If you're using the CGI.pm shortcuts (and why shouldn't you?), you can set the default value using the param method: 
use CGI qw/:all/;

...

my $previous_value = "This is what I wrote before"; # fetch this someh
+ow
param('story', $previous_value); # sets default to previous
...
print textarea('story'); # prints an input form element, defaulting to
+ previous value for  it

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In reply to Re: How to redisplay previously submitted text by merlyn
in thread How to redisplay previously submitted text by lauragarcia

Title:
Use:  <p> text here (a paragraph) </p>
and:  <code> code here </code>
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