darren r hill

the creative minimalist

  • What Perfectionism Has Actually Cost Me

    Discover how perfectionism silently undermines creativity and confidence. Learn to break free from the perfectionism loop and start sharing imperfect work today.

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  • Stop Waiting for a Free Afternoon: Why 20 Minutes Is Enough to Create

    Stop waiting for perfect conditions. Discover how 20-minute creative sessions, powered by distributed practice and the Zeigarnik effect, can boost focus, skills, and consistent output.

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  • Copying Isn’t Cheating. It’s How Creativity Starts.

    Copying isn’t a failure of creativity—it’s where it begins. From Hunter S. Thompson typing out novels to The Beatles covering their heroes, imitation is how we absorb influences and make them our own. Master the mechanism first; originality grows from there.

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  • The Mistake I Made Trying to Sound Professional

    Discover why chasing perfection stifles creativity. Embrace rough drafts, volume, and imperfection to develop your authentic voice and bridge the creative gap. #Creativity #Art #perfectionism

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  • Why Fewer Tools Makes You a Faster Creative

    Discover why mastering fewer creative tools boosts speed and productivity. Learn how familiarity accelerates flow, reduces cognitive load, and unlocks deeper creativity. Focus on depth over breadth to compound skill, streamline workflows, and make your tools disappear so the work can truly begin.

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  • 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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  • 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