darren r hill

the creative minimalist

Category: Creativity

All posts relating to creativity in general. How to be creative rather than specific creative projects.

  • Sun — Weekly Creative Prompt

    Sun — Weekly Creative Prompt

    Sun weekly creative prompt

    Welcome to the new complete weekly creative prompt. We begin with a single creative prompt word and expand it to inspire fiction writing, journaling and a host of other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

    The Northern Hemisphere is about to reach the summer solstice. The solstice marks the day of most sunlight. The Southern Hemisphere is about to mark its day of least sunlight. Last week’s prompt was all about stars, this week we will be looking at a star, your star. So, this week’s prompt is:

    Sun — the star round which the earth orbits

    when I think of all that the sun represents and can mean, this dictionary definition feels so dry

    Let the prompt ‘sun’ inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested:

    • writing fiction
    • journaling
    • art journaling
    • songwriting
    • photography
    • painting
    • composing
    • blog posts
    • art therapy
    • anything that could use a little nudge to begin

    Let’s expand the word a little further…

    Fiction Writing Prompt

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

    Today we celebrate. Our god is powerful. Yet we know, from this day on, the sun’s power will wane. Fiction writing prompt

    Today we celebrate. Our god is powerful. Yet we know, from this day on, the sun’s power will wane.

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    I normally give as much freedom as possible in these writing prompts, I think it is the punk in me that doesn’t like anything too prescriptive. However, this prompt has context. It is the summer solstice. Worshippers are celebrating. They are thankful that their god is supplying their needs. They also know that in a few months their god will weaken and be less helpful.

    This prompt is all about describing the feelings and emotions of a culture long gone and distinct from our own. We may still celebrate the solstice and other celestial events, but we also know a lot about science. The characters in our writing prompt don’t.

    • How do you feel at this spiritual celebration?
    • Why do you think your god loses power, is it a lack of your people’s faith?
    • How do the others in your ‘tribe’ act? Do younger people celebrate differently from the older members?

    The writing perspective is the first person. This makes it easier to explore the feelings and possible confusion of the character. The challenge is to convey the emotions felt using language and metaphors that are specific to that ancient culture, but which will be understood by a modern reader. It is a challenge, but one I hope you’ll enjoy.

    Journal prompt

    Journaling allows us to hold conversations on paper. From private diaries to creative art journals we pour out our deepest thoughts. The sun gives us so much. It brings us warmth and light and pretty much sustains life. Its gravity keeps us (earth) in place and the earth’s orbit helps us mark time. All of this is before you get to the science and sheer size of the sun. Through the ages, the sun has had its fair share of worshipers; in ancient cultures, on the beaches and in the green movement. It also works very well as a metaphor in many situations.

    Questions to answer, thoughts to explore or images to create in your journal:

    • What emotions do you feel when the sun warms your face?
    • When the sun doesn’t shine, how do you feel?
    • What words come to mind when you think of the sun?

    Theory of General Creativity

    I now have ‘sun’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. It has reminded me that I wrote a piece of music called Solstice last year. I have wanted to develop and share that again, so let the inspiration shine forth. The light from the sun is also a core aspect of outdoor photography and a common theme in painting.

    Let ‘sun’ illuminate your music, photography, and painting this week.

    Finally…

    As always, these creative prompts are optional and entirely open to your interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story, something a little more grandiose.

    As mentioned before, this isn’t a ‘challenge’ but the prompts can be used that way if you want. If you do create anything using them, I would love to see or hear about it. Leave a link in the comments below or tag me #thecreativeminimalist on any social platform.

    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

  • Stars — Weekly Creative Prompt

    Welcome to the new complete weekly creative prompt. We begin with a single creative prompt word and expand it to inspire fiction writing, journaling, and a host of other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

    Ever since humanity first walked on the planet, we have looked up. And as the sun sets and the greater light travels over the horizon, the sky darkens, and the myriad of tiny pinpoints of light emerge. Our previous prompt was clouds, and if those clouds are missing from the night sky a remarkable light show can be seen. Therefore, this week’s creative prompt is:

    Stars — fixed luminous points in the night sky which are large, remote incandescent bodies like the sun.

    This is a plural definition of the singular I found in the dictionary. What I find interesting is the use of the word fixed because stars just like atoms are anything but that.

