Getting My Creative Chaos Under Control (Finally)

Hey everyone,

You know that feeling when you've got 47 browser tabs open, three different project folders that might contain the file you need, and a content calendar that's more "suggestion" than actual plan?

Yeah. That's been me.

This week, I'm pulling back the curtain on something I don't talk about enough: the messy middle of being a creator. Not the polished final products or the highlight reel, but the actual workflow (or lack thereof) that happens behind the scenes.

I'm on a mission to get more organized. Better asset management. Smarter content production systems. Learning to work with my creative brain instead of constantly fighting against it.

If you're a fellow creator, maker, or open source tinkerer who's ever felt like you're drowning in your own digital clutter, you're not alone. I'm right there with you, and I'm sharing what I'm learning as I go.

So grab your coffee (or tea, no judgment), and let's figure this out together.

Josh

Finding a Home for All My Ideas (Spoiler: It's Harder Than It Sounds)

So here's where things got real: I needed to wrangle all my scattered posts, half-baked ideas, and random thoughts into one place. Simple enough, right?

Wrong.

I've been on what I'm calling "The Great Note-Taking App Tour" this week, testing out Obsidian, Apple Notes, Ulysses, and Craft. Each one promised to be the one. Each one had its moment. And each one taught me something about what I actually need in my workflow.

Ulysses came out on top for my current setup. Why? It connects directly to Ghost, which is where I publish my blog and newsletter. That seamless integration means I can write, edit, and publish without jumping through hoops or copy-pasting between apps. For someone trying to streamline their process, that's gold.

Craft was a close second. Beautiful interface, fantastic markdown support, and it felt good to use. But no Ghost integration meant extra steps, and those steps add up when you're trying to stay consistent.

Obsidian is a powerhouse for markdown lovers (which I am), but the Ghost connection just isn't there in a way that works smoothly for me. It's amazing for building a personal knowledge base, but for publishing? Not quite.

And Apple Notes? Look, it's fine for quick captures, but it wasn't built for what I'm trying to do here.

The lesson? The "best" app isn't the one with the most features. It's the one that fits your actual workflow. For me, that means easy publishing to Ghost wins every time.

Still figuring it out, but at least now I know what I'm looking for.

I Refuse to Be Held Hostage by the Internet

Here's something that narrowed my search pretty quickly: I needed an app that works locally.

I'm talking full access on my iPad, phone, and desktop, whether I'm online or not. Everything syncing through iCloud so that when I do reconnect, it all catches up seamlessly.

Why does this matter so much? Because I've been burned before.

There's nothing worse than being ready to work, ideas flowing, fingers ready to type, and then... nothing. The app won't load. Why? Because AWS is having a moment. Or Cloudflare decided to take a nap. Or my internet connection is just being temperamental.

I don't want to be stuck waiting for someone else's servers to come back online just so I can access my own work.

Apps that require a constant internet connection might work great 95% of the time, but it's that 5% that kills momentum. And as creators, momentum is everything.

So local-first with cloud sync? That became a must-have, not a nice-to-have.

It's about control. About being able to create on my terms, wherever I am, internet or no internet.

What's Working for You?

Look, I'm still deep in the trenches of figuring this all out. Some days feel like progress, others feel like I'm just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic of my digital mess.

But that's the point, isn't it? We're all learning as we go. There's no perfect system, no magic app that solves everything. Just better questions, small improvements, and the willingness to try something new when the old way stops working.

So I'm curious: what's your setup? What tools are you using to keep your creative work organized? Have you found something that just clicks with how you work? Or are you in the experiment phase like me?

Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear what's working (or not working) for you.

Until next week, keep creating.

Josh

P.S. If you've got strong opinions about note-taking apps, I'm all ears. Seriously. Send them my way.