I’m trying out Curio to see if it is of any use in mapping out a book since it has a mind mapping function and is touted as an fairly free form creative idea space. I’ve messed about a bit and created some examples of what can be done with the standard out-of-the-box features. I’m undecided yet, but thought I’d post a couple of samples:
The first is the book mindmap. It works quite simply with siblings, children, etc… You can add adornments/tags to any figure. You can add file, photo, movie attachments, either imported or as indexed (similar to Scrivener and DTPO). You can add templates to library scrapbook: In this case, I created a template for Character Sketch and added to scrapbook, which made dragging the file into the mindmap and linking it to character a snap. Quick look can be used and documents open with a click in native programs for editing. Also, any figure (documents, photos, shapes, etc. are all classified as figures) can be exported easily. So I could grab a completed character file, export it and drop it into my Scrivener research file. I can also export the complete mindmap as a pdf and drop it into Scrivener, DTPO, etc.
The third is the mindmap view again, but this time with plot elements searched/sorted using adornments (Curio calls them flags.). In this case I used a green arrow to identify anything related to plot. As the graphic shows, you get an idea of how many plot elements are at work and in which chapters they fall. The same can be done with characters, clues, etc. In preferences you can add your own set/group of flags; therefore it would be possible to have flags that look like people symbols, etc., to personalize your iconography.
The mindmap font is Handwriting-Dakota. I like how it looks, but can’t take any credit for choosing. It was the default font when I selected that particular mindmap theme.
(1/3/09 - This post moved from original location so that both are in same thread)
Continuation of ”Using Curio to map out a book:
The next two examples shows one of the jump features, i.e., you click on the jump icon you’ve assigned to a figure, in this case, Chapter 6, and you jump to the Chapter 6 idea space. In this idea space, you can collect misc bits and pieces of research, photos, videos, hand-drawn items (don’t use mine as an example of what can be done by someone good with a mouse or tablet/pen:-), and even receipts for expenses picked up during research, interviews with subjects, etc.
Last example shows that the mindmap is easily collapsible to isolate any main element and children, in this case a Chapter, as you would expect.
I’m still playing with the program to see if it will be of lasting value and something worth adding to my DTPO-Scrivener workflow. If so, I imagine it would fit between DTPO and Scrivener. We will see what more experimentation brings. Note: Curio offers a trial period of 30 days, plus an extended trial to 60 days.
I think Curio is an excellent application, with a very responsive developer (as the index-cards request has demonstrated), and JRP’s posts have summarised many of the reasons why.
As those posts suggest, it seems best suited for that pre-Scr. phase of drafting when you “throw everything at the wall to see what sticks.” Whether it’s better than Tinderbox for that purpose I don’t know for certain; Tbx offers many alternative views of the same structure, whilst Curio offers more ways of putting different objects into a structure.
