darren r hill

the creative minimalist

A short exploration of Easter Saturday, weaving a narrative and basking in the ifs of who and what takes place between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
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The site needs a bit of a refresh, so as they used to say it is under construction. As such things might not look right, work right, or even feel right. But only until everything is new and shiny. After that… who knows.
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This month has been productive despite global chaos, and I have noticed the importance of maintaining a positive and intentional creative practice.
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This week’s creative field notes include how I am keeping up with February Album Writing Month and coming up with a few other creative ideas.
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January has been a difficult month for this creative minimalist. However, the festival of Imbolc is as good a time as any to make a creative new start. This week’s vlog explores recent creative highs and lows.
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As we begin the new year of 2025, I’m excited to share my collection of journals with you in this week’s vlog. I have a new daily planner, as well as music and fiction journals, and various vocabulary notebooks.
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Autumn. Weekly creative prompt
This week’s creative prompt is Autumn. Each week we begin with a single word and expand it to inspire writing fiction, journaling and other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some inspiration for our creative work.

Definitions

autumn — the season after summer and before winter

Autumn is a noun.

Related

fall, autumnal,

Autumn specifically means a season in the calendar year, it is a predominantly British term, so feel free to use your words, e.g., fall

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

Writing prompt

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

It was the autumn of life, but as the golden colours of the leaves showed, there was a beauty to be found.

Writing Prompt Expanded

Nouns, as I was told at primary school, are naming words. You give something a name and that is it. Simple, something is what it is. However, autumn is a wonderful example of using a word’s meaning as a metaphor. No longer is autumn, or fall, just a season each year, but it is also a season that can be applied to almost anything.

This prompt relates autumn to a period of life. The end is nearing, and yet there is plenty to seek and find. It looks at finding a positive from a seeming negative.
- Why is the narrator at the autumn of life?
- What is the beauty to be found?
- How does the narrator feel?
The context for this prompt is entirely up to you. You could be writing about the life of the narrator/protagonist, of someone else, or even a civilisation or organisation. The challenge is to see the positive despite the situation.

Enjoy, and may your words be as colourful as the leaves upon the trees.

Quick fiction writing

Set a time limit, use the following random prompts and write a short piece of fiction.
- Character: merchant
- Place: desert, no greenery just sand
- Item: an autumn leaf
Journal prompt

Autumn, along with spring, mean change to me. Spring is all about birth and growth, while autumn is about winding down. Nothing is permanent, life is all about change. However, I often find myself writing the same thing in my journal; some things don’t change. Let’s see if using autumn as a prompt can move me forward.

Three ideas for your journal
- Find a fallen, autumnal leaf, press it (it needs to be flat) stick it in your journal and decorate. Mod Podge or clear sticky-tape should help preserve the leaf.
- Make a leaf stamp (cut a leaf shape not a potato) and get printing with bright, vibrant colours.
- How do you feel about autumn/fall? Do you miss summer? Do you yearn for winter? Or do you bask in this season of change?
Theory of General Creativity

I now have ‘autumn’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week.
- Capture the wonderful colours of autumn with your camera
- Do you have any creative projects approaching their autumn?
- What feeling does autumn elicit in you… create it
Let ‘autumn’ 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, or any creative project or idea.

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
23 October 2021
Weaved on a Wordless Wednesday

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

20 October 2021
Soar. Weekly creative prompt
This week’s creative prompt is Soar. Each week we begin with a single word and expand it to inspire writing fiction, journaling and other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some inspiration for our creative work.

Definitions

soar — fly or rise high in the air, maintain height in the air without flapping wings or using engine power, increase rapidly above the usual level

Soar is a verb.

Related

fly up, wing, wing its way; take off, take flight, take to the air; ascend, climb, rise, glide, plane, float, drift, hang, hover, rise rapidly, escalate, spiral upwards

Soar denotes action, and yet it also has that element of drift, of minimal energy.

Let the prompt ‘soar’ inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested in:
- 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 with some specific prompts…

Writing prompt

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

It was more than flying. I could now soar and wonder at everything below.

