I Wrote My Life Story Using This Simple Writing App
My ‘One Page a Day’ Memoir
I’ve always wanted to write down my life story for my children, but the thought of writing a whole book was overwhelming. I started using a very simple, distraction-free writing app called “iA Writer.” My goal was simple: just write one page, or even just one paragraph, each day. The app’s clean, white screen helped me focus. Slowly but surely, the pages added up. After a year of these small, daily sessions, I had a 200-page memoir. It wasn’t a chore; it was a pleasant daily ritual.
How I Started a Blog About My Hobby in One Weekend
From a ‘Private Passion’ to a ‘Public Page’
I’m passionate about my rose garden, and I wanted a way to share my knowledge. I thought starting a blog would be incredibly technical. I used a website called “WordPress.com.” They have simple, pre-made templates. In one weekend, I was able to choose a design, write my first post about fighting black spot, and upload a few photos from my phone. It’s been a wonderful way to document my garden’s progress and connect with a small but dedicated community of fellow rose lovers.
I Used Canva to Design a Beautiful Family Newsletter (For Free)
The ‘Thompson Times,’ Reborn
My wife used to write a yearly Christmas letter to send to family. We decided to modernize it. We used a free website called Canva. It has thousands of beautiful, professional-looking newsletter templates. We just had to drag and drop our own family photos and type in our updates for the year. The result was a stunning, full-color family newsletter that looked like it was made by a graphic designer. We saved it as a PDF and emailed it to everyone.
The App That Turns My Spoken Stories into a Written Memoir
My ‘Ghostwriter’ in My Phone
I have a lot of stories to tell, but my arthritis makes it painful to type for long periods. I started using an app called “Otter.ai.” I can just open the app, hit record, and tell a story from my childhood or my time in the service. The app records my voice and provides a surprisingly accurate written transcript. I can then copy and paste that text into a document. It’s like having a personal ghostwriter, allowing me to preserve my stories with my voice instead of my fingers.
How I Edit My Grandkid Photos to Look Professional With a Free App
The ‘One-Tap’ Makeover
I love taking photos of my grandkids, but they often come out a little dark or the colors seem dull. I downloaded a free photo editing app called “Snapseed.” It’s made by Google and is incredibly powerful but still easy to use. I can just open a photo and tap the “Tune Image” tool. It has an “auto-enhance” wand that, with one tap, intelligently brightens the photo and makes the colors pop. It’s a simple trick that makes my snapshots look so much more professional.
I Started a YouTube Channel Reviewing Books. It’s Easier Than You Think.
From a ‘Reader’ to a ‘Reviewer’
I’m an avid reader, and I love talking about books. On a whim, I decided to start a simple YouTube channel. I didn’t buy any fancy equipment. I just propped my smartphone up on a stack of books, sat in a well-lit room, and recorded myself talking for five minutes about the last book I read. I used a free, simple video editor to trim the beginning and end, and then I uploaded it. My channel only has 50 subscribers, but it’s a wonderfully fun and creative outlet for my passion.
The Best Tablet and Stylus for Digital Painting (Beginner’s Guide)
My ‘Endless’ Canvas
I’ve always wanted to paint but was intimidated by the cost and mess of traditional art supplies. I decided to try digital painting. I bought a basic Apple iPad and an Apple Pencil. The pencil feels surprisingly natural, and the pressure sensitivity allows me to make light or dark strokes. I use an app called Procreate, which has hundreds of different brushes that can mimic watercolor, oil, or charcoal. My tablet has become my endless, mess-free canvas.
How I Use My Phone to Record High-Quality Audio for My Podcast
My ‘Pocket’ Recording Studio
I started a small podcast where I read short stories I’ve written. I thought I’d need to buy expensive microphones and equipment. I learned that for spoken-word audio, my smartphone is a surprisingly good recording device. The trick is to be in a quiet, non-echoey room—a closet full of clothes is perfect. I just hold the phone a few inches from my mouth and speak clearly into the built-in microphone. The quality is clear and professional enough for anyone to get started.
