Day 274: Podcasts and YouTube?

[Louanne Learning]

One of my nieces works in marketing for the City of Niagara Falls. I asked her about some of the tools she uses.

She sent me this information below --

Easy Video Editing Tools for YouTube Content (Free Options)​

Canva – Quick, Trending Content​

Pros:
- Very easy drag-and-drop editor
- Ready-made YouTube and social templates
- Built-in music, animations, transitions, and stock clips
- Great for brand consistency

Cons:
- Limited detailed video cutting
- Some features require paid version
- Best for short or simple videos

Best for: intros, promos, social clips, text-heavy videos

iMovie – Simple Video Cutting​

Pros:
- Free on Mac and iPhone
- Easy trimming and transitions
- High-quality YouTube exports
- Very stable performance

Cons:
- Only works on Apple devices
- Fewer design effects

Best for: vlogs, interviews, product demos, basic edits

Shotcut – Free All-Purpose Editor​

Pros:
- Completely free
- Works on Mac and Windows
- More control than Canva
- YouTube export presets

Cons:
- Older-looking interface
- Fewer templates

Best for: tutorials, longer videos, basic full edits

Simple Comparison Chart​

Tool	Works On	Best For	Ease of Use	Cost
Canva	Web, Mobile	Stylish content	Very Easy	Free/Paid
iMovie	Mac, iPhone	Basic edits	Very Easy	Free
Shotcut	Mac, Windows	Full video editing	Easy	Free

 

[Homer Potvin]

One of my nieces works in marketing for the City of Niagara Falls. I asked her about some of the tools she uses.

She sent me this information below --

Easy Video Editing Tools for YouTube Content (Free Options)​

Canva – Quick, Trending Content​

Pros:
- Very easy drag-and-drop editor
- Ready-made YouTube and social templates
- Built-in music, animations, transitions, and stock clips
- Great for brand consistency

Cons:
- Limited detailed video cutting
- Some features require paid version
- Best for short or simple videos

Best for: intros, promos, social clips, text-heavy videos

iMovie – Simple Video Cutting​

Pros:
- Free on Mac and iPhone
- Easy trimming and transitions
- High-quality YouTube exports
- Very stable performance

Cons:
- Only works on Apple devices
- Fewer design effects

Best for: vlogs, interviews, product demos, basic edits

Shotcut – Free All-Purpose Editor​

Pros:
- Completely free
- Works on Mac and Windows
- More control than Canva
- YouTube export presets

Cons:
- Older-looking interface
- Fewer templates

Best for: tutorials, longer videos, basic full edits

Simple Comparison Chart​

Tool	Works On	Best For	Ease of Use	Cost
Canva	Web, Mobile	Stylish content	Very Easy	Free/Paid
iMovie	Mac, iPhone	Basic edits	Very Easy	Free
Shotcut	Mac, Windows	Full video editing	Easy	FFreet

Thanks! I've been asking around too. Seeing a lot of the same recommendations, tech wise.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

All the information is the same everywhere, more or less. Paint by numbers, content wise.

And honestly you can switch the subject matter from writing to football to jazz guitar and the format remains paint by numbers.

This, along with the astronomical expense, is the reason I don't go to conferences anymore unless I'm paid to be there.

 

[Homer Potvin]

This, along with the astronomical expense, is the reason I don't go to conferences anymore unless I'm paid to be there.

Fortunately with YouTube nobody needs to journey anyplace. Get the pee jar and you never have to leave the room!

 

[CatrionaGrace]

Fortunately with YouTube nobody needs to journey anyplace. Get the pee jar and you never have to leave the room!

Oh, good thought. All the tedium and none of the expense.

 

[Set2Stun]

I watched a bunch of Alexa Donne's videos about traditional publishing when I was getting started. Pretty good info. She does videos on all sorts of writing subjects.

https://www.youtube.com/@AlexaDonne

 

[big soft moose]

From a publishing point of view Sarah painter is an easy listen shows called the worried writer

Mark dawson and the self publishing show used to be good before his disappeared up his own ass

 

[Homer Potvin]

disappeared up his own ass

Hey, it stinks up here. And when did I eat Doritos?

 

[Homer Potvin]

Tell you what, any panel formats definitely need a woman with a heavy British accent. That's mandatory, even if we fake one.

I watched a bunch of Alexa Donne's videos about traditional publishing when I was getting started. Pretty good info. She does videos on all sorts of writing subjects.

https://www.youtube.com/@AlexaDonne

Yeah, I watched her before too and she's very good. Very bubbly, but not in a bad way. She's a heavy editor, too. I'm used to sports podcasts that tend to be live or time sensitive and have very little editing. Definitely a skill to stay on track without hosts talking over each other. Some of the radio guys who they film and stick on Youtube for the hell of it are constantly throwing each other hand signals and notes to keep things coordinated. You can't see it on the radio, obviously.

 

[Trish]

Tell you what, any panel formats definitely need a woman with a heavy British accent. That's mandatory, even if we fake one.

Welp, that's me out of the running. I have a northern accent that slips back into southern when I get excited, and you don't want me faking a Brit accent unless your goal is to offend people when I call everyone Gov'na.

 

[Madman Starryteller]

Tell you what, any panel formats definitely need a woman with a heavy British accent. That's mandatory, even if we fake one.

Maybe, @MoonChild has such an accent? What do you think, MoonChild? Could you stand sitting and talking about forum topics and writing stuff all day with Homer while wearing an Earnest Wiener hoodie?

 

[Homer Potvin]

Maybe, @MoonChild has such an accent? What do you think, MoonChild? Could you stand sitting and talking about forum topics and writing stuff all day with Homer while wearing an Earnest Wiener hoodie?

Well, you're our resident Bond villain, so we need to shoot you in a subterranean lair.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

Hmm. I suppose I could put on my Writer's Forum Feed Store gimme cap and do the forum ag news: "all the manure that's fit to spread." Trish and I could also do a show where we get very worked up about query letters and slip from "normal" accents back into Southern without realizing it.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Hmm. I suppose I could put on my Writer's Forum Feed Store gimme cap and do the forum ag news: "all the manure that's fit to spread." Trish and I could also do a show where we get very worked up about query letters and slip from "normal" accents back into Southern without realizing it.

Sounds stupid, but that's good stuff. All of my favorite YouTubers have interesting people presenting information in interesting ways. Past a certain efficacy, the information itself is identical regardless of who's presenting it. This is trebly true in the guitar world where, say, the circle of fifths is the circle of fifths is the circle of fifths.

 

[Trish]

Hmm. I suppose I could put on my Writer's Forum Feed Store gimme cap and do the forum ag news: "all the manure that's fit to spread." Trish and I could also do a show where we get very worked up about query letters and slip from "normal" accents back into Southern without realizing it.

Query discussion will definitely achieve that lol.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Well, one way or the other, I'm going to try doing a "pilot" podcast. Not sure when or what that will look like that. I need to get some equipment but don't want to break the bank until I know it's viable. Stay tuned on all that, I guess. I think what I'll do is get a camera and a mic and do screen testing. Practice this and that so I don't look like a complete jabroni. Then probably toss it onto a YouTube channel to show it to people and get some feedback.