darren r hill

the creative minimalist

  • A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore. It is quiet. The constant background noise has ceased. That means… yes, the rain, it has finally stopped. Can we possibly venture out… Writing Prompt Expanded There is plenty of scope for exploration in this prompt. In…

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  • There are many kinds of trap. Traps are used to capture something. They could trap an animal, like those in the image. They could trap humans, both foolish and wise. They could capture measurements and be completely benign. Traps we fall into. Traps we deliberately trigger. Traps set by others. Traps set by ourselves. There…

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  • “I coughed. My chest felt tight. We had been told they were the first symptoms. Now I had them… “ A Friday Fiction Writing Prompt with a little nod toward the current season. As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a…

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  • I journal. I do a mixture of morning pages, planning and general thought dumps. I write to myself. Okay, I talk to myself too but this is a little more structured. I have recently been having a discussion with myself about ‘voice’ and the broader issue around identity. It is possible both are linked and…

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  • The Last Emperox by John Scalzi A book review Creativity flows throughout the universe. To be creative we merely need to step into the flow and create. The flow is elusive, but it is there. Sometimes it is hard to find, other times it is clear. Creativity takes us from one place to another. The…

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  • I made a mixtape of songs that have been bouncing between my ears recently. They all have a vague link, in my head, with the current lockdown and Beltane, which has just passed. It’s just under 40 minutes long, so if you want to have a musical meander for a bit, scroll down. The mixtape…

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  • You (and me) are the barrier to creativity

    You (and me) are the barrier to creativity

    you are the barrier to creativity text and image or me in front of a fence with barbed wire

    I have discovered that the biggest barrier to creativity is myself. It might well be the same for you as well. In this week’s vlog, I look at three ways to overcome the barriers we create for ourselves.

    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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  • Choose your creative life

    Choose your creative life

    choose your creative life text with a picture of me

    What is your ideal creative life? So often reality and everyday living stop us from being creative. However, we can choose to fit in art, music and writing. In this week’s vlog, I look at the ideal vs reality of being creative.

    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

  • What’s the point of creating

    What’s the point of creating

    what's the point of creating text with an image of me infant of a messy recording studio

    Thus, when Darren looked at what he hath created, he thought, what’s the point and was distinctly underwhelmed. This week’s vlog is a look at how to keep going on a creative project that doesn’t sparkle. Let’s continue to create.

    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

  • Making Creativity Easy

    Making Creativity Easy

    Making creativity easy text with a picture of me in front of a sandy beach

    There is a way to make creativity easier, to make the creative process easy.. er…ish. Give your music, art, video, images, writing, a helping hand with this one simple tip. I’m making creativity easy in this week’s vlog, let’s create.

    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

  • When creative plans don’t work

    When creative plans don’t work

    When creative plans don't work text with a picture of me

    Once upon a time, I had a creative plan, to create new music while finishing an old music project. That fairy tale came to an unhappy end. In this week’s vlog, I take a look at lessons learnt from a failed creative plan.

    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

  • A Creative Rule of Life

    A Creative Rule of Life

    A Creative Rule of Life text with an image of me superimposed in front of a monk's cell

    Despite an inner craving to avoid rules and regulations, I have been contemplating how to bring a little order to my creative life. In this week’s vlog, I wonder if a creative rule of life might be the answer.

    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