On Procrastination
Letter From The Founder
Happy new month!
We’re here with the third issue of the monthly Symposium and this time around we are tackling the thorny issue of procrastination. I supposed it was inevitable that a bunch of writers and artists and poets and filmmakers would have a lot to say on this topic.
So we hope that among the witty observations, the creative expression and the stories drawn from real life there will be a gem or two here that makes a lightbulb go off and helps you in your day to day.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so is it possible that procrastination is often the attempt to wring a little play from a life that is overloaded with work, study and obligation? Well, read the pieces that follow and decide for yourself.
Until next time,
Live well,
Tom.
Essays
bookmark #448 by Deepansh
‘the cold morning air has subsided while i have sat here, staring at a blank screen with a blinking cursor.’
Relatable, poetic, beautifully observed. Did you really expect any leas from Deepansh?
My One Damaging Procrastination by Trilety
‘Not one to procrastinate, I do what I should before what I want. Maybe I procrastinate living a bit, but this post is about death.’
Man, this is as raw and real as it gets. Extraordinary.
the layers of my procrastination by Yuelian
‘I publish short stories and blog posts which tease at something bigger but end up dissipating like wafts of steam. Dear reader, you are right to criticize me, but what do you know of the depths of my procrastination – of the many layers which make it up?’
Courageous confessional that shows real insight and self understanding. We can learn from this.
You have only one priority by ?!
WhatBang absolutely drops some science directly on our heads with this one. It has equations and everything.
Artful Procrastination by Clint
‘I find the best way to be productive is to simply ignore all the stuff I "should" do and just do the thing I am want to do.’
From the very first line I was nodding along with this one. Highly recommend all artists read this one.
You Are Not Ready by Pr0ph3t
Asserted: this is great. Asserted: Pr0ph3t is a tremendous essayist. Resolved: click the link above and read on.
Needs to be done by James
It’s useful to read about procrastination from people who have experienced it, but have still managed to create things anyway. And what James has created is The King and The Dragon, which everyone should buy and then read to their children.
Procrastination by Adam
‘Why put something off, if you actually want to do it? I wish I could have known that while I was frittering away the time in college, cramming in essays with a suspect looking word count the night before with specious arguments-- often embellished with flowery language to cover for the fact I couldn't be bothered to form a substantive argument.’
I’ve read few sentences recently that were quite as relatable as these two. Adam hits the bullseye yet again.
Selfless Momentum by David
As soon as I read the title, I thought ‘Selfless Momentum’ itself sounds like a mission statement, a great affirmation. And then I read the piece which bolstered and built on this evocative concept. Powerful stuff.
PROCRASTI-KNOT by Jeanne
She makes you think- and that is all well and good- but above all she makes you laugh, and I often suspect that when all is said and done that is the more valuable of those two outcomes.
On Procrastination by Thomas J Bevan
I’ll be 100% honest. I personally was not enamoured with this whole procrastination topic. But I thought that in itself would make this a worthwhile challenge. Get out of my comfort zone. And so this is what I managed to pull out of the bang in regard to this topic.
The Eleventh Hour (Featuring an Unnamed, Female Guest Writer)
Is this genius? Possibly. Is this cheating? Most likely. Did I enjoy reading this? Immensely. Do I think that Tony’s unnamed female companion is the real brains behind the whole operation? Well, I couldn’t possibly comment. I’ll leave that up to you to decide.
Waiting In Eternity's Parking Lot by Edward
This piece, fittingly perhaps, was submitted pretty damn close to the deadline. But it’s really good and that makes it okay. I suspect there is a lesson in there.
Not Releasing Inaction by Felix Kammerlander
And the latest entry, timewise is this one from (the actually human) Felix. Worth the wait though, it must be said. There’s a lot packed into this one.
Symposium #3- Procrastination by Sam
Symposium Sam has dusted off the typewriter to bless us with another analogue-created gem in photograph form:
Fiction
nuffink by Craig
Craig has written a piece of fiction here. A delightful piece of fiction about nothing. I fear that our (sometimes) weekly podcast conversations mean that the two of us are starting to telepathically meld into a single consciousness like Seth Brundle and the fly (I’m not saying which of us is which). In any case, this was very good.
Words Unspoken by Vanya (F.K.A. Ivan/Ioann/John)
A short scene from our extremely talented Russian friend who seems to go by more aliases than your average Wu Tang Clan member. But that’s permissible when you can write as well as he can.
Creation by Adam Kozak
Regular Omnibus/Symposium readers will most likely recognise Adam here for his excellent, technically precise and deft poetry. But he’s also a fantastic story writer too as this latest example amply testifies.
Poetry
The Internet Intraflânerie by Felix Futzbucker
The (potentially fictitious) writer known as Felix Futzbucker has composed us a poem.
It’s- how shall I put it- odd.
But good. Click the link above and see for yourself.
Video
Symposium 3: Procrastination by D.B.
I’m going to quote Trilety’s comment on this one as it perfectly captures my own sentiments on this short film of D.B.’s:
I so enjoy your filmmaking, it's meditative, thoughtful, and exposed. I always think and see differently after watching your work. . . slower, more deliberate. Thank you for that.
Watch this short piece and see if she isn’t dead on in her assessment of it.
So that was the STSC Procrastination symposium. We hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Thank you for your support with these projects we put together, thank you for reading them and thanks for all of your comments, feedback and notes. Thank you for taking the time to share them and pass on the word.
And of course above all thanks to all of the contributors and those who help support the STSC via my personal Substack, especially those who keep a low profile, I hope we will be able to coax more of you into taking the plunge and participating in future issues.
This is still just the beginning.
Cheers.