This week, an old dog learned new tricks and stretched her mind. I made an Instagram video. From scratch.

Stretching your mind is supposed to keep your brain sharp, adaptable, and young. New experiences and challenges promote neuroplasticity—what a word!—which means, according to NIH, “a process that involves adaptive structural and functional changes to the brain.”

My goal was to make a series of short (20-30 seconds each) videos to promote my new book (coming in November 2026). Recently, I commissioned new covers for the first two books in the series as well as the new book. I wanted to introduce the new covers for the first two books before revealing the cover of the new book.

What does anyone do in these crazy modern times to learn a new skill? YouTube, of course. I watched four or five YouTube videos about how to make an Instagram video using Canva. Most consisted of enthusiastic twenty-somethings zipping through the steps. I paused a lot. I watched again and again and again until I felt as if I understood the process.

To get ready, I researched the aspect ratios of various Instagram options (Reels video, feed, and pinned post). I created a color palette in Canva by saving colors that are used prominently in the three covers. I sized my graphics to work within the constraints.

When ready, I got my butt into my chair and fiddled. It took about three hours to produce a 34-second video with a music track for the cover of the first book, Only the Moon Howls. In the middle, I was frustrated by the inability to do something that seemed easy in all the YouTube videos, which led to a meandering conversation with the resident Chatbot. In the end, I got it done!

The next video will be easier: cutting and pasting rather than starting from scratch.

Old dog. New tricks.