Yesterday, I almost cried. I teetered on the edge of throwing myself on the floor, kicking and crying. I had the latest version of my WIP --the one I've been working on for a couple of years now--on a zip drive. Well, when I plugged it in yesterday, my file --only my WIP file and none other--is corrupted.
I tried all kinds of things to recover a version with most of my changes. Nada.
I called in favors, drove to the state university computer people and begged. Nada.
Finally, got referred to this tiny computer shop --The Computer Stop -- hidden in a shopping strip of burgers, salons and laundromat and pub. Left my baby with them for an agonizing hour. And the staff retrieved most of it. I don't think I've ever been so happy to write out a check!
Moral of the story: Backup, backup, backup. On a weekly basis.
Accidents can happen, files get corrupted, zips get lost. You don't want all your hard work to vanish in an instant.
Okay, I'm breathing again and writing too! :)
Showing posts with label computers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label computers. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Patting Myself on the Back
I'm celebrating a major accomplishment. On Friday, I sent two contest entries winging off into cyberspace. Woo~Hoo! Let the Cyber Champagne flow, the Cyber chocolate makes its rounds. And, of course, send in the Cyber cowboys!
Yes, I know I haven't WON any contest. Merely entered. However, every time I attempt to enter contests there's major hurdles to overcome.
1) Self-Doubt: Suddenly my wonderful story doesn't seem that wonderful anymore. I obsess over every word choice until the last minute. I can't believe I wrote this drivel. I want to call up all my writing friends and seek reassurance. But I like having friends, so I don't.
2)When upset or nervous, I cook or bake. So I spend precious writing time in the kitchen. This time, it was a Pumpkin Spice Bread, pumpkin muffins and pumpkin pudding. I'm really getting into October here.
3)My computer sabotages me. Really. I'm not making this up. Whenever I'm on contest deadline, my computer acts up: the word processor refuses to do the requested formatting, the e-mail goes down etc. etc. What? Operator difficulties, you say? Nope. It's the computer's fault.
So win or lose, just entering contests is a major accomplishment. And I'm celebrating!
Yes, I know I haven't WON any contest. Merely entered. However, every time I attempt to enter contests there's major hurdles to overcome.
1) Self-Doubt: Suddenly my wonderful story doesn't seem that wonderful anymore. I obsess over every word choice until the last minute. I can't believe I wrote this drivel. I want to call up all my writing friends and seek reassurance. But I like having friends, so I don't.
2)When upset or nervous, I cook or bake. So I spend precious writing time in the kitchen. This time, it was a Pumpkin Spice Bread, pumpkin muffins and pumpkin pudding. I'm really getting into October here.
3)My computer sabotages me. Really. I'm not making this up. Whenever I'm on contest deadline, my computer acts up: the word processor refuses to do the requested formatting, the e-mail goes down etc. etc. What? Operator difficulties, you say? Nope. It's the computer's fault.
So win or lose, just entering contests is a major accomplishment. And I'm celebrating!
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