Writing Prompt Expanded

This week, William Shatner went to the edge of space. The actor had pretended to fly between stars for much of his career. Although he didn’t get close to warp speed, he did manage to see something very few of us ever have. When he returned to earth and spoke of his ordeal, he was moved to tears. The wonder of what he saw took his words away.

This prompt is all about describing what you see and why you can see it. Describing a situation and explaining how it makes your protagonist feel is integral to good writing. Here are a few questions to help.
- Where are you?
- How are you able to soar and not just fly?
- How does the ‘soaring’ affect your other senses?
The context for this prompt is entirely up to you. It could be set in space, or closer to earth. The main point is that ‘soaring’ enables the wonder to take place.

Enjoy, and may your words capture the wonder of the situation.

Quick fiction writing

Set a time limit, use the following random prompts and write a short piece of fiction.
- Character: Grandmother
- Place: Hilltop
- Item: hang glider
Journal prompt

I had originally chosen the word ‘flying’ for this week’s prompt. However, it became clear that I wanted something more. Where I currently live, I often glimpse seagulls soaring high above. I wonder what they can see, and dream about what it would be like to soar so high and take in the earth below.

Three ideas for your journal
- draw a ‘map’ of where you live as seen by a soaring bird
- describe in words or collage where you would like to soar
- write about how you can fly/soar to the top in your chosen profession/pastime
Theory of General Creativity

I now have ‘soar’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week.
- look up to see what is looking down
- imagine your art/music soaring and let that guide your creativity
- don’t limit your ideas, let them soar
Let ‘soar’ 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, or any creative project or idea.

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
17 October 2021
Apple Music for a Wordless Wednesday

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

13 October 2021
Turn. Weekly creative prompt
This week’s creative prompt is Turn. Each week we begin with a single word and expand it to inspire fiction writing, journaling, and other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some inspiration for our creative work.

Definitions

turn — move something so that it is in a different position in relation to its surroundings or its previous position

Turn can be used as a verb, adverb, or noun.

Related

go round, revolve, rotate, spin, roll, circle, wheel, whirl, twirl, gyrate, swivel, spiral, pivot, change direction, change course, make a U-turn, reverse direction; swing round, wheel round. rotation, revolution, spin, circle, whirl, twirl, gyration, swivel

Turn, for me, denotes direction, or more accurately a change in direction. It is active, the journey is already in progress, but occasionally the route needs adjusting.

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

Writing prompt

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

Left or right, I could choose either, but one would be the wrong turn.

Writing Prompt Expanded

I have a confession. I am a worrier. In the past, I have worried about making the right decision. In fact, I worried so much about the outcome, that I put off making the decision. I am a lot better now, I am no longer ‘disabled by fears concerning which course to take’ (In power we entrust the love advocated — Dead Can Dance)

This prompt is about exploring fears and worries about possible outcomes. Life, and in fact, all fiction, is about making decisions. Our characters make decisions and act to further the plot. We make our characters real, by sharing their thoughts. And in this case, their thought process deciding which way to go.
- Why do they need to choose a direction?
- Why is one of the ‘turn’s wrong?
- As they make this decision, how does their body react; shakes, hot flush?
The context for this prompt is entirely up to you. The challenge is to describe how your character decides which way to turn and how they feel during the process.

Enjoy, and may you turn this prompt into an interesting work of fiction.

Quick fiction writing

Set a time limit, use the following random prompts, and write a short piece of fiction.
- Character: soldier
- Place: crossroads
- Item: signpost
Journal prompt

Personal journals are a great place to explore how we are feeling. We are all taking part in the journey of life. There are many twists and turns, some positive and others less so. However, recording these in our journals and learning from the experience is helpful as we take the next step and turn toward the next destination.

Three ideas for your journal
- draw a signpost that signals a turn toward a collage/mixed media image of your dreams
- paint, draw or collage a map of your life, marking any significant turning points
- list the pros and cons of a decision you need to make, then turn toward the best option
Theory of General Creativity

I now have ‘turn’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week.
- Look for interesting signposts when out and about
- Every so often, a complete U-turn is needed to move a creative project forward
- Turn your piece of art; canvas, soundscape or image, upside down… does that give you a fresh perspective?
Let ‘turn’ 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, or any creative project or idea.

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
10 October 2021
A green cascade for a Wordless Wednesday

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

6 October 2021