Monday, April 27, 2020

The Little Things



Do you have an idea what I am going to say after reading the title? Are you twiddling your thumbs waiting for me to get to it? You just know but...but...he is taking so long. I think I heard you say something about getting to it already. It may not have been such nice words, but we have to keep it PG here. Now you are saying I am rambling. Now you are trying to remember what it was you were going to say in the first place. And now I have proven my point. What point? The...never mind. I don't want to make you forget twice. That's just mean.

Have you ever had a great idea or new scene or one of a dozen other things come to mind and then ran to the computer to add it to your manuscript? The answer is probably yes. So let's move on.

Have you ever waited and waited and waited for your computer to finally load up, open the program, etc. to do it? If yes, did you forget like my example above before it finally loaded? If yes, even if no, it is time to look at the little things.

Ways to Speed Up Your Computer

1. Programs - find what programs you no longer use and delete them. We can collect dozens and then forget they are there. They each take up space.

2. Startup - This can sure bog down your computer's loading upon booting up. Take all programs off startup that don't need to be there. Do you really need Tetris to load at startup?

3. Running - Don't open anything that doesn't have to be opened. If it isn't to do with your writing during your writing time then don't open it. The more programs and windows you have open at once, the slower your computer will go.

4. Power - Check your power settings. Usually if you have "power saver" mode as the setting it will slow down your computer.

5. Clean - Do a little spring cleaning no matter the season. Whether it be your hard drive or just your browser. Having them super bloated with useless sites and programs can slow things down.

6. Pull the Plug - If all else fails, shut your computer off. This will close processes and programs that you never even knew were still running. The longer you have had your computer on, the more likely it is you have lots of unnecessary things running.

Yeah, this could all be voided by writing it down on a piece of paper. But sometimes the cat has stolen your paper or you just want it in the manuscript. Sometimes you may have to do research. Not only could that send you down a rabbit hole, but you could spend extra hours digging that hole because your computer is so slow. That is time you could be writing.

Sometimes you have to make time to write. Other times you just have to not let your computer waste the time you have to write. By doing a little cleaning of the little things, you could give yourself more time to write. And isn't that what all writers want?

Have you ever forgotten an idea by the time your computer loaded? Do you have a slow computer? Have you tried to make it faster? Have you got any other tips to make it faster?

10 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's why you have to stop and clean it now and then.
And if all else fails, get a new computer. The new processors boot up in ten seconds.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Having a slow computer can be so frustrating. Thanks for the tips for speeding them up. Thankfully I have a fast one now.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Don't wait to purge those old programs until you get a new computer. There's always a few programs, and files, you can dump.

Juneta key said...

Yup, computer maintenance is crucial. Great post and tips.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Pat - thanks for these reminders ... I need to do a clean up - but probably not during lock-down - I have no wish to tempt the gremlins! I always shut mine off when I go out or over night ... and as it's 'fairly' new I haven't downloaded much I don't need. Take care - Hilary

A Hundred Quills said...

Oh...My laptop slows down now and then and it gets so frustrating. I need to clean up but I keep piling instead🙄🙄
Sonia from A Hundred Quills

cleemckenzie said...

Most frustrating! This happens to me a lot and more since my computer is entering its geriatric stage. Number 3 is a great idea. On my Mac the little black dots under the icons on my dock often line up like extended ellipses. I have to remember to shut down those program I'm not using.

Thanks for the post. And thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one who forgets their ideas while waiting for my computer.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Slow computer is so frustrating. I've gotten better at doing all those things you're talking about. My current computer is pretty fast still. I've learned most of your suggestions the hard way.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Great idea to add computer clean up to the spring cleaning list!

Fundy Blue said...

I never have any idea where you're going to go when I read the title or opening line or two of one of your posts, Pat. Unless it's cute kitties and puppy photos ~ and even then I'm often surprised. This is part of the fun of your posts. You have lots of good tips here, and I might get to some of them. Usually I just buy a bigger, faster computer with more memory. I admit that that plan is becoming cost prohibitive. If I have a great idea, I scratch it down on a piece of paper. A paper and pencil never fail me, and they're always close at hand.