The hottest Creativity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

I talked to the creator behind my favourite Are.na board

The Social Juice • 66 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
💼 Business Marketing Advertising Media Strategy Creativity
  1. The author interviews creators and marketers regularly. This gives insights into the world of marketing and helps readers learn from the experiences of others.
  2. There's a community aspect where subscribers can join a Discord group and WhatsApp chat. This allows for interaction and sharing among like-minded individuals.
  3. The newsletter offers a mix of marketing resources and news updates. This helps keep readers informed about the latest trends and strategies in the marketing field.

Today I Wrote Nothing

Public Universal Friend • 59 implied HN points • 01 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Writing Art Social media Community Creativity
  1. Writing on Substack feels better than other social media. It encourages creativity and connection with people you know.
  2. The platform's design helps with writing, making it easy and rewarding to create. Watching your own writing grow is satisfying.
  3. A regular writing practice helps maintain a sense of community and keeps you engaged in your thoughts rather than being a passive consumer.

Fall Vibes

CRAFT TALK • 3321 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing Creativity Self-care
  1. Fall is a good time to reflect on accomplishments and creative projects.
  2. Identify blind spots in your work and seek feedback to improve.
  3. Take a gentle and nourishing approach to self-care and writing in the final season of the year.
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Compare and despair!

Austin Kleon • 3297 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Art Literature Creativity Social media Procrastination
  1. Comparing yourself to other artists can lead to feelings of inadequacy. It's easy to feel like you should do what they do instead of focusing on your own path.
  2. Reading about how others work can distract you from your own projects. Instead of creating, you might end up shopping for supplies or changing your methods unnecessarily.
  3. Your mindset influences how much you compare yourself to others. When you're feeling vulnerable or unsure, it can be tempting to try what others do, even if it doesn't fit your style.

Box #6

What Is Called Thinking? • 10 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Theology Aesthetics Poetry Literature Religion 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.

1 year of solo work!

vrk loves paper • 339 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity Art Self-Improvement Personal Growth Work-life balance
  1. Taking time off from work allowed for creativity and self-discovery. Instead of just quitting to find direction, planning ahead helped focus on what truly mattered.
  2. It's important to tackle personal projects based on what you genuinely want to create. Listening to your instincts can lead to fulfilling achievements.
  3. Creating alone has challenges, like managing all tasks yourself and feeling the pressure of deadlines. Recognizing these struggles can help improve work-life balance moving forward.

Apple Gets Creativity Wrong

The Analog Family • 439 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity Art Technology History
  1. Creativity can't be contained in just one device like an iPad. We need real interactions and materials to inspire our creative processes.
  2. Physical items around us, like books and art supplies, play a big role in fueling our creativity. It's important to have those tangible things to engage with.
  3. Digital devices can distract us from creative work because they offer too many options. We often need some friction and focus to dig deep into our creativity.

The meaning of discipline

Austin Kleon • 2437 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Creativity Self-development Art Music Writing
  1. Discipline is about making a commitment over time. It's important to stick with something consistently, even when it's tough.
  2. Musicians must balance three types of discipline: hands, head, and heart. Being good at one area isn't enough; all three need to work together.
  3. To be disciplined, you need to show up and get the work done. Sometimes, that just means sitting down and starting the task at hand.

Những tượng đài đổi mới sáng tạo

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 2296 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
💼 Business Innovation Entrepreneurship Startup Government programs Creativity
  1. Success in business comes from creating something people want and need, not just what looks good or follows trends.
  2. Focusing on serving customers and generating revenue is more important initially than fancy offices or elaborate company structures.
  3. Innovation thrives when failure is embraced, and simplicity is prioritized over elaborate ventures.

Fairy tale salon: Wild women and wolfskins

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 2775 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Archetypes Literature Creativity Imagination
  1. The post discusses the Wild Woman archetype, represented by the story of Mis, emphasizing the themes of transformation and madness as means of deep personal change.
  2. The Wild Woman archetype symbolizes instinctual wisdom, intuitive knowing, creativity, and a connection to nature.
  3. Exploration of folklore and stories, like the wolf-woman tale, provides insights into deeper psychological and societal themes.

On Writing

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 4886 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing Creativity Authors Memoirs Books
  1. The key to writing is having a point of view and putting in the effort consistently, regardless of any specific method or process.
  2. Creativity involves both insight and persistence; don't underestimate the value of persistent effort in generating creative ideas.
  3. Writing regularly may involve accepting that initial drafts may not be perfect, embracing bad writing as part of the process, and persisting through writer's block.