    Let the prompt ‘stars’ inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested:

    • writing fiction
    • journaling
    • art journaling
    • songwriting
    • photography
    • painting
    • composing
    • blog posts
    • art therapy
    • anything that could use a little nudge to begin

    Let’s expand the word a little further…

    Fiction Writing Prompt

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

    They say the stars can predict the future. All I want to know is where you are.

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    The motions of the stars fascinated us before we began to grasp the mechanics of gravity. We put meaning and prediction into their motions. They guided us and prompted us. Today, we understand that life on this planet is controlled by gravity and other natural forces just like the stars. And yet, we still look to them. And occasionally, some of us, enquire.

    This prompt is very open. The sentences uttered offer little context. So, the challenge is to dig deep and use your imagination.

    • Who is the narrator looking for?
    • Are they out looking at the stars when they say these words?
    • Are they skeptical about astrology or an ardent disciple?

    The writing perspective is the first person, but beyond that, the setting and context are yours. I wondered whether the narrator is on a planet while the person they seek is traveling among the stars. Is the narrator one of many out looking for a missing person? These are just a couple of ideas that jumped into my mind. And you could always look to the stars for a little inspiration.

    Journal prompt

    Journaling allows us to hold conversations on paper. From private diaries to creative art journals we pour out our deepest thoughts. It only takes a layer of black paint or gesso followed by a little splattering of a lighter colour to make a simple vista of stars. White gel or paint pens can do the same. We can use them to write upon our starry background as well.

    Questions to answer, thoughts to explore or images to create in your journal:

    • Do you believe there is a connection between the stars and our destiny?
    • What do you think about the theory that our very atoms were forged when older stars exploded eons ago in our universe; that we are stardust?
    • How do you grasp the magnitude and size of the universe, that each pinpoint of light is a sun just like ours (some, if not most of the night lights are in fact galaxies and not single stars)?

    Theory of General Creativity

    I now have ‘stars’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. Not only that, but I find stepping outside, barefoot if possible, and looking up into the night sky a truly humbling yet positive spiritual experience. To me spirituality and creativity are closely linked, they may even be different facets of the same force. The vastness of space and the beauty of the flickering lights upon the night sky are an inspiration for so much of my creative process this week. May it be for you as well.

    Let ‘stars’ inspire your music, photography, and painting this week.

    Finally…

    As always, these creative prompts are optional and entirely open to your interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story, something a little more grandiose.

    As mentioned before, this isn’t a ‘challenge’ but the prompts can be used that way if you want. If you do create anything using them, I would love to see or hear about it. Please leave a link in the comments below or tag me @darrenrhill or #thecreativeminimalist on any social platform.

    Original Milky Way image by Free-Photos 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

  • Clouds — Weekly Creative Prompt

    Welcome to the new complete weekly creative prompt. We begin with a single creative prompt word and expand it to inspire fiction writing, journaling and a host of other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

    In an unscripted moment of serendipity, I opened my window and the sun wasn’t alone in a glorious blue sky. This could mean a change in plans. There are a couple of things on my to-do list that requires a clear sky, well, I require a clear sky. The serendipity is that these prompts were chosen several weeks ago. Some prompts are linked to calendar events, while the majority are random. Today’s prompt was supposed to be one of those random ones. Coincidence? Of course, or perhaps… Therefore, this week’s creative prompt is:

    Clouds — a visible mass of condensed watery vapour floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the general level of the ground

    clouds don’t need to be water or even literal, but for our creative process we start with this reality

    Let the prompt ‘clouds’ inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested:

    • writing fiction
    • journaling
    • art journaling
    • songwriting
    • photography
    • painting
    • composing
    • blog posts
    • art therapy
    • anything that could use a little nudge to begin

    Let’s expand the word a little further…

    Fiction Writing Prompt

    The Fiction Writing Prompt aims to stretch the literary muscles as we explore the word clouds. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

    I felt the gentle breeze on my face as I looked toward the horizon. In the distance, for the first time in forever, I saw clouds. - fiction writing prompt

    I felt the gentle breeze on my face as I looked toward the horizon. In the distance, for the first time in forever, I saw clouds.

