darren r hill

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.

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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

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

This week’s creative prompt is Cascade. Each week we begin with a single word and explore 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

cascade — a mass of something that falls or hangs in copious quantities/a succession of devices or stages in a process, each of which triggers or initiates the next

Cascade can be used as a noun or verb.

Related

waterfall, falls, water chute, cataract, rapids, torrent, flood, deluge, outpouring, white water, fountain, shower, avalanche

pour, gush, surge, spill, domino, stream, flow, issue, spurt, jet; tumble, descend, fall, drop, plunge, pitch; overflow.

Cascade denotes movement, action. It conjures up images of waterfalls and flowing rivers, or ideas and visions taking shape.

Let the prompt ‘cascade’ 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 cascade to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

One nudge and it will fall, a cascade with far-reaching consequences.

Writing Prompt Expanded

I love watching those astonishing domino challenges. Sometimes thousands of dominos are lined up, then with a single nudge, one is knocked over. This domino in turn knocks over the next and so on, until they all, hopefully, fall over.

This prompt may lead you to write about a domino challenge, or it might be exploring a domino effect elsewhere. Whatever you choose to write about, something may or may not occur and create a cascade effect. Use the following questions if you want.

• What is the trigger to begin the cascade?
• What will fall, and how long will it take?
• How does your character feel about the situation?

The context for this prompt is entirely up to you. The challenge is to describe how one thing falling causes the next to do the same. At its very basic this is a plot in simplified form, action causes a reaction, and so on.

Enjoy and may your words cascade onto and fill the blank screen.

Quick fiction writing

Set a time limit, use the following random prompts, and write a short piece of fiction.

• Character: person over 70 years old
• Place: prison
• Item: domino

Journal prompt

Cascade can describe something falling apart or becoming something greater. Both these ideas can be explored in our journals. They can also go hand in hand, we pull down to build up.

Three ideas for your journal

• draw a series of lines cascading down your journal page and then embellish
• paint a waterfall scene
• list a cascade process to achieving your next goal/dream

Theory of General Creativity

I now have ‘cascade’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week.

• capture things cascading with your camera
• use the cascade effect as a metaphor when planning a project
• multiply a creative idea from a trickle to a cascade

Let ‘cascade’ 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