Look for Creative Solutions
By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin
This week I was working on a
writing project. I have reference books related to it in various places near my
desk to reach them and work on this project. One of the books I put precariously
on the bookshelf above my desk. It fell and smashed into my keyboard. I checked
out the book—which was perfect and went on without a thought.
This morning I got to my desk and
realized the smashed book has broken one of the two supporting arms for my
keyboard. I tried to get it fixed with some super glue, then tape and nothing
was working. Normally at this point, I would get in my car and drive to my
office supply place and get a new keyboard—but these are unusual times with
social distancing and staying indoors. It forced me to look for a more creative
solution.
Suddenly I remembered this
keyboard was recently replaced. I am a hard typist and had worn out several of
the the keys of that old keyboard but had not thrown it away (yet). I
temporarily kept it propped in a corner of my office closet. I pulled out my old
keyboard and checked out the little supporting arms. It matched the same one
whch was broken. In a few minutes, I replaced the broken arm and my keyboard is
working fine again. The solution didn't involve going anywhere and yet repaired
my keyboard. I could
have probably used cardboard or other materials to repair my keyboard but the
replaced arm from my previous keyboard was a quick fix and something no one will
notice when they see my office.
These days call for creative
solutions to different situations. As another example, we have been staying
outside of the grocery stores—even though we have some shops very near where we
live. Instead I have learned to order groceries online from stores like Target.
Also a local restaurant has changed into a online grocery store. We've ordered
meat, vegetables and fruit from them. The cost is about the same as going to the
grocery and the quality of the food has been excellent. It is another creative
solution to this situation where we staying away from going inside stores.
Several things came out of these
experiences:
1. You have creative ideas and
need to tap into these ideas.
2. Use your writing research
skills that you've developed to look for a creative solution.
3. The persistence that you pour
into your writing can help you find a creative solution.
These days are different and yet
you can find the way if you persist and look for it.In addition, I hope you are
using this time to diversity your streams of income. There are many different
ways to earn money as a writer, I encourage you to look at this article I wrote for Writers on the Move last
week. Follow the various links in it to learn even more.
Let me know in the comments below
what sort of creative solutions you are using these days.
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Labels: books, creative solutions, creativity, diversity, income, publishing, writers on the move, writing