When people find out I freelance, they always ask me the same question: “How do you think of all of your ideas?”
Coming up with ideas really depends on how inspired I’m feeling at that time, but continuously churning out fresh concepts and pitches can eventually take a toll on my mind and the minds of most freelancers. That creativity is arguably the most important factor that determines the survival of the fittest (freelancers).
Fortunately, there are resources out there that can provide immediate relief if the ideas just aren’t coming. When writer’s block gets in the way and you need to jolt your imagination, creativity may only be a download away in the form of a helpful app.
Let’s take a look at 10 apps that can help you get out of a creative funk.
1. Inkflow Visual Notebook
When I was a kid, my teachers referred to me as a visual learner. That may have been code for she likes to doodle and often daydreams, but yes, to this day, things sink in a lot better if I have images to look at. When I brainstorm pitches or want to outline an article I’m working on, I tend to draw little diagrams and imagine how the layout might look on the page or screen. For us visual types, Inkflow is a perfect tool. The app lets you draw and write notes right on your mobile screen and add photos and graphics to give your blueprints a visual kick.
2. Blackbar
Who knew journalists would be able to use censorship to their advantage? Blackbar, “a game of text” created a few years ago, takes those familiar black bars used to hide redacted text and turns them into a mystery you can solve. Users are shown a block of text with certain words blacked out and have to guess the words before they can move on. For writers, the challenge might provide a way to rethink how certain language is used. And besides that, it’s just an addictive game about words and puzzles that’s fun to play.
3. Unstuck
Nearly all freelancers have a “pit crew,” individuals who tune us up, help us think more clearly, and inspire us. For example, when I’m struggling to brainstorm ideas, my friends, my parents, and sometimes even my dog serve as sounding boards. But your crew might not be available in the middle of the night when you’re on deadline and trying to will away writer’s block. That’s where Unstuck comes in. Part-therapist and part-diary, the app asks a series of question, such as, “Do you need to take your blinders off?” or “Are you faking it instead of making it?” and provides helpful tips based on your answers. If anything, it’ll allow you to vent about the frustrations that come with being a writer.
4. Creative Writing Prompts
Having someone question your work is important to creative growth. However, when you’re typing away in your apartment, you’re probably not questioning your word choice and editorial decisions. Now, there’s an app that can do that for you. Choose a word, and the app might challenge it, saying for example, “What did you mean by ‘delightful’?” And if you’re just staring at a blinking cursor, the app uses an algorithm to help you figure out where to go next. It even keeps track of stats—how many hours you’ve written on a given day, the time of day when your writing is more proficient, and how many words you write per hour.
5. Inspiration Maps
Without Google Maps, I’d never make it anywhere. For creative work, Inspiration Maps can get you from point A to point B—and the B is for brainstorming. Conceptualizing new ideas is by its very nature sporadic, but this app takes all of that randomness and organizes them. Use a template to arrange your thoughts, add images, and if you want, convert your notes into a Word doc.
6. Werdsmith
I love writing in my home office, but sometimes, a park or nearby coffee shop beckons. Making your work portable is one of the many perks of being a freelancer, and Werdsmith helps you do just that on mobile devices. The app has several nifty features like syncing writing projects across devices, sharing work on social media, and a button that lets you ask for feedback from amateur editors (also known as your friends). You can also set daily writing goals for word counts and hours worked.
7. Paper by FiftyThree
We freelancers are an imaginative lot, but sometimes the well of creativity just dries up. This is true for everyone—designers, photographers, and writers. Drawing, even if it’s not particularly good, can be therapeutic and boost creativity. According to a 2014 American Art Therapy Association study, nearly 70 percent of the participants reported feeling more open and self-accepting after creating artwork. Just think of Paper by FiftyThree as an instant art therapy session. Sketch or outline until you feel the creative block lift.
8. Hemingway
Wouldn’t it be awesome if an expert like Ernest Hemingway could just look over your shoulder and say, “Yup, that’s good. No, that’s not so good”? Even though Hemingway died 53 years ago, that’s still possible. The Hemingway app is the next best thing if you’re looking to simplify your written work. It highlights long sentences, superfluous phrases, passive voice, and adverbs. And you can also see how many sentences are hard to read (at a college reading level) or very hard to read (post college reading level). Ernest would be proud.
9. Word Swag
I’m a sucker for good quotations. While I’m not into those posters featuring sunsets and guys climbing mountains, I appreciate a mix of snark and inspiration that can be hard to come by. For example, my favorite phrase hanging up in my office says, “Boba Fett was a freelancer.” Those kind of lines are the ones that get me energized to work, which is why I’m excited I discovered Word Swag. The app lets you create your own quotation or choose from supplied captions, play with typography, layer the text over photos or designs, and share the finished work.
10. Brainsparker
One of my favorite brainstorming exercises for coming up with story ideas is to write random words on slips of paper and pull them out of a hat. Brainsparker is the digital equivalent of that exercise. Pick a card, shuffle for new cards, and think of ideas based on what you chose. Personally, I think the best ideas are created out of randomness.
Now that you have tools to try out, go do something productive on your smartphone for once rather than cruising Twitter or playing Candy Crush. Some of these apps are free, others cost at most a few bucks. Writing calls, so get creative.
Photos via Flickr.