I Made a Family Cookbook with Photos and Stories, and Had It Printed
The ‘Taste of Our History’
Our family recipes were scattered across index cards and old emails. I decided to consolidate them into a real, physical cookbook as a gift for the family. I used an online service called “Blurb.” I was able to use their templates to type in each recipe. For each one, I added a family photo and a short story about the recipe’s origin. The service then printed and bound beautiful, professional-quality hardcover cookbooks for me. It’s an heirloom that our family will treasure forever.
The Easiest Software for Editing Family Videos
From ‘Raw Footage’ to a ‘Real Movie’
I had a bunch of video clips from our last family vacation on my phone. I wanted to edit them into a short movie. I used the free “Clipchamp” software that’s now built into Windows (iMovie is the equivalent on a Mac). The interface was very simple. I could easily drag and drop my clips onto a timeline, trim out the shaky parts, add some simple transitions, and even put a background music track underneath. It made the process of creating a fun family movie feel easy and accessible.
I’m Learning Calligraphy Using My iPad and an Apple Pencil
The ‘Art of the Letter’
I’ve always admired the beauty of calligraphy. I bought an Apple Pencil for my iPad and an app called “Procreate.” I was able to download calligraphy practice worksheets and import them directly into the app. I can then trace over the letters on a separate layer. The best part is the “undo” button. If I make a mistake, I can just tap the screen to undo it and try again, without wasting any paper or ink. It’s a wonderful, mess-free way to practice this beautiful art form.
How to Self-Publish Your Own Book of Poetry on Amazon
From ‘My Notebook’ to ‘My Book’
I’ve been writing poetry for years, just for myself. My daughter encouraged me to collect my poems and publish them. We used Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. It was completely free. We formatted my poems into a simple Word document, designed a basic cover using their tools, and uploaded it. A few days later, my book of poetry was available for sale on Amazon as both an e-book and a print-on-demand paperback. Holding a copy of my very own book was an incredible feeling.
The Best App for Creating Digital Scrapbooks
My ‘Memories, Artfully Arranged’
I love the idea of scrapbooking, but I don’t have the space for all the paper, stickers, and glue. I started using a digital scrapbooking app called “Project Life.” It has beautiful, pre-designed page layouts. I can just drop my digital photos into the slots and add pre-made decorative cards and text boxes. It gives me the creative, memory-keeping joy of scrapbooking, but with a clean, digital interface and an endless supply of “supplies.”
I Use a Simple App to Compose My Own Music
My ‘Inner Mozart’
I’ve always had little melodies pop into my head, but I don’t know how to write music. I found a simple music composition app called “Notion” for my tablet. It has a simple interface that lets me just tap on a musical staff to place notes. I can choose different instruments and play back my creation to hear how it sounds. I’m not writing symphonies, but it’s a fun and accessible way for me to capture the little musical ideas I have and turn them into something real.
How I Created a Personal Website to Showcase My Artwork
My ‘Virtual’ Art Gallery
I’m a hobbyist painter, and I wanted a simple, elegant way to showcase my work to friends and family. I used a website builder called “Squarespace.” I chose a clean, minimalist template designed for artists. It was surprisingly easy to upload high-quality photos of my paintings and create a beautiful online gallery. It’s like having my own personal, virtual art museum that I can share with anyone by sending them a simple link.
The Best Microphones for Recording Your Voice on a Computer
The ‘Podcast-Quality’ Sound
I wanted to start recording my voice for a project, and I knew the built-in microphone on my laptop wasn’t good enough. My son recommended I get a USB microphone. These mics plug directly into the computer and offer dramatically better sound quality. I bought a model called the “Blue Yeti,” which is very popular with podcasters. It was easy to set up, and the difference in the clarity and richness of my voice recordings was night and day.
