Since I started editing, one of the first things I noticed was how much people talk about programs. What app do you use? What software is the best? What do “good editors” use? At some point, it starts to feel like your talent depends on that answer. Like if you don’t have the “right” program, your edits will

never be as good. Like you’re already behind before you even start. I used to think that too. I thought that if I just had better software, then my edits would finally look the way I wanted them to. That maybe the problem wasn’t me—

it was what I was using. So I focused more on what I didn’t have instead of what could actually do. And without realizing it, I limited myself. Because the truth is, creativity doesn’t come from a program. It comes from you. The ideas, the emotions, the way you see things—that’s what makes an edit

meaningful. A program is just a tool. You can give two people the same software, and they will still create completely different things. Learning to use what you already have is where real growth starts. When you stop waiting for the “perfect” program and start focusing on your skills, your style, your ideas—you improve in a way no software can give you. You can sit and cry and think about why you can’t

do what others can because of your “terrible software,” or you can find a way to do anything you want with it. And it’s even harder not to think like that when, a lot of the time, people in the community make fun of certain programs or judge them. So if you ever find yourself hearing another editor criticize a

software—then what?I know it’s hard not to pay attention to it. But don’t let other people’s opinions decide whether you can reach your full potential or not. That is something only you can control. I remember when I didn’t edit on a computer yet. I would read comments and posts talking badly about editing on phone

apps, and of course, it affected me. It made me feel like what I was using wasn’t enough. But one day, I saw an amazing edit—really incredible—and it was made on a phone. And something just clicked. What if I stopped complaining and actually learned the app I had? What if, instead of being frustrated, I just let my creativity out and worked with what I already had? That changed everything. Some of the most creative edits come from people working with the simplest

tools, because they focus on what really matters. Not how advanced the program is, but how they use it. And honestly, there’s something special about that. About creating something you’re proud of, even if you didn’t have everything others had. Because it reminds you that your art comes from you—not from

a screen, not from an app, not from a name. So instead of thinking about what you’re missing, start thinking about what you can do with what you already have. Experiment. Make mistakes. Try things your own way. You don’t need the best program to be a great editor. You just need to trust yourself enough to create anyway.

-amanda