There’s nothing quite as intimidating as the proverbial blank page.
In 2019, a groundswell of apps helped us fill that page with our memories, dreams, images and voices – and do so with more power and personality than ever. They gave us more than the ability to express ourselves – they knocked down the small barriers we often put up to sharing what’s in our hearts.
This was the year Anchor simplified the process of recording compelling podcasts about our families, lives and ambitions (and sci-fi movies). The app guided us through every step, from buying the right microphone to actually recording the clips. It sprinkled in sound effects, transitions and background music to make us sound like talk show naturals. Then it broadcast our episodes over the digital airwaves with a tap.
Wattpad’s community of writers and readers hit more than 80 million this year and was instrumental in connecting young voices with an audience. Instead of having to publish a magnum opus all at once, we could post chapter by chapter and get instant feedback. Wattpad’s regular writing prompts got our imaginative juices flowing.
And a flurry of design apps transformed our massive photo collections into cohesive visual stories (which looked great in our social feeds). They offered ready-made templates for every aesthetic, activity and brunch. And they helped us find a narrative in what otherwise might have looked like an album of random images.
By integrating design elements like old-school film borders and the occasional strip of masking tape, Unfold helped us create stately stories that felt more like coffee table books, while Steller turned our holiday and landscape images into fully designed travel journals.
Over and Canva: Stories & Video Maker offered tens of thousands of templates and typographical flourishes – and thoughtfully helped us find the perfect ones. Spark Camera empowered us to build a video story (in 4K, no less) over the course of a day.
With apps like these, suddenly we were all podcasters, photographers, designers, videographers and authors. These apps helped us discover our inner creators, in whatever form (or forms!) they took. Most important, they helped us master that blank page.
Some apps are not available in all regions or languages.
Unfold: Video & Photo Editor
Reels Templates & Story Maker
Mojo: Reels & Video Captions
Templates, Video Maker, AI Fx
GoDaddy Studio (Over): Design
Graphic Creator & Logo Maker
Wattpad - Read & Write Stories
Books and entertainment
Spotify for Podcasters
Your podcast studio (Anchor)
Steller: Travel & Trip Planner
Get Your Guide, Book & Plan
Magisto Video Editor & Maker
Edit Videos Quickly and Easily
Spark Camera & Video Editor
#1 Vlogging Camera
Filmr - Pro Video Editor
Slideshow and Movie Maker