darren r hill

the creative minimalist

  • A few thoughts on entering 2023 (main or lunar calendar) and taking the first creative step.

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  • An overview of the paper journals, planners and digital software I am using at the beginning of 2023.

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  • Four days into the New Year here is my Creative Field Notes report.

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  • A little motivation for the New Year. As the world turns and we begin another orbit around the sun, just start your creative projects

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  • During the hiatus between Christmas and New Year I am spending a little time preparing my creative projects for 2023.

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  • In this week’s quick vlog, I let you know how myths and legends add to my seasonal creative journey. I also seem to be very apologetic.

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  • The white fluffy clouds – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

    White fluffy clouds drift gently across the azure sky. The sight transports me back at once. The memory, as vivid as the heavens - Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    White fluffy clouds drift gently across the azure sky. The sight transports me back at once. The memory, as vivid as the heavens.

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    Sights and sounds, tastes and smells, and touch sensations are powerful. They can bring back memories long-forgotten, both good and bad.

    This prompt allows you to explore how seeing the clouds in the sky brings back a memory. As the memory is vivid allow yourself to explore the other senses.

    • What can you hear?
    • What can you smell?
    • Is there an associated taste?
    • What do you feel, underfoot, fingertips or somewhere else?

    Although you can draw on your own memories I would advise not using this prompt to remember your own past. That could bring up painful and other negative thoughts. So please be careful. These prompts are for you to enjoy and develop your writing ability, not work through serious trauma. Please find someone who can help you if you need it.

    As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create

    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

  • All the colours in the sea

    Wordless Wednesday

    Stone steps in the sea
    Stone steps in the sea
    Stone steps in the sea

    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 them.

    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

  • It stopped – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    It is quiet. The constant background noise has ceased. That means… yes, the rain, it has finally stopped. Can we possibly venture out... Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    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 essence, it is about change and our characters’ reaction.

    I haven’t included a setting so you can approach in whatever way the muse leads. It could be a family stuck in a tent on a camping holiday. It could be the remnants of the human race surviving in a shelter from some toxic contaminant.

    • How do the characters respond?
    • Who is the first outside?
    • Who makes the decision?
    • What happens when they venture forth?

    As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create

    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

  • Getting trapped in the Traps

    Getting trapped in traps and image of crag pots

    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 are traps that we can avoid if we see them and if we choose. There are traps that give us comfort, places we know too well.

    There are traps. Then there is trapped.

    … and trapped is bad.

    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

  • I coughed – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    “I coughed. My chest felt tight. We had been told they were the first symptoms. Now I had them… “ A Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    “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 short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, either share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create.

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    Yes, we are in the middle of a pandemic. Please ignore this and move on if it is a little too soon or too close to home.

    I have been fascinated by the reactions to the current pandemic. They have ranged from complete and utter terror to the blasé. This prompt enables you to explore the feelings of a character in this first-person narrative.

    • Where do they stand on the spectrum?
    • What are their reasons for reacting the way they do?
    • What are the immediate priorities?

    No rules. No word counts limits. Simply explore and write.

    Virus Image by mattthewafflecat from Pixabay

    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

  • imposter syndrome reasons to procrastinate No 157

    Reasons to procrastinate No 157 - imposter syndrome

    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 solving one might help with the other, or vice versa.

    I feel like I don’t have a voice. Or, I am unsure as to what my voice is. I don’t like genres and classification for a start, which might be part of the problem. But the problem is, worrying about my ‘voice’ stops me from creating. Which then enables me to fall into the imposter syndrome. No authentic voice? Then you must be a fake. And I sit and procrastinate.

    Yet one of my musical heroes is Bowie. The eternal voice changer… the ultimate imposter? Glam rocker, space minstrel, ambient wanderer… one singer, many voices.

    So I turned myself to face me
    But I’ve never caught a glimpse
    How the others must see the faker
    I’m much too fast to take that test

    Changes by David Bowie

    Yes, but that’s music and music Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, what about writing? I want to write in different styles and genres.

    One of my favourite authors is Iain M Banks. His creativity pushed the boundaries of contemporary sci-fi. And yet he also wrote other books. He dropped the M when he wrote them. Some of his non-sci-fi books are also amongst my favourites. One author, multiple voices.

    There is no reason I can’t create in different styles with different voices. I just have to be me. Me, expressed in different ways. Channel creativity. Creation then takes its form. Form follows unction.

    Whether what I create is any good is subjective, and don’t get me started on quality and perfection… that is another reason for my procrastination and an altogether different blog post.

    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