I Used an App to Create a Stop-Motion Video with My Grandkids
Our ‘Lego Movie,’ Come to Life
I was looking for a fun, creative project to do with my grandkids. We used a free app called “Stop Motion Studio.” We took their Lego characters and a Lego car. We would take a picture, then move the car just a tiny bit, and take another picture. We did this about 200 times. The app then stitched all the photos together into a video, making it look like the car was driving on its own. We had a blast, and it was a great way to teach them the basic principles of animation.
How to Scan and Restore Old Family Letters and Documents
The ‘Time Capsule’ Project
I have a box of precious old letters from my parents from when my dad was in the war. The paper was brittle and the ink was fading. I used my printer’s “scanner” function to create a high-resolution digital copy of each letter. Then, I used a photo editing app to increase the contrast, which made the faded handwriting dark and legible again. This project has ensured that these important pieces of our family history are preserved and readable for generations to come.
The Best Way to Start a Podcast for Under $100
Your ‘Voice,’ on a Budget
I wanted to start a simple podcast about local history. I thought it would be expensive. I learned you can get started for under one hundred dollars. I bought a fifty-dollar USB microphone (like the Audio-Technica AT2020) for high-quality sound. I used a free program called “Audacity” to record and edit the audio on my computer. And I used a free podcast hosting service to upload my episodes and get them listed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It’s surprisingly affordable to get your voice out there.
I Use Pinterest to Organize My Creative Ideas and Inspiration
My ‘Digital Mood Board’
As a crafter, I’m always seeing ideas I want to try later—a knitting pattern, a color palette, a new technique. My browser bookmarks were a mess. I started using Pinterest as my visual organization tool. I can create different “boards” for “Knitting Ideas,” “Garden Design,” and “Painting Inspiration.” When I see an idea I like online, I can “pin” it to the appropriate board. It’s like a massive, digital corkboard where I can visually organize all my creative inspiration.
The Best Free Software for Graphic Design
My ‘Designer’ Toolkit
I wanted to design a flyer for my garden club’s annual sale, but I didn’t have any design software. I discovered a free website called Canva. It’s an incredibly powerful and user-friendly design tool. It has thousands of templates for everything from flyers and newsletters to social media posts. I was able to choose a template, add our own text, and even upload our club’s logo. It allowed me to create a professional-looking design in under an hour, for free.
How I Used My Phone to Create a High-Quality Video Tour of My Garden
My ‘Garden in Motion’
I’m very proud of my garden, and I wanted to share it with my friends who live far away. I used my smartphone to create a video tour. The trick to making it look good was simple: I filmed everything horizontally, and I moved very, very slowly, panning across the flower beds instead of making jerky movements. I then used a free app to trim the clips and add some gentle background music. The result was a beautiful, smooth video that really captured the feeling of being in the garden.
The Best Online Platforms to Share Your Writing and Get Feedback
My ‘Audience’ and My ‘Editors’
I love to write short stories, but I had no audience beyond my wife. I started posting my stories on a website called “Medium.” It’s a platform for writers of all kinds. It’s been wonderful to get comments and feedback from a wider audience. For more serious, constructive criticism, I joined a writer’s workshop community called “Scribophile.” It’s a place where I can get thoughtful critiques from other writers that have helped me grow and improve my craft.
I Learned to Draw by Tracing on My Tablet
The ‘Training Wheels’ for Art
I’ve always wished I could draw, but I have a very unsteady hand. I discovered a technique that has been a huge help. I use my iPad and an app called Procreate. I can import a photo that I want to draw. Then, I create a new, blank layer on top of it, and I can literally trace the outlines of the photo. It’s like digital training wheels. It’s helping me build my muscle memory and understand the shapes and proportions of what I’m trying to draw.
How to Create a Professional-Looking Slideshow with Music and Narration
The ‘Story of Our Trip’
After a big family trip, I wanted to create a slideshow to share with everyone. I imported my best photos into my computer’s basic video editing software. I arranged them in chronological order. The software allowed me to record my own voice as narration over the photos, telling the story of each day. I then added a background music track from a royalty-free music site. The result was a personal, professional-looking documentary of our trip that was so much more engaging than just clicking through photos.
