My Favorite Creative App! It's Definitely Not What You Think!

Whether on-the-go or at my desk, this is my favorite app for all my creative needs. AND IT'S FREE!

I must admit, I am a bit of a tech nerd. I am always looking for new ways to consolidate my workflow or try new approaches to my work. Recently when I was brainstorming new picture book ideas with a colleague, I realized some of the best technology and apps are the ones that are the most approachable, accessible, and even second nature to us. While looking back on old ideas, I had a moment of appreciation for how much of the creative process is unexpected. An appreciation for how a random idea that might sound silly or even useless at the time might come back one day to be your next book deal. This is why I feel writing down every idea is so important. 

As unorganized as the rest of my life always seems to be, my writing and creative ideation process is quite organized. That is because every idea I have had for the last five years or so has started in one place - my Apple Notes app. It is now second nature for me, when I have an idea or the first lines of a manuscript, to write it down in my Notes app. 

Here are a few reasons why it works so well for me:

Accessibility

As an Apple device person, the Notes app exists on my phone, my laptop, and my iPad. Whether I travel to a new country or am just walking my dogs around the block, I will always have my phone or any of these devices with me. It is synced through my iCloud account so that I can access my previous notes anywhere and right where I left off. This is a huge advantage and allows me to track my creativity wherever and whenever it might strike.

Organization

Every time I write in an existing Note or start a new Note, it is dated automatically. I know precisely when I last visited that idea which is fantastic for record-keeping but also for allowing me to go back and rework things. I can also search, tag, and utilize keyword functions, making looking back through old ideas or character concepts so much easier. I can also easily add images, drawings, links to articles, and other inspiration pieces into each note, keeping all my information in one place.

It’s a Very Basic and Focused Writing Tool

The thing I love the most about the Notes app is, at its very essence, a very basic and focused writing tool. This is so important for beginning new projects, which is why all my first drafts, including my Spring 2025 author/illustrator project, DAWN PATROL with Candlewick Press, are done in the Notes app. I am not a traditionally trained writer. In fact, I run away from the word "writer" as fast as possible when I hear it (I prefer storyteller.) Grammar, formatting, and other technical aspects of manuscript writing are more anxiety-inducing than the writing itself. They are essential in their own right when submitting, but taking all those worries away during the first draft process is crucial for focusing on great storytelling. It allows you to focus on what's essential, and that will always be making a compelling and great story first and foremost. The other technical aspects of writing can be figured out later. I have countless first lines and drafts in my Notes app. Will all of them become books? ABSOLUTELY NOT! But am I glad I write them down? Absolutely. More importantly, I enjoyed writing them down because I have a process and app that works for me.

Food for Thought

Whatever you take from this article, even if you don't start using the Notes app, allowing as little friction as possible from idea to paper and finding ways for that to happen more often will make you a better creator by giving yourself more opportunities to be creative. By giving yourself more opportunities to be creative, you give yourself more opportunities to have moments of success in both your writing and illustration careers.