PSA: Back Up Your Writing

Anyone else remember these? I do!

Today, I'd like to discuss backing up your writing.

Do it. Do back up your writing. All of it. Even the bad stuff.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

You see, I never think about the importance of making sure my writing is backed up until I realize I've lost something. Last week, I accidentally deleted a YouTube video (shockingly easy, might I add). And unfortunately, I couldn't find another copy of the video file. I suspect it's on an old laptop that doesn't really work or a flash drive I can't find. So, there we have it.

After that, I came to realize how I never think to back up my short stories, articles, and other content pieces. They are all in various places. Probably what stops me from making this a regular habit is that I don't have a "central" system. Every now and then I'll think to email myself files, but they quickly become files I never look up again. Not to mention the multiple versions of stories I tend to save in various places.

So, like I said, it isn't until I've deleted or lost something that I even think to back up my work. My announcement for you today is back up your writing. If you have a website, back it up. Do it regularly. Make an appointment for yourself like it's a teeth cleaning.

If you aren't sure of where or how to save your work in extra places, here are a few ideas:

1) Your Google Drive.

Okay, this is probably obvious and it wasn't until recently that I thought to sort of organize it, but that is a good place to store writing.

2) Bublup.

Don't stop at Google Drive. Try other services. I like using Bublup for a variety of reasons but especially to store files. Sign up here using my link.

3) Email yourself.
Kind of obvious but a fail-safe, especially if you email a bunch of files to a few different email addresses you use (am I the only one who has like 3 or 4 different emails?).

4) Dropbox.

Much like Google Drive, my Dropbox account is a disorganized mess. But I'd rather have mess of files that I'd like to keep than lose something I wanted in the first place.

This is my call to action:

Go save those files.

You won't realize what you need until you've lost it.

In other news, I did find a handwritten story that I feared I accidentally tossed. Turns out, it was stuffed in a manilla envelope, obviously with the intent for me to save it and type it one day. I think I know what my next public service announcement will be: type those stories.

Happy writing everyone!

Read More »

7 comments building good writing habits, Data Back-Ups, Save Your Files

Book Review – The 30 Day Writing Challenge by Sara Crawford

The 30-day Writing Challenge claims to help readers begin or enhance their daily writing habit. Whether you are a writer, blogger, or journaler this book is for you! Author Sara Crawford encourages and inspires writers of all skill levels by challenging us to ‘stretch our writing muscles’ and create a daily writing habit. The daily writing exercises and prompts focus on technique, inspiration and craft while covering the different genres of writing.

Crawford does an excellent job being real with readers. I fell in love with her book after reading the following paragraph:

I would like to acknowledge that in my own writing, I constantly do the things that I say you shouldn’t do. I am far from perfect. Every writer has room to grow and improve, and I include myself in that. However, I strive to be a better writer each and every day, and I live by these rules, principles, and ideas in my own creative life.

I really admire someone who can be themselves and I felt encouraged instead of judged after reading this small tidbit. It made it much easier to move forward with the exercises and I felt like Crawford understood me. I missed a day here or there but feel this is the type of book I can pick up again and again. This isn’t something you do once and forget about.

In many ways The 30-day Writing Challenge reminds me of a diet. Sure, I can lose weight quickly, but if I don’t continue with good eating habits, the weight is going to creep back on. If I want to be successful, I need to stick with it, even after the initial success. Similarly, if I use The 30 Day Writing Challenge to get on track and then set it aside instead of faithfully writing and practicing my craft, I am going to falter.

Thank you Sara Crawford for providing a fun and encouraging book to help build successful writing habits. The 30-day Writing Challenge is a great book for anyone who enjoys writing, blogging, or journaling!

Sara Crawford has a BA in English from Kennesaw State University and an MFA in Creative Writing (emphasis in Playwriting) from the University of New Orleans. She is represented by Marie Brown Associates, and she is the author of upcoming young adult novel, The Muses.

Previous publications include her play, The Snow Globe, from YouthPlays, Driving Downtown to the Show (Lulu Press) and Coiled and Swallowed (Virgogray Press). In addition, her poetry has appeared in Burlesque Press, Cermony, Share: Art and Literary Magazine, and Illogical Muse.

Find out more about Sara by visiting her website: http://saracrawford.net/

Crystal is a church musician, business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Reedsville, Wisconsin with her husband, three young children (Carmen 6, Andre 5, Breccan 5 months), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, and over 200 Holsteins. You can find Crystal blogging and reviewing books and all sorts of other stuff at: http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Read More »

2 comments 30 Day Writing Challenge, book review, building good writing habits, sara crawford, writing challenge, writing habits