The App That Turns Your Photos into Paintings
From a ‘Snapshot’ to a ‘Masterpiece’
I have a few photos that I love, and I wanted to display them in a more artistic way. I used an app called “Prisma.” I can upload a photo from my camera roll, and then choose from dozens of different filters that are based on the styles of famous artists, like Van Gogh or Picasso. With one tap, the app repaints my photo in that style. It’s a fun and creative way to transform a simple snapshot into a unique piece of digital art.
I’m Building a Digital Archive of My Family’s History
Our ‘Living’ Time Capsule
My mission in retirement has been to become my family’s historian. I’m creating a comprehensive digital archive. I use my scanner to digitize old photos, letters, and documents. I use a video service to convert our old home movies. I save everything in a clearly organized folder structure on a secure cloud account. It’s a massive project, but I’m creating a living, breathing time capsule that can be easily shared with and added to by future generations of my family.
The Easiest Way to Add Subtitles to Your Videos
My ‘Words on the Screen’
I made a short video about my garden to share online, and I wanted to add subtitles (or captions) to it. I found that YouTube’s own studio has a fantastic, free tool for this. After I uploaded my video, I went to the “Subtitles” section. The system automatically generated a surprisingly accurate transcript of my narration. I just had to go through and make a few small corrections to the punctuation and spelling. It was an incredibly easy way to make my video more accessible.
How I Designed a Custom Logo for My Hobby Club
Our ‘Brand’ Identity
My local birdwatching club needed a logo for our newsletter and our t-shirts. I used a free logo-making website. I was able to choose from hundreds of icons (I picked a simple image of a cardinal), and then I could add our club’s name in a font that I liked. The website generated a high-quality logo file that I could download and use for all our materials. It was a simple, free way to create a professional-looking brand identity for our little hobby club.
The Best Tech for Recording an Interview with Someone
The ‘Two-Way’ Conversation, Captured Clearly
I wanted to interview my father to record his life stories. Recording a two-person conversation with just a phone can sound terrible. The best solution I found was to use two separate phones. I had him record his side of the conversation using the Voice Memos app on his phone, and I did the same on mine. Afterwards, he sent me his audio file, and I used a simple audio editor to sync our two high-quality recordings together. It sounded like we were in a professional studio.
I Used a 3D Printing Service to Bring My Design to Life
From My ‘Screen’ to My ‘Hand’
I enjoy tinkering with 3D modeling software on my computer, and I designed a custom, ergonomic handle for one of my gardening tools. I didn’t have a 3D printer, so I used an online service called “Shapeways.” I was able to upload my 3D design file, choose the material I wanted it printed in, and they shipped the physical object to me. Holding the custom handle that I had designed myself on a computer was an absolutely magical and empowering experience.
How to Copyright Your Creative Work Online
My ‘Digital Fingerprint’
I post my original short stories on my blog, and I wanted to make sure they were protected. I learned that in the U.S., my work is technically copyrighted the moment I create it. To make this clear, I added a simple copyright notice at the bottom of my website. It just says “© 2024 [My Name]. All Rights Reserved.” While formal registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is needed to sue for infringement, this simple notice is a clear and important statement of my ownership.
The Best Apps for Storyboarding a Video or Comic
My ‘Blueprint’ for My Story
I had an idea for a short, animated video, but I needed to plan out my shots. I used an app called “Storyboarder.” It allowed me to create a series of simple digital index cards. On each card, I could sketch out a rough drawing of the shot, write a short description of the action, and add the dialogue. It was like creating a comic book version of my video. This process of creating a blueprint, or storyboard, was incredibly helpful before I started the time-consuming work of animating.
