The hottest Creativity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

Be open to your own creativity

Technology, Environment, and Art • 59 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Creativity
  1. Be open to your own creativity and avoid large online sharing platforms to nurture your expression.
  2. Big online platforms aim to profit and can potentially hinder rather than support your creative output.
  3. Limit the use of soulless big tech platforms, be true to yourself, explore offline sharing, and nurture your creativity away from large corporations.

Ideas I Keep Coming Back To

Creative Destruction • 11 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Reflecting on life's moments can bring joy and perspective. It's nice to share and revisit things that matter to us.
  2. Writing can help explore complex ideas, like how we view the world or cope with emotions. It can provide deeper understanding.
  3. Feedback from others is valuable. It helps improve our thoughts and writing, making it more meaningful for everyone.

From Error, Virtue

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Making mistakes can lead to unexpected and beautiful designs, just like fixing an error in a project can give it a unique charm.
  2. Life is full of mistakes, but some of them help us grow and become better, similar to how the best music often includes 'wrong' notes used creatively.
  3. Many great discoveries in science come from unexpected errors, reminding us that being open to failure can lead to amazing insights and new ideas.

Going Broke and Getting Rich

The False Consensus Effect • 59 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. The author plans to maintain expenses below the U.S. poverty level for a year, challenging themselves to make under $399 profit, showcasing a unique thought/action experiment.
  2. There is a focus on living frugally and embracing a minimalistic lifestyle as a form of protest against government systems and societal norms.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of stories and rare artifacts as valuable remnants of past resistance and cultural significance.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Ben Suga on Balancing Tradition and Creativity

Chance Operations • 158 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Ben Suga found inspiration in the physicality and difficulty of working with clay, similar to his experience as a wrestler in high school.
  2. Through apprenticeships in Japan and America, Ben learned the importance of tradition in ceramics and found creativity within the structured practice.
  3. The firing process in ceramics balances precision and control with chaotic elements like chance, adding an unpredictable yet intriguing aspect to the art.

Chat with Humanities in Revolt

Humanities in Revolt • 99 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. The introduction of a new feature called Humanities in Revolt subscriber chat provides a more private and creative space for subscribers to have informal conversations.
  2. The chat allows for exploration of ideas and perspectives in a relaxed manner, where subscribers can engage with the content creator and each other in a more spontaneous way.
  3. To join the chat, subscribers need to download the Substack app, as the chats will be sent through the app with push notifications enabled to stay updated on conversations.

Befriending the soul.

Neckar’s Notes • 60 implied HN points • 25 May 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Creativity
  1. Making time for your soul is important. It helps you connect with your true self and understand what you really want.
  2. Slowing down and being present can lead to deeper insights. Instead of just staying busy, it's good to reflect and listen to your inner thoughts.
  3. Asking yourself meaningful questions can spark creativity and understanding. These questions can help you explore who you are and what you truly care about.

The Moment that Made Louis C.K.'s Career

Neckar’s Notes • 150 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Louis C.K. faced dark times early in his career but kept going despite feeling lost. He learned that persistence is key, even when things seem tough.
  2. He spent years perfecting his comedy, but realized he wasn't happy with the act he created. This shows that just working hard isn't always enough if you're not passionate about what you're doing.
  3. C.K. admired George Carlin's ability to create deep work, which inspired him but also made him doubt himself. This highlights how comparison can drive us forward or hold us back.

Human in an AI Age: Roots & Wings.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 44 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Creativity
  1. Having roots is important because they give us stability and a sense of history. They shape who we are through our past experiences and relationships.
  2. Wings represent our dreams and the ability to reach new heights. They encourage us to explore new paths and embrace change.
  3. To succeed, we need a balance of roots and wings. Too much focus on the past can hold us back, while not having enough can make us unstable.

Generative AI and the Movie Industry: Opportunities and Challenges

Rod’s Blog • 39 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Creativity
  1. Generative AI is reshaping the movie industry with its ability to enhance various production aspects like scriptwriting, casting, editing, and marketing.
  2. OpenAI's Sora technology is a groundbreaking example of generative AI creating photorealistic and interactive movies based on natural language inputs.
  3. The Hollywood strike against AI in the movie industry highlights concerns about how artificial intelligence could impact the rights, credits, and compensation of writers and actors.

Weekly Wednesday Wisdom #7

Weekly Wisdom • 99 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
🚌 Education Creativity
  1. Documenting your learning process and teaching along the way can be an effective method to learn and grow.
  2. Storytelling is essential in communication and can be a powerful tool, even in something as seemingly mundane as copywriting.
  3. Reflecting on your progress, implementing small planning practices, and exploring new learning challenges can help in personal growth and development.

The imperfectly perfect diary

10x your mind • 139 implied HN points • 17 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Sometimes we delay using special items for something 'perfect' when using them for everyday things could be just as rewarding.
  2. We often focus on refining our work to perfection and hesitate to share it, but imperfections can be appreciated by others.
  3. Don't let the quest for perfection hold you back from starting or sharing. It's okay to start imperfectly and improve along the way.

#109 Make do and mend

Design Lobster • 299 implied HN points • 16 May 22
🪑 Design Creativity
  1. Repairing and maintaining items can lead to creative and bold outcomes, reinventing things in original ways.
  2. Fixes and repairs can actually enhance designs, making them more beautiful and functional.
  3. Design is often about redesign, inheriting previous design choices and revisiting them with new perspectives and intentions.

