darren r hill

the creative minimalist

Category: Creativity

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

  • Creative field notes from the creative minimalist

    The incense fell straight and created these columns as it burned. Little creative accidents are nice when they occur. But creativity can also involve hard work and effort. In a bid to both motivate and make myself accountable, I thought it was time for some creative field notes. What exactly am I creating?

    Website(s)

    This past week I have been updating and creating websites. You should see a few changes here as I begin to roll out the changes. I have tried various designs over the years but, for this site – and quite rightly too – I find myself returning to a simple minimal feel.

    This Temple Eden is also going through a few changes. This is taking a little longer to roll out, but you will be able to find things easier and quicker in the near future.

    Waoao (freelance) has partly prompted these changes. I am working on simplifying and creating a couple of websites in a freelance capacity. This has meant going back to basics whilst keeping up with the ever-changing technology of the web. If you’re thinking of setting up a website and don’t know where to start, drop me a comment and I’ll get back to you. I offer a friendly service and tech talk-free solutions.

    Music

    This past week I finished the first draft of lyrics to a song that is now called ‘The Sun and the Moon’. I’m letting the lyrics settle for a while and will then work on an arrangement and get some recording done.

    I have a couple of other tracks in progress and they are going well.

    The music I have completed is available on Spotify and Apple Music, and Bandcamp. My Bandcamp site is still offering hours of music for the price of a couple of cups of coffee. And on September 4th Bandcamp are waiving their fees for artists to help during the pandemic. So if you want a little music, feel free to purchase and enjoy.

    I still don’t quite feel like I have my song collection organised. I have it all in a database at the moment. However, I feel like I need to go old school with it all and use index cards. Will something tactile help me create more music, or am I just procrastinating again? That’s always possible.

    Writing fiction

    Well, let’s put it this way, I haven’t been. I could blame the virus but I don’t think it is that. It is more a question of time and priorities. I have been posting the writing prompts here and there will be more writing tips to follow. In conclusion…

    ‘Not blocked, just not’

    darrenrhill

    Journal

    I have moved into a more visual journey in my journal and planner. I am sharing this process regularly on YouTube and cross-posting here. If you haven’t visited my YouTube channel, here’s the link and if you want, I would appreciate your subscription. And any stickers I use in my journals might be found on my pLAnarchy Etsy store, so do check that out.

    So that’s the state of the creative minimalist as August draws to an end. There are plenty of other things I would like to share with you, but they need to wait for a later post. In the meantime, I need to get going with my freelance work, making some music and seeing if my fingers want to type a little fiction.

    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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  • Getting trapped in the Traps

    Getting trapped in traps and image of crag pots

    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 are traps that we can avoid if we see them and if we choose. There are traps that give us comfort, places we know too well.

    There are traps. Then there is trapped.

    … and trapped is bad.

    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

  • imposter syndrome reasons to procrastinate No 157

    Reasons to procrastinate No 157 - imposter syndrome

    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 solving one might help with the other, or vice versa.

    I feel like I don’t have a voice. Or, I am unsure as to what my voice is. I don’t like genres and classification for a start, which might be part of the problem. But the problem is, worrying about my ‘voice’ stops me from creating. Which then enables me to fall into the imposter syndrome. No authentic voice? Then you must be a fake. And I sit and procrastinate.

    Yet one of my musical heroes is Bowie. The eternal voice changer… the ultimate imposter? Glam rocker, space minstrel, ambient wanderer… one singer, many voices.

    So I turned myself to face me
    But I’ve never caught a glimpse
    How the others must see the faker
    I’m much too fast to take that test

    Changes by David Bowie

    Yes, but that’s music and music Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, what about writing? I want to write in different styles and genres.

    One of my favourite authors is Iain M Banks. His creativity pushed the boundaries of contemporary sci-fi. And yet he also wrote other books. He dropped the M when he wrote them. Some of his non-sci-fi books are also amongst my favourites. One author, multiple voices.

    There is no reason I can’t create in different styles with different voices. I just have to be me. Me, expressed in different ways. Channel creativity. Creation then takes its form. Form follows unction.

    Whether what I create is any good is subjective, and don’t get me started on quality and perfection… that is another reason for my procrastination and an altogether different blog post.

    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