darren r hill

the creative minimalist

A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore. I discovered it at the bottom of the trunk. I opened the old, dusty journal and began to read. A life long gone breathed again… Writing Prompt Expanded You might have noticed but I like to journal.…
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I went to Dartmoor, this is what I saw.
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a short soundscape
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A flip through of my junk journal and planner and a little thought about the sort of things I write on my to-do lists. Why do I add things that aren’t actions to my lists? They cause nothing but trouble. Bandcampthis temple edenShop: Planarchy and Stuffhttps://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/darrenrhill
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A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore. There is nothing I can do. My fate is in the hands of the gods. I am helpless. Everything is out of my control. Writing Prompt Expanded Many things that make us anxious and worried are beyond…
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And so we find ourselves in September. Well, I do, and I am assuming that you are too. Although this year has been full of the weird and out of the ordinary, so perhaps I am just here on my own. ‘Welcome to September’, I said as I looked at my junk journal and created…
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Worship — Weekly Creative Prompt
It’s time for another weekly creative prompt word. These weekly words, or prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

Today is Palm Sunday. In certain faiths, this is the day Jesus entered Jerusalem to welcoming cheers. The officials were not happy. They didn’t want anyone or anything apart from what the state-approved to be revered, and within a week, they pretty much had their way. Today we have a little more freedom to what we want to show adoration. Therefore…

This week’s creative prompt word is:

Worship — great admiration or devotion shown towards a person or principle

this isn’t the only definition of worship, but I wanted to steer as clear as possible from any ‘organised’ meaning

Let the prompt inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested:
- writing fiction
- art journaling
- songwriting
- journaling
- photography
- painting
- composing
- blog posts
- art therapy
- anything that could use a little nudge to begin
I now have ‘worship’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. The concept of worship, whether religious or more general, enables me to think beyond myself. I hope that it will help you step back and appreciate things in the next few days.

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 @darrenrhill or #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.

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28 March 2021
Thinking about balance in the vlog

27 March 2021
Balance – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt
A Fiction Writing Prompt exploring the word balance to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

I hold my breath. This moment can go as planned or spectacularly wrong. I begin to move.

Writing Prompt Expanded

My creative word this week is balance. It is a word that keeps cropping up in my thoughts and journaling. And it is the background for today’s writing prompt. The narrator is ready to do something. Before moving everything is ready and in balance. Then they move.

This prompt is about describing balance and how movement affects it. One challenge is to write without actually explaining what is balanced. Another is to explore something that isn’t tangible, such as feelings or dreams of the future. Here are a few more questions to inspire…
- Does time stand still, and how do you describe that?
- What is the predominant feeling, hope or fear? Why?
- Who benefits if balance is lost, and who will not?
I struggle with living in the present ‘balanced’ moment (more of that in future posts) as I spend far too much time either looking backward or to the future. If you are like me then this challenge is quite helpful as something to explore in your journal. Take a moment to appreciate and give thanks when things are balanced. It is beneficial. However, we all need to take a step and begin to move… and begin to write as well.

As always these writing 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 as a journal prompt. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments, use the hashtag #ffwp or tag me @darrenrhill. I’d love to read what you create. Write and enjoy the learning process.

Original stone balance image by Einfach-Eve 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.

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26 March 2021
An introduction to pilgrimage and possibility

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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23 March 2021
Balance — Weekly Creative Prompt
It’s time for another weekly creative prompt word. These weekly words, or prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

Yesterday was the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (Autumn, south of the equator). I mentioned in my last post that I love the idea of the seasonal cycles and the equinoxes. There is something that fascinates me about the idea of symmetry and equality in ‘wild’ nature. Humanity believes it brings order, stability, and structure. However, all these things exist without us if we care to look. Therefore…

This week’s creative prompt word is:

Balance — a situation in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions

this isn’t the only definition of balance but seeing as last week’s prompt was elements it ties in very well

Let the prompt inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested:
- writing fiction
- art journaling
- songwriting
- journaling
- photography
- painting
- composing
- blog posts
- art therapy
- anything that could use a little nudge to begin
I now have ‘balance’ written on the board above my computer. I know it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. It is actually forming part of a bigger picture vision for me. There will be more about that this week! Oops, now I have committed and made myself accountable.

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 @darrenrhill or #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
21 March 2021
When balanced, begin
The Spring Equinox is today. Daylight hours are equal to those of the night. All is in astronomical balance. A momentary pause. The next step into spring and then on to summer. Everything is in balance, stable, and therefore it is an ideal time to set things in motion. A time to begin the new journey, to set off along a new path.

I love the seasonal cycles, the way our lives can connect with the motion of the universe. The connection between the macro and the micro. Sunrise and sunset. New and full moon. A time to sow and a time to reap. And today, it is a time to begin.

I also love ancient writings, rituals, and traditions. I love nature and the natural world. These two sit together in the Ogham alphabet. And, at this time of beginnings I have found myself drawn to the birch tree.

Beith / birch
The first letter in the ogham alphabet.
Traditions see it as a herald for the new.
A time to discard the old ways that inhibit.
A time to initiate.
A time to begin

All of this is where I find myself this day. I am balanced between where I am and where I want to be. This time of equality finds me in a stable position. And I am about to embark on a journey. The path isn’t yet clear or cleared. The timing uncertain. But this is where I begin. I stand beside my birch tree, ready to take my next step.
- Seek what I love and enjoy
- Create what I love and enjoy
- Share the love and creativity
It’s time for me to begin this creative journey from a place of balance.

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 March 2021