The hottest Creativity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #63

Creative Destruction • 36 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Change is often slow and gradual, not sudden and miraculous, so embrace the process.
  2. Uncertainty can be a strength in dealing with complex challenges and building mental resilience.
  3. The tech sector, driven by AI hype, often focuses more on storytelling and future potential than practical value.

Monochrome

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 19 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Innovation relies on understanding and engaging with what we don't know. It's important to accept uncertainty to create new ideas.
  2. Acknowledging what we don't know doesn't make us less credible; instead, it shows we're willing to explore and improve our understanding.
  3. Meaning-making is a uniquely human skill that involves creating connections between ideas, which machines currently struggle to replicate.

Sean Jewell: The A͎C͎T͎I͎V͎E͎ ͎A͎R͎T͎I͎S͎T͎ and The ᴱᵀᴱᴿᴺᴬᴸ 𖣘 ᴿᴱᵀᵁᴿᴺ

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 15 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. The concept of the Active Artist and Eternal Return highlights the perpetual journey of growth and creation in the world of art.
  2. The artist must transcend constraints to achieve Active Art, creating newness and pushing boundaries against societal norms.
  3. Active Artists face challenges from conventional society, but through their continuous creation and adaptation, they contribute to a constant cycle of renewal and liberation.
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Box #6

What Is Called Thinking? • 10 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Tyler Cowen and Ross Douthat discuss religion, highlighting the difference between viewing it as psychological vs. recognizing genuine experiences of the divine. They agree that our deeper longing for meaning persists even in a scientific world.
  2. Katherine Boyle mentions that aesthetics in business are important today, as people value intangibles like talent and style over just physical assets. She points out that companies like Apple thrive on a strong aesthetic, unlike others that focus on frugality.
  3. John Ashbery's poetry suggests that creativity comes from making mistakes, not avoiding them. This idea shows that wandering or 'erring' can lead to valuable creative outcomes.

#3: Reality mining

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 139 implied HN points • 20 Nov 19
💼 Business Creativity
  1. Negative capability helps you handle uncertainty without getting stuck. It's about being okay with not knowing everything while still taking action.
  2. There are two types of negative capability: soldier-on, which helps you push forward despite uncertainty, and beginner-mind, which lets you see new values and possibilities in what's already around you.
  3. In a world that values innovation, embracing a flexible mindset allows you to find creative solutions and make the most of the resources you have at hand.

Castles in the Sky's Seven Most Underrated Essays

Castles in the Sky • 10 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Reflecting on past essays can be a valuable exercise for writers and bloggers. It helps them see how their style has changed and what topics resonate with their audience.
  2. Understanding fatherhood often teaches important lessons about self-care and responsibility. Writers can convey deep emotions through relatable experiences with family.
  3. Exploring complex ideas in a simple way can lead to misunderstandings, so it's essential to keep an open mind. Just because something is hard to explain doesn't mean it's wrong or unworthy.

Learn to play the fool

Austin Kleon • 79 implied HN points • 12 Feb 21
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Being a lifelong learner means being okay with looking foolish sometimes. It's part of the learning process.
  2. Exploring outside the usual online algorithms can lead to fresh ideas. Don't limit yourself to what's popular.
  3. Sharing your work can have a big impact on your life. It helps connect you with others and opens up new opportunities.

Something To Respond To

polymathematics • 19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Giving yourself something to respond to helps spark creativity. Instead of starting from scratch, use prompts or existing ideas to inspire your work.
  2. Using tools like word processors or audio software can be intimidating at first. It's okay to rely on these tools for structure rather than feeling you must create everything out of nothing.
  3. Engaging in activities like workshops can provide valuable insights and techniques for creativity. Learning from others can open up new ways of thinking about your own work.

Curiosity is not a luxury

Austin Kleon • 59 implied HN points • 06 Aug 21
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Curiosity is essential, not just a nice-to-have. It's important to recognize what we don't know and be open to uncertainty.
  2. Reading and sharing good books and art can spark inspiration and ignite our creativity.
  3. Exploring new ways of creating, like using vegetables for printmaking, can be a fun and engaging way to express ourselves.