I Joined an Online Writer’s Group and It’s Kept Me Motivated
My ‘Accountability’ Partners
I’ve always wanted to write a novel, but I struggled with staying motivated. I joined the “NaNoWriMo” (National Novel Writing Month) online community. Even though the official event is in November, the forums are active all year. I found a group of other writers who were also working on their first novels. We check in with each other, share our progress, and offer encouragement when someone is feeling stuck. This community of accountability partners has been the single most important factor in keeping me writing.
How to Create an Animated GIF from a Short Video
The ‘Moving Picture’
I took a funny, 3-second video of my cat pouncing on a toy. I wanted to share it as a looping, animated GIF. I used a free website called “Giphy.” I was able to upload my short video clip, trim it to the exact part I wanted, and the website converted it into a GIF file that I could easily share in a text message or an email. It’s a fun way to capture and share a small, repeatable moment of motion.
The Best Royalty-Free Music Websites for Your Video Projects
The ‘Soundtrack’ Without the Lawsuit
I was making a family video and wanted to add some background music, but I knew I couldn’t use a famous song because of copyright laws. I discovered some great websites that offer “royalty-free” music. My favorite is the “YouTube Audio Library,” which is completely free and has thousands of songs you can use. For a wider, higher-quality selection, I’ve also used a subscription service called “Epidemic Sound.” These sites allow me to add a professional-sounding soundtrack to my videos without worrying about legal issues.
I Designed My Own Greeting Cards and Had Them Professionally Printed
My ‘Personal’ Hallmark
I was tired of the generic, expensive greeting cards in the stores. I started designing my own using a free program called Canva. I can upload my own photos, write my own personal messages, and create a truly unique card for any occasion. When I have a design I love, I use an online printing service like “Vistaprint” to order a small batch of them. They arrive as beautiful, high-quality folded cards with envelopes. They’re more meaningful and often cheaper than store-bought cards.
How to Use a “Green Screen” Effect with Your Phone
My ‘Hollywood’ Backdrop
I was making a fun video for my grandkids, and I wanted to pretend I was at the beach. I bought a cheap, six-foot green screen fabric and hung it on the wall behind me. I used a video editing app on my phone called “CapCut.” The app has a “chroma key” or “green screen” feature. I was able to tell the app to remove the green color and replace it with a video of a beautiful, sunny beach. It was a surprisingly easy way to create a fun, Hollywood-style special effect.
The Best Mind-Mapping Software for Brainstorming Creative Projects
My ‘Idea Web’
When I start a new creative project, like outlining a story, my ideas are a jumbled mess. A linear list doesn’t work for me. I use a “mind-mapping” app called MindNode. I start with my central idea in a bubble in the middle of the screen. Then, I can create branches off of it for different characters, plot points, and themes. It allows me to visually organize my thoughts in a non-linear way, and to see the connections between different ideas.
I’m Learning 3D Modeling on My Computer
My ‘Digital Sculpting’
I’ve always enjoyed building things with my hands. I decided to try and learn 3D modeling on my computer. I started with a free and surprisingly powerful program called “Blender.” There are thousands of free tutorials for it on YouTube. I started by learning how to model a simple coffee cup. It was challenging, but incredibly rewarding. It feels like I’m sculpting with a digital piece of clay. It’s a fascinating hobby that combines my technical and artistic sides.
How to Create a Photo Book That Tells a Story
Beyond the ‘Chronological’ Album
When I create a photo book of a family trip, I try to do more than just put the pictures in chronological order. I try to tell a story. I’ll start with a page that has a map of our journey. I’ll create a page dedicated to all the funny things the kids said. I’ll have another page just for the beautiful landscapes. By organizing the photos thematically and adding short, descriptive text, the photo book becomes a true narrative of our experience, not just a collection of snapshots.
The Best App for Making Collages from Your Photos
My ‘Digital Glue Stick’
I wanted to create a single image that captured the feeling of a whole birthday party, using a bunch of different photos. I used a free app called “Layout from Instagram.” It’s incredibly simple. I can just select the photos I want to use, and the app will show me a variety of different collage layouts. I can choose my favorite one, easily adjust the size of each photo, and then save the final collage as a single image. It’s a fast and fun way to combine multiple memories.
