the creative minimalist

The importance of a January review

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It’s the end of January so time for a review of how things are going, or not going. How are you doing with your intentions and resolutions? I remind myself how important reviews are in the creative process. (Click above or watch below).

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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How to take the first creative step in 2023

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A few thoughts on entering 2023 (main or lunar calendar) and taking the first creative step. Events of recent years have left creative people in a weird place, so a simple thought on how to get going in the new year. Here’s the latest vlog. View below or click the link to YouTube.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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My journal set up for 2023

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My current 2023 journal set up

This week’s vlog is all about the journals I am using at the beginning of 2023. This year I am using a mix of paper and digital planners and journals. I’ll revisit this later to see how I am doing, what has worked and what has changed. Click above to watch on YouTube or below to view here.

https://youtu.be/UFMSrfF3Gd8

Here are links to the software mentioned in the video:
Things 3 (digital to-do list)
Day One (digital journal)
Scrivener (fiction writing software)

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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New Year Creative Field Notes

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Four days into the New Year here is my Creative Field Notes report. Back to work and back into the swing of things. I didn’t set any specific resolutions apart from being creative. And therefore, so far, I have broken any.

Music

I’m still working on the lyrics of fragments. There are only a few lines left and then the first draft will be ready. Like all poetry and art from the heart, it takes a lot of creative energy and can be quite draining. Well, that’s my excuse for it taking a while.

Creative Writing

Am I writing? Well, I did open up Scrivener, my fiction software of choice, and wrote about 500 words of fiction. I had an idea for an opening line and I went from there. It was good to do some creative writing even if just a few words. The challenge is to find inspiration and motivation to keep going.

pLAnarchy and planning

I seem to have set up a Bullet Journal to replace my diaries from last year. I’m still using Things 3 but the BuJo is my paper planner.

The pLAnarchy shop is a low priority until I sort my own planning out. Once I know how I am planning and what I need to plan, then I can share and create tools for that.

waoao

I have a few freelance bits either in progress or in the pipeline, but not much… if anyone would like some words or other creative media sorted, then drop me a line.

That’s the current state of play and report from the creative field.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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Monday Motivation for the New Year

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Just start

It’s the New Year… I thought I’d let you know just in case you missed the fireworks and fizzy pop. Actually, it was quite quiet around here. I watched the fireworks on the TV, although year by year there are more drones creating clever light shows involved. Outside things were quiet too. I think the heavy rain dampened celebrations… I can’t remember hearing anything explode beyond my window.

I have a few plans for the year and one of those is to post here each Monday with a little motivational thought or idea. This week’s post is short but apt and to the point. It also illustrates its own meaning.

The thought is simply to start or to begin. It’s a New Year and many will attempt to change their lives. It’s a time for new adventures, projects and creativity. However, making changes and likewise, any creative projects, require us to start. Unfortunately, beginning and making a start is often the most difficult part. We can always use a little push… so, happy new year, you got this, go forth and create… and just start.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

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Holiday Season Creative Field Notes

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It is that strange time between Christmas and the New Year. It is a time of false starts, of quiet, of planning, of this and that, and of nothing, because everything feels on hiatus. It is a downtime but also pregnant with possibility. The perfect time to stop and reflect on where I am with creative projects.

The Creative Minimalist Blog

I am doing some planning for this blog. I need to give myself some regular deadlines and break the process down into manageable chunks. If I see a task and it is too big I run away from it, procrastinate and wait until it is too late to post.

This Temple Eden Music

I have just completed and shared Music to journal by. This took far longer than I expected. It means there are now even more unfinished songs and soundtracks in various states of disrepair. I am going to finish these. I have a plan formulating that will enable me to, as above, break down the projects into manageable steps.

Fragments is the working title of the current track being finished. I have a page full of draft lyrics… time to edit and shape. Here’s a snippet, or fragment of fragments.

Memories surface as the season turned
chilled reminders of a former tide

pLAnarchy and waoao

Next on the list is thinking about what to do with pLAnarchy and waoao. How much time can or should I spend on freelance work vs other creative projects that could provide some income? I suppose my thinking here is deciding what do I enjoy doing… what would get me up in the morning?

Creative writing

There is also the writing. I seem to have stopped my creative writing. But I would like to get back into the habit. Again, how much time do I have and where does this go on the priority list? I have a pile of unfinished drafts that need attention. There is a pattern emerging with regard to my completing projects I think. So. How can I plan and work productively?

Tools of the trade

I am deciding what journal(s) and planning methods to keep me focussed, know what I should be doing and keep myself accountable.

Things 3 is my digital planner and I write regularly in Day One. I also have a Diary and Spiritual journal that are coming to an end in a few days as the year ends. I think they will be replaced with a simple bullet journal and a long-hand journal, but I am still undecided. I thought writing here might help clarify. Perhaps it has, I’ll post more next week for the first Creative Field Notes of 2023.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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