authenticity over aesthetics."
  • Core Insight (Distilled): "Perfectionism is exhausting and unrelatable. The real appeal of a lifestyle vlog is authentic connection, not a flawless facade. Showing real struggles, like a messy desk or an abandoned project, builds trust and community."
• Adding Context for Action:
  • Personal Story: Note the time I spent hours staging a "5-minute morning routine" video and felt unauthentic.
  • Script Points: Key messages: "It's okay to be a work in progress," "Progress over perfection," "Embrace the messy middle."
  • Connection: This video will set an authentic tone for the entire channel and can become a recurring theme I revisit.

The Result: A Perfect Partnership

The mind map gave me the freedom to explore the "what ifs" without limits. The commonplace book then gave me the structure to turn one of those ideas into a focused, meaningful video plan with a clear message and personal touch.

I moved from chaotic inspiration to a structured blueprint, ready for execution.

Example for writing a Fantasy Novel

Let's stick with world-building and see how this system handles my story idea.

Fantasy Novel: "The Cipher Sphere" (Artifact-Based Plot)

Step 1: Mind Map

• Central Node: "The Cipher Sphere"
• Main Branches: Characters, Plot, World, The Alien System.
• Sub-branches: Under World, I might have "Floating Cities," "The Corrupted Sea," "Tribes of the Ash Plains."
• The Value: I instantly see how the world's geography influences the cultures and the central mystery of the artifact.

Step 2: Commonplace Book

I dive deeper into the core concept from the map.

• Raw Note: "The Cipher Sphere is a trap. It promises fortune but causes destruction."
• Core Insight (Distilled): "The Sphere is a test of hubris. Its true purpose isn't to grant wealth, but to issue a cosmic warning: the uncontrolled pursuit of power triggers self-destruction. It's a Pandora's Box."
• Added Context:
  • Plot Connection: This creates the protagonist's paradox: their attempt to save the world with the Sphere might be what dooms it.
  • Character Motivation: The antagonist isn't purely evil; they are tragically blinded by the Sphere's promise, embodying the warning.

The Result: The mind map gives me the sprawling, interconnected universe. The commonplace book forces me to distill the core themes, conflicts, and character motivations into actionable, building-block notes. The actual outlining process is now 90% done.

Your Thinking Toolkit: The Takeaway

Stop trying to force one tool to do everything. The goal is to build a workflow that respects how your mind works.

• Use the mind map to ask open-ended questions and explore the wilderness of possibility.
• Use the commonplace book to draft the answers and build a home in that wilderness.

Let your inner Explorer and your inner Architect work in partnership. You’ll navigate the chaos of inspiration and build your projects with clarity. The mind map is the question. Your commonplace book is the answer.

Stay curious, stay bold, and don’t forget to doodle your brilliance before it escapes.
- Ed Nite

In Part 2, I’ll share my simple 3-step maintenance system that makes my commonplace book a well-organized workshop, not a digital junk drawer. Subscribe to catch it!