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    As space agencies explore our solar system and beyond, one thing they constantly look for is water. Water is essential to life as we know it and can also be used to create fuel and oxygen. Water is plentiful on our planet, even if we don’t distribute it around. The clouds in the sky are one way we know that water in the form of rain may be on its way. Rain can come at the right or wrong time. This is why clouds are used as a metaphor. The sun isn’t there, it’s cloudy, something is wrong.

    This prompt is all about seeing the clouds and describing what they represent for your character.

    • Are the clouds real or metaphorical? At what point in your narrative do you reveal this?
    • Are the clouds welcome or feared?
    • Are you on earth or a distant planet or moon?
    • Being careful not to mix metaphors, describe your character’s feelings in terms of clouds, rain, and storms.

    The setting and everything else is open to your imagination. Remember this is fiction. Draw on memories and feelings, but don’t get lost in your own past. Writing can be very therapeutic in exploring our past. Being able to step aside and view past events dispassionately and write about them is helpful. However, if past storms in your life have not been confronted, please find someone to talk with and seek true healing. All storms pass eventually.

    Journal prompt

    Journaling allows us to hold conversations on paper. From private diaries to creative art journals we pour out our deepest thoughts. Clouds, their various meanings and associated metaphors are often part of my creative, and in particular, journaling process. I quite often relate difficult times with cloudy skies… which I find interesting because I love looking at a cloudy sky and exploring the shapes and textures.

    Questions to answer, thoughts to explore or images to create in your journal:

    • Do you have any metaphorical clouds in your life you need to explore?
    • What shape do you most associate with clouds?
    • Explore the texture of clouds by using various media

    As with the writing prompt above, journaling will help to deal with cloudy days but do seek further guidance and help if you are finding it difficult to see sunny days.

    Theory of General Creativity

    I now have ‘clouds’ written on the board above my computer. I am looking forward to seeing how it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. The way clouds can mean so much, from fluffy pillow textures to thunderheads threatening destruction, offers a variety of creative options. And the fact that they do eventually drift away means I might get to complete the items on my to-do list.

    Let ‘clouds’ inspire your music, photography, and painting this week.

    Finally…

    As always, these creative prompts are optional and entirely open to your interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story, something a little more grandiose.

    As mentioned before, this isn’t a ‘challenge’ but the prompts can be used that way if you want. If you do create anything using them, I would love to see or hear about it. Leave a link in the comments below or tag me on any social platform.

  • Remember to turn up – Vlog

    A vlog update where I use remembering to turn up to create as an excuse to take a walk to the beach.

  • Dreams — Weekly Creative Prompt

    Welcome to the new complete weekly creative prompt. We begin with a single word, a creative prompt, and expand it to inspire fiction writing, journaling and a host of other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

    I am not the deepest of sleepers. I find it easy to drift off, but I will often be awake again in a short while. Quite often, when I awake fully in the morning, I will be left wondering what memories were real and what ones were dreams. Unfortunately, both drift away quickly, especially when chased away by the morning coffee. Therefore, this week’s creative prompt is:

    Dreams — a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep

    there are other meanings, but I like the way the dictionary uses sensations, dreams are so often a fully immersive experience

    Let the prompt ‘dreams’ inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested:

    • writing fiction
    • journaling
    • art journaling
    • songwriting
    • photography
    • painting
    • composing
    • blog posts
    • art therapy
    • anything that could use a little nudge to begin

    Let’s expand the word a little further…

    Fiction Writing Prompt

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

    This was not a coincidence. This is precisely what I remembered from my sleep. My dream was coming true.

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    Some of us suffer from motion sickness. It is a very unpleasant feeling and quite debilitating for some. As far as I understand, it is quite often caused by our senses getting confused. They send mixed messages to our brain suggesting, or not suggesting, movement.

    This prompt is all about describing two events. There is the dream element and there is the current reality. Finally, you can explore how to explain how this is all occurring.

    • What is happening?
    • Do the feelings from your dream match the reality before you?
    • How do you explain this apparent premonition?

    This writing prompt allows you to explore any situation. The wonderful thing about dreams is that they can be about anything. Although perhaps the less wonderful aspect of dreams is that they have a darker side. I am sure many of us can remember at least having one nightmare. But this is fiction, remember that all fiction has an end, just like a nightmare.

