Brainstorming or mind mapping is one of the keys for most writers. It is the beginning of the process. For years I used Scapple, a brainstorming app from the makers of Scrivener, Literature & Latte. While I love this app, its lack of an iOS app made me want more. I switched to MindNode for the ability to run a native iOS app. It was functional, but I always wanted a more streamlined experience. With the release of iOS 16.2, Apple entered the fray with Freeform, a whiteboard text editor. Freeform offers several advantages that none of the other apps could offer. For one, it’s installed by default on iOS and macOS, and its integration with iCloud works. Also, I like to promote Apple products because they are privacy-centric, and I know I’m not a product but a customer.
I found an all-in-one experience in Freeform for my brainstorming, outline, doodles, and sketches. As a writer and photographer, I draw a lot of diagrams of scenes as I see them in my head, and it’s invaluable to share these with beta readers or clients, and other photographers on photoshoots. The collaboration features are top-notch and seamless, with iCloud doing all the heavy lifting. While I admit that I work in an all-Apple ecosystem, I know I would have to share the Freeform board as a PDF with Android or Windows users. This is a small price for me to pay for the sear convince and ease of use of the Freeform app.
Freeform also supports Apple Pencil, and as I have embraced the use of iPads over the MacBook for my daily carry device, I love that I can scribble a note or draw anywhere an idea hits me.
Do you use Freeform, and if so, how do you use it? Drop a comment, as I would love to hear how and if you use this app in your workflow.