darren r hill

the creative minimalist

  • Wordless Wednesday I went to the local fishing town yesterday. The weather was beautiful and the sun was shining. When I looked down I thought the colours were lovely. So I took a couple of pictures. The pictures don’t really do justice to the beautiful colours, but I hope you can get a feeling of…

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  • A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore. It is quiet. The constant background noise has ceased. That means… yes, the rain, it has finally stopped. Can we possibly venture out… Writing Prompt Expanded There is plenty of scope for exploration in this prompt. In…

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  • There are many kinds of trap. Traps are used to capture something. They could trap an animal, like those in the image. They could trap humans, both foolish and wise. They could capture measurements and be completely benign. Traps we fall into. Traps we deliberately trigger. Traps set by others. Traps set by ourselves. There…

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  • “I coughed. My chest felt tight. We had been told they were the first symptoms. Now I had them… “ A Friday Fiction Writing Prompt with a little nod toward the current season. As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a…

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  • I journal. I do a mixture of morning pages, planning and general thought dumps. I write to myself. Okay, I talk to myself too but this is a little more structured. I have recently been having a discussion with myself about ‘voice’ and the broader issue around identity. It is possible both are linked and…

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  • The Last Emperox by John Scalzi A book review Creativity flows throughout the universe. To be creative we merely need to step into the flow and create. The flow is elusive, but it is there. Sometimes it is hard to find, other times it is clear. Creativity takes us from one place to another. The…

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  • Create in Uncertain Times

    Create in Uncertain Times

    Create in uncertain times text with an image of me in front of a dystopian world

    Elections, wars, rumours of wars, and AI developments all add to uncertainty in the creative ether. Our creative sponge-like souls can struggle in times of uncertainty. In this week’s vlog, I offer a few solutions, or soulutions, to help us remain creative during these times. 

    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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  • Valid excuses for no creativity

    Valid excuses for no creativity

    valid excuses for no creativity text with image of me in front of the northern lights and flying saucers

    I return from a brief vlogging hiatus with a raft of excuses, some more feasible and valid than others. The creative path is winding, and sometimes there are valid reasons for not being creative. In this week’s vlog I try to explain.

    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.

    Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

  • Completing a creative project

    Completing a creative project

    Completing a creative project text and interview with me text, with three pictures of me in a record shop

    In a productive moment, I finished a creative project. In a surreal moment, I decided to interview myself about the challenges, practicalities and what exactly that creative project was. In a recorded moment, I present this week’s vlog about completing a creative project.

    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.

    Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

  • Meandering with purpose for creativity

    Meandering with purpose for creativity

    meandering with purpose for creativity text with and image of me infant of some AI generated hills

    There are times when being creative, writing, painting, making music or any creative activity just isn’t working out. At those times it may be that we need a break, or as I like to call it, meandering with purpose. This week’s vlog explores when and why a little meander might be just what we need.

    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.

    Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

  • Mountains as a creative metaphor

    Mountains as a creative metaphor

    mountains as a creative metaphor text with an image of me in front of mountains

    This past week has been hard going. This creative life of mine was all over the place and a bit of a mess. So, in this week’s vlog, it is time to take a look at mountains as a creative metaphor. The next mountain may be higher, but the view will be amazing.

    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.

    Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

  • Reviewing Creative Goals

    Reviewing Creative Goals

    reviewing creative goals text with an image of me in front of abstract charts

    How have we done with our creative goals, habits and routines as the first quarter of the year passes? I confess to what I have achieved and not achieved in Q1 as I review and prepare for Q2. Creative successes and habit failures are in this week’s vlog.

    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.

    Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest