Write or draw your ideas on 3-by-5 cards in the order that your thoughts occur. Do not use fancy illustrations or go into detail about the ideas. Remember, these are preliminary thoughts and not the entire book. Use sketches if you are illustrating a picture book for children or use jotted ideas if you are more comfortable with using words.
Place the cards in chronological order after you have collected 10 or 20 cards. Do not create a card for every scene because this is an outline. Observe how some ideas are in the same time frame and place these together to form potential chapters or sections of the book. Notice gaps in the sequence or ideas that do not move the plot in a linear direction. Set aside but do not discard those cards that interfere with the manuscript continuity. Write or draw more ideas to fill in the gaps between cards.
Mark the cards that form distinct chapters with colored markers so you do not misfile cards. Have separate file boxes for the cards you keep and those you discard. File cards, if you have the budget and space, in distinct holders for separate categories like plot and characters. Scan the cards if you have a computer and organize the cards into folders.
Use the color-coded index cards to form longer outlines or synopses. Write or type the card contents into a fuller document so you have the notes laid out in a coherent order. Use bulleted lists if this helps you with the organization.
Download mind-mapping software from the Internet. Be sure the software works on your operating system. There are many free packages for Windows, Mac and Linux, but most have the same functions. Install the software on your computer.
Click the icon for the mind-mapping software unless you have a command line package. Use software with graphical user interfaces for easier access. Click on the oval with the term "New Mindmap." Write your main idea in the oval. Click "File" and "Save" before adding other elements.
Click on "Insert" and "New Child Node." Write a secondary idea connected to the first oval or Parent Node. Add a third node, a Sibling Node, to the Child Node by clicking "Insert" and "Sibling Node." Click on "Insert" and "Image" (File Chooser or Link) to add an image that you drew, or clipart from the Internet.
Save your file by clicking on "File" and "Save." Export the map with "File," "Export" and choose the file type for exportation such as Flash, images files or HTML.