    Journal prompt

    Journaling allows us to hold conversations on paper. From private diaries to creative art journals we pour out our deepest thoughts. I know there are many who keep a dream journal; a place to record their dreams. As mentioned, I struggle to remember mine, so perhaps keeping a journal or at least a piece of paper by the bed will help. However, why would we want to record our dreams? We know that dreams often contain memories from the past, but are they more than just a rehash of events?

    Questions to answer, thoughts to explore or images to create in your journal:

    • Does your dream relate to something that has happened recently?
    • Do you think your dreams offer guidance?
    • Are your dreams generally pleasant or unpleasant?
    • Do you dream more when anxious about something?

    Theory of General Creativity

    I now have ‘dreams’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. Furthermore, I can recall having quite lucid creative moments when I dream. I have come up with many creative ideas while sleeping. Unfortunately, many were lost as I didn’t capture them. There is something magical about dreams, and I hope that their creative inspiration will find you.

    Let ‘dreams’ inspire your music, photography, and painting this week, and also as you drift off to sleep…

    Finally…

    As always, these creative prompts are optional and entirely open to your interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story, something a little more grandiose.

    As mentioned before, this isn’t a ‘challenge’ but the prompts can be used that way if you want. If you do create anything using them, I would love to see or hear about it. Leave a link in the comments below or tag me on any social platform.

    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

  • Tangible — Weekly Creative Prompt

    tangible weekly creative prompt

    Welcome to the new complete weekly creative prompt. We begin with a single creative prompt word and expand it to inspire fiction writing, journaling and a host of other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

    This past year has been anything but normal, although whether there ever is a ‘normal’ is open to debate. Let’s just say things have been different to what they were before. Many of the things we took for granted have been removed. Freedoms we were used to, have been curtailed, and we have not even been able to touch many of the things that were at our fingertips before. Therefore, this week’s creative prompt is:

    Tangible — a thing that is perceptible by touch

    This is just one definition. However, my word for the year was tangible because I was looking forward to things becoming perceptible by touch. I wanted to be reminded of that.

    Let the prompt ‘tangible’ inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested:

    • writing fiction
    • journaling
    • art journaling
    • songwriting
    • photography
    • painting
    • composing
    • blog posts
    • art therapy
    • anything that could use a little nudge to begin

    Let’s expand the word a little further…

    Fiction Writing Prompt

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

    The atmosphere of depression and decay was almost tangible. fiction writing prompt

    The atmosphere of depression and decay was almost tangible.

    Writing Prompt Expanded.

    Being able to describe a place or situation is a key writing skill. We stretch our writing abilities when we describe something abstract. Mixing our language and using it in unusual ways adds to our composition. Describing something using a different sense to what we would normally use can be a challenge but is worth it.

    This prompt is all about describing something abstract and which can’t be literally touched in such a way as it feels and is perceived as something that can be touched.

    • How do you describe depression as a physical environment?
    • How do you link decay and depression?
    • Tangible hints at touch, how do your other senses react?

    The setting for the scene is completely up to you. As is the perspective; first or third person… or can you use another perspective? The challenge is to have fun describing. Mix as many senses as possible and enjoy your writing. The prompt may be about a dour atmosphere, but you don’t have to feel that way as you write.

    Journal prompt

    Journaling allows us to hold conversations on paper. From private diaries to creative art journals we pour out our deepest thoughts. As mentioned above my word for 2021 is tangible and I explored this in my journal toward the end of 2020. As I near the mid-point of the year, I’ll pour out some more thoughts in the journal, both positive and negative. What does tangible mean for you as we near June?

    Questions to answer, thoughts to explore or images to create in your journal:

    • What would you like to be more tangible in your life?
    • What can you do to make this more tangible?
    • How will you cope with things beyond your control?

    Theory of General Creativity

    I now have ‘tangible’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. It has felt like a lot of the past year has been anything but ‘perceptible by touch’. It feels like my creative adventure has been at the most percolating. It’s time to explore this prompt and also bring it into reality.

    Let ‘tangible’ inspire your music, photography, and painting this week.

    Finally…

    As always, these creative prompts are optional and entirely open to your interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story, something a little more grandiose.

    As mentioned before, this isn’t a ‘challenge’ but the prompts can be used that way if you want. If you do create anything using them, I would love to see or hear about it. Leave a link in the comments below or tag me on any social platform.

    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