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This week: Useful Tips on Procrastination Edited by: esprit  
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Alice: `Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'
Cheshire Cat: 'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to'
Alice: `I don't much care where--'
Cheshire Cat:`Then it doesn't matter which way you go'
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll
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Useful Tips on Procrastination
Newsletter editors write newsletters for the love of passing on what they know. They give you the advice they've learned through their own trial and error. Most invest much time and thought into producing something you'd like to read, just as any writer does. It's very encouraging for them to receive feedback to know if they've been successful. When we receive no feedback it's disheartening and we wonder if anyone is reading.
Today I will answer a question found on the General Discussion Forum.
 Help! *`Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?' The first line won't come and I sit and stare at the blank screen!
Now, most would advise to just write anything to get some words up there. Even if it's 'I want to write but can't think of anything!' about a hundred times. That's supposed to unblock the imagination so the story hidden deep inside can come out. I'm not going to say that. I've tried that logic, but found it got in the way of procrastinating so I don't advise it anymore. Procrastination is a good thing, and we should learn to appreciate it more. It's been getting a bum rap for too long.
I'm a pretty good procrastinator, but only if I have a deadline, such as this newsletter. Without a job to put off, procrastination has no purpose. The first and most important requirement is your promise to do something.
Don't become frustrated because you can't begin your story today, there's always tomorrow. Go vacuum the floors or wash the cat, and while doing that, think about the story.
Stay positive. Instead of saying, "I can't...," "I should...," or "I have to..." say, "I want to vacuum first...", "It would be a stupid waste of time to start without researching..." and "I don't want to..." Being honest with yourself is always the best.
Here are some ways I've used my computer to procrastinate almost any chore.
Clean the insides of your computers. Those registry cleaners are powerful!
Study your stystem devices. Some may actually need updated drivers.
Defrag your hard drive. I gained a whopping 3% in my already clean disk.
Clean out the Internet history and cookies folders in the windows directory. Do it one file at a time, checking each.
Read your e-mail.
Make a game of it. To feel you're accomplishing something healthful, exercise your memory while procrastinating, try this one. Keep score.
Erase the passwords you stored in the auto-logon. See how many you can remember on your own before clicking 'forgot password'.
Clean out the windows temp file one file at a time. Open them to be sure there's nothing you want to save.
Real procrastinators don't need excuses, but having one might save you some irritation. "I didn't finish the story on time for the contest because my computer broke' is a good one. This is especially useful for contest judges.
Changing your handle to 'without internet' or 'computer broke!' will alert all who are concerned what you've been up to. ah, cleaning again, huh?
Search the web for anything.
Call it research rather than surfing, though. Keeping a writers mindset by using a writer's word, is good for warding off your guilt complex. Researching the net is informative and can be very useful in wasting time and putting off what you don't want to do today.
Clean out the crumbs that's accumulated between the keys on the keyboard.
Read your email again..
Repeat for as long as it takes.
Now you're ready and able to start your short story or submit your newsletter.
According to an e-mail notice, my deadline has arrived.
Happy procrastinating!
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SUBMITTED ITEMS
Submitted By: Teners
Submitted Item:
Submitted Comment: This piece describes the thought process once the body heightens to darkness and also become weary due to lack of sleep. A combination of loneliness, entrapment and uncertainty are displayed, resulting in a fear of darkness. Thank you
Remember to read your neighbor's work too!
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Comments on "Invalid Entry"
Zip.
I wonder why is it that the How To's, which are pretty important for all members to know, aren't read? Boring? Yet I see these same 'Help me, how do I?' questions posted daily on the tech forums. It seems odd, as writers, that we don't want to do the reading and research for answers, but would rather be told, one by one. That's what the forums are for, I suppose. 
We always appreciate the feedback, thanks!
Editors:
Cubby 
Puditat
laurencia
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Noticing Newbies: October 22, 2008 Issue [#2674]
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