Never Miss a Great Idea Again - Keep Track of Your Creative Inspirations

8 tools to keep you focused and productive

“A good artist has less time than ideas.” - Martin Kippenberger

What do you do to manage your creative output? If you’re like me and have more ideas than you know what to do with, I’ve prepared a list of resources for you that I am a fanatic about and wouldn’t be happy if they went away.

It’s a typical day when my mind is flooded with writing and visual ideas. They are my constant companion whether I am coaching, teaching, or working on my personal projects. I get frustrated that I can’t make them all happen. I’ve decided the best I can do is to get the thoughts and ideas down on paper or in an app.

How do you organize your ideas? Please share your favorite ways to keep track of them in the comments. Everyone loves (or at least I do) to discover a new productivity tool. Below, I share eight of my favorite productivity tools for my creative journey.

Maybe I’m a hyperactive, over-caffeinated, and disorganized thinker. I like variety and to try different approaches. Like you probably have, I’ve set up many accounts for apps that promise productivity and then let many go. The ones I share with you are the ones that have stuck with me for many years now.

Kippenberger’s quote gives me a little relief to know that I’m not entirely crazy. The word ‘time’ brings up the topic of productivity and organization. When you have constant ideas, it’s more productive to capture them so you have a body of ideas to refer to when you are creating. Plus, the process of getting them down helps the creative flow.

Eight tools to keep you productive and focused.

1. Stacks of Journals - Yes, stacks. I’m compelled to write things down. I have many journals for different purposes. A recent one I started is to track my exercise sessions. What gets measured gets done. Dog-eared favorites are where I’ve flagged ideas and information to use later. As long as I write on the cover what its purpose is, then I can manage them. I love to purchase journals from my artist friends. No writer or creative person should be without at least one Moleskin journal or sketchbook.

2. NOTES app on my iPhone. It is the best for capturing on-the-go thoughts. Using the voice/speaker function is even faster. I can then refer to the note or copy and paste it into any software I use.

3. Evernote - I’ve used this for years to capture ideas, notes from client sessions, and notes for workshops such as agendas and checklists. It’s an intuitive design; you can organize your notes into notebooks and use keywords to track your information. There is a free version, but I use the paid version for syncing across my devices and for more storage.

4. Ulysses - This is my go-to creative writing app for novels, blog posts, course content, poetry, and musings. It is designed for Apple users only. Scrivener is a popular app for Windows and iOS users. I find Ulysses easier to use for my purposes.

5. Microsoft Notes - I use this to organize linear information. I have a large amount of research and data for my historical fiction novel. For example, character lists, sample photos of people who resemble a character’s essence, and photos of period homes, kitchens, and downtown areas are stored in Notes. I also use Notes to track my research links.

6. Otter or any other voice recorder. iPhones come with a free voice recorder. I like Otter because you get a transcript of the recording. There is a free and paid option, and I’ve found value in the paid option, but start with the free version to see if you use it and like it. I often use it to record interviews so I have the transcript. It’s also useful when inspiration hits when I’m on a walk.

7. Spreadsheets - Excel, Google, Sheets. I use Google Sheets to track conversation ideas for interviews and video shorts. Google Sheets are perfect for collaboration because anyone included can add to the Sheet.

8. Sticky notes - Tried and true—the legacy note-taking tool. My default is to use sticky notes to capture ideas while at the keyboard, and a thought flashes into my mind. I want to get it down before I lose it. I transfer these notes to a to-do list or a file in one of the above apps every few days. What would we do without these versatile multi-colored squares? I’ve seen people outline books using a wall and sticky notes.

Next week, I will share tips on how to stay calm during the holidays using emotional intelligence.