Strong AI Creativity

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 15 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Creativity
  1. AI is proving to be more creative than humans in generating ideas. Studies show that AI can outscore humans in creativity tasks, both when working alone and even in some co-creation scenarios.
  2. Humans tend to judge AI-generated ideas unfairly. There is a bias against AI, as its ideas are often rated lower just because people know they are from AI, even if the ideas are the same.
  3. AI is also outperforming human researchers in academic creativity. In comparing AI-generated research ideas to those from junior human scientists, AI scored better in novelty, excitement, and overall effectiveness.

Another chortleworthy 'experiment in style'

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 3 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Trying out different writing styles can help improve your skills. It’s a fun way to get creative and explore new ways to express ideas.
  2. Steampunk is a unique genre that blends history with futuristic technology. It adds a cool twist to storytelling with its imaginative vocabulary.
  3. Experimenting with writing can lead to humor and interesting narratives. Sharing these experiments can engage others and spark discussions.

Ignorant, but curious

Austin Kleon • 59 implied HN points • 30 Jul 21
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Being curious is a great way to learn, even if you feel ignorant about something. It's all about showing interest and paying attention.
  2. If you're stuck on a creative project, try skipping over the boring parts. This can help you regain motivation and spark new ideas.
  3. When life feels upside down, it’s important to adapt instead of just pushing through. Changing your approach can lead to better outcomes.

Practice, practice, practice

Austin Kleon • 79 implied HN points • 08 Jan 21
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Practicing regularly helps you improve, but the goal should be to just get better at what you do, even if it means starting from a place of not being very good.
  2. Reading can be hard sometimes, and it’s okay to take your time with enjoyable books that make you think.
  3. Don't let others tell you what you shouldn't read or do; follow your own interests and find joy in exploring.

Recap: 2024

Creative Destruction • 11 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. The top deep dives of 2024 included posts that resonated with many readers, highlighting important issues like technology and business dynamics. These articles sparked conversations across various platforms.
  2. Mind-blowing framings for the year tackled complex topics like the overload of information and the essence of intelligence. These pieces encouraged readers to reflect deeply on modern society and our perspective on the world.
  3. Looking ahead to 2025, there are key themes that can help us understand and prepare for future challenges. These insights aim to shape how we view and respond to coming changes.

Experiments in style: The Disk Jockey

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 9 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Trying out different writing styles can help improve your skills. It's like practicing a new dance move, the more you do it, the better you become!
  2. Parody writing is a fun way to explore styles, as it lets you play with existing texts. It’s like putting a funny twist on a familiar song.
  3. Using humor in writing can capture readers' attention and make serious topics more enjoyable. Laughing at something tough can help us understand it better!

Start the week #86

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 10 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Writing can be tough sometimes, and it's normal to feel stuck or unsure about what to create. It's important to remember that finding joy and laughter in writing can be valuable for others.
  2. Social media can feel overwhelming with constant bragging and selling. It's okay to mute or block content that doesn’t interest you, and it’s important to focus on what truly matters to us.
  3. Learning an instrument, like the saxophone, involves a lot of patience and practice. Success often comes just when we feel like giving up, so it's good to keep showing up and trying.

The Catastrophe of Shiny Objects: Boredom, Attention, and Creativity

Mind Prison • 11 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Creativity
  1. Technology keeps us entertained but can limit our creativity. Constant stimulation from devices can make it hard for us to think deeply or come up with new ideas.
  2. Boredom is a key part of our thinking process. It helps our brains reset and can lead us to explore new ideas and solutions if we let it.
  3. Ignoring boredom by filling our time with distractions can hurt our ability to develop skills. If we always seek instant entertainment, we miss chances for growth and creativity.

You Don’t Need Moderation

Path Nine • 25 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Moderation may not be necessary for everyone in work and creativity.
  2. Creative work often benefits from chaos and pushing boundaries.
  3. Some individuals find fulfillment and inspiration in embracing chaos and avoiding strict moderation.

A Practical Guide to Gardening Ideas

the shimmering void • 46 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. Ideas are mental objects similar to physical objects that can be manipulated and related to each other
  2. Creative thinking involves consuming diverse information, giving time for inspiration, and being open to insights
  3. Mindfulness, broad perspective, and patience are crucial for effective ideation and overcoming limitations

Full-Stack Something

Working Theorys • 31 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
💼 Business Creativity
  1. Being full-stack means being skilled in a variety of tasks within a domain.
  2. Full-stack isn't limited to engineering; it can apply to any field like design, marketing, or writing.
  3. The ability to be self-sufficient in various areas can be beneficial and lead to more opportunities.

