darren r hill

the creative minimalist

  • How Lowering Your Standards Can Improve Your Creative Work

    Lowering creative standards at the beginning of a project can improve creativity. High expectations can hinder initial progress, as perfectionism prevents the full expression of ideas. By embracing imperfect first drafts, we create art for editing, ultimately improving quality through consistent creative practice and completion rather than avoidance.

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  • The Difference Between Inspiration and Momentum

    Inspiration is unpredictable, so we need a way to find and even prod the muse. Momentum keeps you creating when inspiration disappears

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  • Advice I’d Ignore: Why Not All Creative Wisdom Is Created Equal

    Not all creative advice works for everyone. Learn how to filter guidance, avoid common pitfalls, and build confidence by recognising when to follow advice—and when to trust your own creative instincts.

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  • Why songs, and other creative projects, stay unfinished

    Why do most unfinished songs or art fail early in their creation? Most art fails early because decisions aren’t made. Too many options stall progress Decision fatigue can significantly hinder creativity. Each choice we make requires mental energy, and as that reserve diminishes, so does our ability to think creatively or approach problems with fresh

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  • Waiting to feel ready just keeps you stuck

    Waiting to feel ready to create just keeps you stuck. If you start, you’ll realise you were ready to learn, to grow and create.

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  • What I believed about creativity that turned out to be wrong

    Some creative beliefs only make sense in hindsight. I believed in perfection; I needed faith in the imperfect. I believed my creations needed to be perfect. I was wrong. Learning that has enabled me to create, and enjoy creating.

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  • Creativity: Helps and Hindrances

    Creativity: Helps and Hindrances

    Creativity: Helps and hindrances text with an image of me in an art studio

    Month end gives me a pause for reflection to review what is helping and hindering my creative journey. My latest vlog looks at the helps and hindrances to a creative life from my own recent experience.

    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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  • 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.

    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

  • 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