I Used a Drone to Get Incredible Aerial Shots of My Property
My ‘Bird’s-Eye’ View
I live on a property with a beautiful garden and some woods. I was always curious what it looked like from above. I bought a simple, beginner-friendly drone for about three hundred dollars. Learning to fly it was surprisingly easy, and it has a camera that sends a live video feed to my phone. The aerial photos and videos I’ve been able to capture of my own home and garden are absolutely breathtaking. It has given me a completely new and beautiful perspective on a place I’ve known my whole life.
How to Set Up a Simple “Studio” for Filming Videos at Home
The ‘3-Point’ Lighting Trick
I wanted to make my simple talking-head videos look a bit more professional. I learned the most important thing is lighting. I created a simple “studio” in my office. I sit facing a window, which provides a nice, soft main light on my face. Then, I have a simple desk lamp off to one side to fill in the shadows. Finally, I have another lamp behind me to create a little separation from the background. This simple, three-point lighting setup has made my videos look dramatically better.
The Best Way to Accept Donations or “Tips” for Your Online Content
My ‘Digital Tip Jar’
I write a blog that a few hundred people read regularly. A few of them asked if they could send me a small donation to support my work. I set up a free account on a website called “Ko-fi” (pronounced like “coffee”). It allows me to create a simple page where I can put a “digital tip jar.” I can now put a link at the bottom of my articles that says, “If you enjoyed this, you can buy me a coffee.” It’s a friendly, low-pressure way to accept support from my readers.
I Designed a Custom T-Shirt for Our Family Reunion Online
Our ‘Team’ Uniform
For our annual family reunion, I wanted to create a fun t-shirt for everyone. I used a website called “Bonfire.” I was able to upload a simple design I had made, choose the style and color of the shirt, and then create a private campaign page. I sent the link to my whole family. They could go to the page, choose their own size, and pay for their shirt directly. The company then printed all the shirts and mailed them to me. It was an easy way to handle a complex group order.
How to Create Your Own “Stickers” for Messaging Apps
My ‘Personalized’ Emojis
My grandkids are always sending me fun “stickers” in their text messages. I wanted to make my own. I took a funny picture of my dog. I used a free app to automatically remove the background from the photo. Then, I was able to save that cutout image of my dog to my phone’s sticker collection. Now, I can send a custom-made sticker of my own dog in my text messages. It’s a silly, fun way to personalize my digital conversations.
The Best Online Courses for Learning a New Creative Skill
My ‘On-Demand’ Art School
I’ve used a few different online platforms to learn new creative skills. For specific, project-based classes like “How to Knit a Scarf” or “Introduction to Watercolor,” I find that Skillshare is fantastic. For more in-depth, multi-lesson courses on a topic like “Advanced Photography,” I’ve had great experiences with courses on Domestika. And for learning the software side of things, like Adobe Photoshop or video editing, LinkedIn Learning (which my library provides for free) is an incredible resource.
I Used a Plotting App to Outline My First Novel
My ‘Blueprint’ for My Book
I had a great idea for a novel, but I was getting lost in the plot. A friend recommended a writing app called “Scrivener.” It’s more than just a word processor; it’s a project management tool for writers. I was able to create virtual index cards for every scene and chapter. I could easily rearrange them, make notes, and see my entire plot laid out visually. It was like creating a detailed blueprint for my book before I started building the actual prose.
I Never Thought I Was “Creative” Until Technology Showed Me I Could Be
From ‘Consumer’ to ‘Creator’
For most of my life, I thought of myself as a not-very-creative person. I consumed things—books, movies, art—but I didn’t make them. Technology has changed that for me. With my tablet, I can paint without a mess. With my computer, I can edit a family video into a movie. With my phone, I can design a beautiful newsletter. These tools have lowered the barrier to entry, removed my fear of failure (hello, undo button!), and have shown me that I do have a creative spark. It’s been a joyful discovery.