Back up, or back out!
You're a writer who takes his/her writing serious, whether you're a full-time author or a hobby writer.
You diligently back up your writing because you understand that no writer should be so stupid/reckless/naive/ ....... (fill in your own adjective) and not back up the words they sweated blood and tears for.
But then...
You realise that the back up system you have created over the last couple of years is in fact useless when your USB flash drive gives up the ghost and only produces gobbledigook.
You are incredulous about how you could have been so ........(fill in above adjective) and rely on a cheap old USB drive to keep your 71,000 words of your newest WIP safe?
Welcome to my world!
And, just before you shake your head in disbelief, I don't consider myself naive, ........(fill in the adjective), or under the illusion that my USB stick is indestructible.
I regularly backed up my ywriter project by sending the file into the cloud. But what I stupidly didn't back up were all the folders that ywriter needs to put the project together.
And that's why I recently had to fork out over $250 to send the USB drive to a data recovery specialist in Auckland. I didn't want to risk damaging the corrupted drive further with a DIY-approach to recovery, and opted to go with the professionals.
So, whether you are a fledgling writer like my teenage daughter who likes to write fanfiction, or a highly successful author with a bank account to show for it and a ton of books published, please back up your work. And check that your back-up is actually valid and functioning.
Because if you don't back up, you might as well back out of writing.
Go check that cloud.
Or that drive.
Now!
(End of lecture)
You diligently back up your writing because you understand that no writer should be so stupid/reckless/naive/ ....... (fill in your own adjective) and not back up the words they sweated blood and tears for.
But then...
You realise that the back up system you have created over the last couple of years is in fact useless when your USB flash drive gives up the ghost and only produces gobbledigook.
You are incredulous about how you could have been so ........(fill in above adjective) and rely on a cheap old USB drive to keep your 71,000 words of your newest WIP safe?
Welcome to my world!
And, just before you shake your head in disbelief, I don't consider myself naive, ........(fill in the adjective), or under the illusion that my USB stick is indestructible.
I regularly backed up my ywriter project by sending the file into the cloud. But what I stupidly didn't back up were all the folders that ywriter needs to put the project together.
And that's why I recently had to fork out over $250 to send the USB drive to a data recovery specialist in Auckland. I didn't want to risk damaging the corrupted drive further with a DIY-approach to recovery, and opted to go with the professionals.
So, whether you are a fledgling writer like my teenage daughter who likes to write fanfiction, or a highly successful author with a bank account to show for it and a ton of books published, please back up your work. And check that your back-up is actually valid and functioning.
Because if you don't back up, you might as well back out of writing.
Go check that cloud.
Or that drive.
Now!
(End of lecture)
Annie, thanks for the reminder. I often write for hours and never think to save until I'm finished for the day. I think I'll adopt Save often and several ways as my new writing goal :)
ReplyDeletebest,
carol (from Women Writers, Women's Books)
Thanks for you comment, Carol.
ReplyDeleteI think it's worthwhile to have a back up that works automatically so you don't have to remind yourself. It sounds like you're a prolific writer and after a day of writing, you might have thousands of new words that you sure don't want to lose.
I am in the same boat as you... I started writing for "therapy" from my stay-at-home job! When I published in 2012, things were a little different. A free promotion run itself. No so anymore unfortunately. I have learnt a lot during my journey, but I know what you mean. Books do not sell themselves. Keep writing & living the dream! I only published to make it easier for friends to read my book. How little I knew what I had begun! All the best, Vanessa :)
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear, Vanessa! Another 'accidental' writer. How little we know when we get started. It's a never-ending process, but I'm enjoying learning as I go. Thanks for your comment and all the best for your writing.
ReplyDelete