#111 Blown out of proportion

Design Lobster • 279 implied HN points • 13 Jun 22
🪑 Design Creativity
  1. Changing the scale of your design can have a significant impact.
  2. Turning a mistake into a distinctive part of your design can lead to unique outcomes.
  3. Deviate from the norm and embrace your creativity to make a difference.

Creative Soulmates

Seven Senses • 1 HN point • 08 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Creative friendships can lead to amazing collaborations. They let you share ideas, inspire each other, and grow together.
  2. Trust is important in these relationships. Whether it's sharing meals or working on projects, being open and supportive helps deepen the bond.
  3. Even if friends go separate ways, the memories and connections can last. It's like a part of them stays with you, no matter the distance.

Design in the Intelligent Age

The Intersection • 59 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
🪑 Design Creativity
  1. To stay relevant as a designer, it's important to move beyond traditional design roles and embrace technology and new skillsets.
  2. The role of design is debated, with some saying it's less important than technology, but in reality, design is crucial for bringing ideas to life.
  3. Being a bridge between disciplines, understanding different mindsets, and learning varied languages can help designers become the lead character in the evolving creative landscape.

Getting Unstuck: How Psychedelics Can Help Navigate Mental Blocks 🧠

Tripsitter • 79 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Creativity
  1. Psychedelics can help unlock creativity and uncover solutions to complex problems by increasing randomness in the brain.
  2. Psychedelics don't make us smarter or increase IQ, but they can aid in viewing problems from different perspectives.
  3. Randomness induced by psychedelics can lead to novel ideas and breakthrough moments that help in overcoming mental blocks.

AI is Boring

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 79 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🕹 Technology Creativity
  1. Value comes from scarcity, and the abundance of AI-generated content reduces its value and meaning.
  2. The convenience and entertainment offered by AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney risk dumbing down humanity and making genuine creativity obsolete.
  3. Human achievement, with all its imperfections and struggles, holds more value and meaning than the easily obtainable and abundant content created by AI.

Diary #16

Autoscriptorium • 79 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. The blend of good and bad news creates a unique suspension throughout the day, not merging but colliding.
  2. Original thought is explored, pondering on how fresh insights and observations come to fruition.
  3. Navigating moments of responsibility and accountability, reflecting on the concept of 'naked responsibility' in daily life.

Are Creatives an Endangered Species?

The Intersection • 79 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. The evolution of creatives has moved from storytellers to hackers, designers & engineers, to business owners, highlighting the need to adapt and build on previous characteristics.
  2. In the evolving landscape, brands need a clear stance on issues and can learn from examples like Patagonia's impactful message that highlights the importance of having a distinct point of view.
  3. Creativity is no longer exclusive to traditional creatives as AI and digital tools democratize the ability to create, urging creatives to find new ways to utilize their skills in the changing industry.

Shop time

J ROBERT CLARK - MAKES • 78 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Time in the shop is considered the best time-consuming task by makers.
  2. Time, while valuable, becomes transcendent when used wisely in activities like creativity.
  3. Time can feel relentless and chaotic, but finding moments of joy and focus can make it more bearable.

Creativity Is An Underrated Performance Booster

The Modern World Builder ✧Tips For Collective Lorecraft • 78 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
💼 Business Creativity
  1. Creativity leads to innovation, which creates value and helps you stand out in your field.
  2. In competitive environments like twitter or in entrepreneurship, trying to outdo others with productivity alone may not work. Being creative sets you apart.
  3. In industries like crypto and entrepreneurship, where problems are novel and solutions need imagination, developing creative skills is more valuable than just being productive.

drafting 2/

practiceprocesscraft • 78 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🚌 Education Creativity
  1. Sketching in writing can help structure your ideas before committing fully.
  2. Different forms of sketches include structured outlines, summary sketches, and visual sketches.
  3. Asking specific questions can guide your sketching process and help in refining your writing.

writing a book 1/

practiceprocesscraft • 78 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. When starting a book, it's normal to feel uncertain about your ideas.
  2. List your questions and ideas to clear your mind and find your book's direction.
  3. Allow yourself to explore different ideas like trying out different ships to find the one that feels right.

A journal of becoming

Pav writes • 78 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Focus on an organic creative process to create and publish more easily and frequently.
  2. Recognize and counter high-brow biases by approaching creativity with love and care.
  3. Counter hierarchical and negativity biases by doing everything with love and attention.

Some Notes on Notes

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 522 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Writers often procrastinate due to fear of difficult subjects, exposure, rejection or mistakes.
  2. Social media has become a common distraction for writers, but its impact on creativity seems to be diminishing.
  3. Discipline plays a key role in creativity, and writers can start creating with just a pen and paper, bypassing the need for a perfect setup.

Taylor Sheridan's Extreme Productivity

SatPost by Trung Phan • 122 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Taylor Sheridan didn't become a successful writer until he was 40, showing that it's never too late to start a new career. His need to support his family pushed him to work hard and produce a lot of content quickly.
  2. He handles creative control differently than others in Hollywood, often working alone instead of in a writer's room. This unique approach allows him to stay true to his vision and produce shows and movies that resonate with people.
  3. Buying a massive ranch for $350 million increased his pressure to succeed even more. This financial burden motivated him to create new shows and push out his work at an extreme rate.