Youtube's original sin-g

escape the algorithm • 39 implied HN points • 24 Aug 21
🎶 Music Creativity
  1. The internet often presents a limited subset of human creativity that is tailored to algorithms for consumption.
  2. Exploring original music on platforms like YouTube through unconventional means can unearth hidden gems despite low view counts.
  3. Discovering music through personal exploration can offer a more meaningful and unique experience compared to algorithm-curated content.

Creative Machines

polymathematics • 19 implied HN points • 10 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. People wonder if AIs can truly be considered artists. It's a big question because art is often seen as a human creation.
  2. If a favorite book was found to be written by AI, it might change how we feel about it. Many would ask if it makes the story less special or meaningful.
  3. The idea of AI creating literature challenges our ideas about creativity and originality. It makes us think about what it means to be an artist.

Five lateral thinking techniques

A Bit Gamey • 27 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🚌 Education Creativity
  1. Lateral thinking techniques involve challenging assumptions and embracing creativity.
  2. Perceptual change can open up new possibilities by reframing problems.
  3. Random input and provocation are tools that can stimulate creativity and generate new ideas.

Three links for 2023-08-21

Meaningful Particulars • 32 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Questioning the authority of health experts due to the rise of safetyism displacing other moral sensibilities.
  2. Exploring transhumanism as a literal interpretation of superhero powers through technology.
  3. Emphasizing the importance of focusing on creativity and sharing 'dope shit' with the world for standing out.

Forward Motion

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 8 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Creativity
  1. To keep living fully, it's important to keep creating and challenging yourself. Whether it's a new project, learning a skill, or tackling a personal goal, ongoing motion is key.
  2. Staying mentally active and engaged can help with longevity. People who create and have a purpose tend to live longer and feel more fulfilled than those who don't.
  3. Don't waste time just waiting around or being passive. Use your time to work on things that matter to you, because time is precious and shouldn't just be 'killed.'

The Dark Forest Anthology of the Internet

The Ideaspace • 21 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity
  1. The Dark Forest Anthology of the Internet is a book capturing a critical moment in internet history, exploring the concept of retreating to 'dark forests' online as a response to mainstream internet behaviors.
  2. The book is a limited first-edition run of 1,000 copies available for purchase through Metalabel, offering a beautifully designed narrative of life on the web.
  3. Metalabel is a new platform supporting the selling, releasing, and exhibiting of various creative works, providing a space for creative groups to collaborate and share their work and audiences.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #66

Creative Destruction • 22 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Aggressively tackle climate breakdown with mass mobilization after severe shock.
  2. Systemic transformation needed for beautifying the world to boost sustainability and social justice.
  3. Shift from collective outrage to cooperation and shared hope for societal change.

Pathfinding With Tomas Pueyo: An Interview

Time Well Spent • 20 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity
  1. Understanding the evolutionary reasons behind differences in seeking therapy for men and women reveals insights into behaviors and perceptions.
  2. The future of AI in the consumer market may lead to increased efficiency, creativity, and social changes that will reshape industries and human interactions.
  3. Enhancing thinking and reasoning skills involves continuous curiosity, deep analysis, skill stacking, prioritizing communication, and embracing quantity to learn quality.

Experiments in style: Antonymic translation

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 10 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Trying to rewrite texts in different styles can help improve writing skills. It's a fun way to explore new ways to express ideas.
  2. Antonymic translation is a technique where you replace words with their opposites, leading to funny and interesting results. It’s a creative exercise for writers.
  3. This experimentation with styles can change the tone of a story and offers a fresh perspective on familiar narratives. It's great for sparking new ideas.

Ten ideas per day

A Bit Gamey • 33 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Creativity
  1. Writing down 10 ideas per day can lead to new opportunities and success.
  2. Exercising our 'idea muscle' through daily idea generation enhances mental agility and creativity.
  3. Tips for generating 10 ideas per day include starting small, finding time to brainstorm freely, and suspending judgement on ideas.

Three self editing tips

A Bit Gamey • 6 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
📚 Literature Creativity
  1. Give your writing some time before editing. Letting it sit for a day helps you see it with fresh eyes and improve it better.
  2. Try printing your draft to edit it on paper. This makes the work feel new and helps you spot mistakes more easily.
  3. Reading your writing out loud can help you catch errors and awkward phrases. It’s a great way to make sure your writing flows well.