Cultivating a state of mind where new ideas are born

Escaping Flatland • 2889 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🚌 Education Creativity Curiosity Mentorship Solitude Learning
  1. Great ideas are fragile and can be easily killed by external influences like coworking spaces or groupthink.
  2. Solitude is crucial for creativity, allowing for the development of unique perspectives and groundbreaking work.
  3. Creative individuals are willing to linger in confusion, surfacing new questions rather than rushing to answers.

Artists must be allowed to do bad work

Austin Kleon • 4636 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🎭️ Culture Art Creativity Media Philosophy Literature
  1. Artists need the freedom to create bad work. It’s part of the process and helps them grow.
  2. Creative exploration sometimes involves messy experiments and repeating ideas without clear purpose. This can eventually lead to better discoveries.
  3. Reading about philosophy can inspire creativity. Classic thinkers can offer insights that enhance artistic expression.

A Letter About AI, Not Written by AI

Telltale Crumbs from Maggie Stiefvater • 2496 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture AI Creativity Ethics
  1. AI technology using works of creators can be unfair and raises questions of legality.
  2. AI training may not always result in improved content quality, resembling a clever party-goer repeating phrases without understanding.
  3. Creators like Maggie Stiefvater encourage a closer examination of who truly benefits from AI technology in its current form.

Happy Birthday, Machine Shop

Colin Meloy's Machine Shop • 2614 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing Music Creativity Community Visual Arts
  1. The author reflects on the one year anniversary of their newsletter/blogsite, celebrating the community and support they have received.
  2. Throughout the year, the author engaged with their audience through various creative endeavors like podcasting, sharing demos, writing a book, and giving insights into their musical process.
  3. The author expresses excitement for the future of their platform, emphasizing a shift away from mainstream social media to focus on creating a meaningful body of work on The Machine Shop.

4 questions I ask myself when designing

Design Lobster • 679 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
🪑 Design Process Simplicity Magic Engagement Creativity
  1. Ensure you are asking the right question in the best possible way to avoid wasting time on irrelevant problems.
  2. Simplify your designs by challenging yourself to imagine the simplest version of a solution, emphasizing substance over ornamentation.
  3. Strive to create magical designs that feel extraordinary and deliver experiences that users couldn't have imagined, aiming for delight and emotional impact.

Looking at our why(s) 🤔

#The100DayProject Newsletter • 1159 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Community Motivation
  1. Consider different motivations for starting a project such as having fun, practicing a skill, or producing a specific outcome.
  2. Choose a project that aligns with your current goals and interests, whether it be for enjoyment, skill improvement, or goal achievement.
  3. Reflect on your 'why' by visually representing your motivations through charting, doodling, or other creative exercises.

Old notes to myself

Austin Kleon • 2358 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Art Writing Creativity Literature Personal Growth
  1. Don't get too caught up in your own ideas. It's important to think about the bigger world outside of your thoughts and not just what you've read.
  2. Creating art is like sharing energy. The connection between the artist and the audience brings the work to life.
  3. Inspiration comes from what's around you, not just from within. Pay attention to the world and gather ideas from your surroundings.

There's nothing wrong with doing things because you want to look good

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 2150 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement Creativity Appearance
  1. It's okay to strive to look good while pursuing your goals. Enjoying vanity-focused efforts alongside practical training can lead to better results and enjoyment in the process.
  2. Balancing aesthetics with functionality is important; looking good can have practical advantages, such as increased social opportunities.
  3. Engaging in the game of appearances doesn't make you vain; it can be a way to navigate social dynamics effectively and enhance your creative work with audience capture.

Drawing A Life

DrawTogether with WendyMac • 2122 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Drawing Artist Creativity Inspiration
  1. Ruth Asawa's drawing practice started on her family's farm, developing her motor skills and creativity.
  2. During World War 2 internment, Ruth Asawa honed her drawing skills with support from animators and using found materials.
  3. Ruth Asawa's consistent drawing practice at her kitchen table, amidst family life, reflects the importance of a creative space and daily commitment.

When does a diary pay off?

Austin Kleon • 2797 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Writing Personal Growth Creativity Reflection Memory
  1. Keeping a diary helps you pay attention to your life. It makes you notice what's happening and appreciate your everyday experiences.
  2. Writing in a diary allows you to track your personal patterns and understand yourself better over time.
  3. Having years of diary entries gives you a chance to look back and reflect on your growth and memories, making it easier to connect with your past.