darren r hill

the creative minimalist

  • The Next Tool Won’t Fix It: Why More Gear Doesn’t Make Better Creative Work

    There’s a moment that we all, as creative people know: we’re stuck, and we start to think the problem is the gear I have. But the creative tools you already have are almost certainly enough. So why do we want more? Why do we think the creative fix is in the new shiny?

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  • The Habits That Quietly Kill Creative Output (And What to Replace Them With)

    The Habits That Quietly Kill Creative Output (And What to Replace Them With) Here are several creativity killers with advice on how to stop them and creative habits to replace them.

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  • Is Your Creative Idea Worth Finishing? Here’s How to Decide

    How to Tell If a Creative Idea Is Worth Finishing (And When to Let It Go). Is that song, this painting, my story about an AI enhanced goldfish worth finishing? Here’s how to decide if your art, song or writing is worth continuing. The rhyme and reasoning behind deciding what creative projects to finish.

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  • What Years of Creating Taught Me About Discipline

    Discipline and willpower are not the super powers of successful creatives. it’s about crafting effective systems that naturally guide behaviour. Learn how these creative frameworks can help you achieve more without the constant struggle.

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  • Why Creative Constraints Make You More Productive (and More Creative)

    Creative projects with the most freedom are often the hardest to finish, or even start. The ones with tight constraints tend to move faster. And sometimes come out better. Three simple rules for creative freedom

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  • Why Imperfect Creative Work Builds Confidence Faster

    Sharing your imperfect creative work and art projects builds confidence faster than waiting. Whatever response you get will teach you something. We don’t just learn by doing, we also learn by sharing our art.

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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