Book Funnels

The One Tool I Can't Live Without for Outlining a Book

Stuart Bell 2 min read

There is an app, website, or software platform for just about anything. But when it comes to outlining your book, there is one app I can't live without: iThoughtsHD.

Here's why.

It's a mind-mapping tool. The most effective way to collect your thoughts visually.

It works across platforms. iPad (where I typically start), iPhone (if I need to make updates on the go), and Mac (where I move from mind map to outline).

It's fast. I've been using it for over ten years, and I'm trying to remember it ever running slow.

It has templates. Having done this many times, I can now start from a template.

It's universal. It uses OPML to import and export from other tools.

And the number one reason: it uses keyboard shortcuts, so I can quickly create the structure without my fingers leaving the keyboard.

Why This Matters for Your Book

One of the biggest barriers to creating a book is gathering your thoughts and realizing how much you already know. If you want to write a book to build your business, I can't recommend using a mind-mapping tool enough.

A purposeful outline is just one of the eight mindsets we use all the time to create a conversation-starting book. Getting the structure right before you start writing saves you from the blank-page paralysis that stops most business owners cold.