If you're like me, you devote many hours to writing. I type notes, charts, and lists in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. I type drafts, revisions, query letters, and synopses into Microsoft Word. And then there's my blog. I spend a lot of time typing and editing my posts in Blogger.
All of that time and effort is precious to me. The thought of losing any of these files gives me cold sweats. I respect every letter I type; therefore, I back up my work.
Do you back up yours? Your manuscripts? What about your blog posts? Your pre-writing notes?
I recently read about an author who blogged for years before she got published. Along the way, she also accumulated hundreds of e-mail addresses. A week before her first book was released, someone maliciously hacked both her blog account and her e-mail account and wiped out every shred of information. She lost every post, every e-mail contact--the base of her promotion efforts.
I've personally lived through two devastating computer crashes of our main computer. Every file disappeared. Worse, my laptop crashed on the same day as my main computer. If I hadn't had my files backed up on a disc, I would have lost three manuscripts.
It takes seconds to back your work up to a thumb drive or a memory stick each time you write. You can go further, too. There are plenty of companies who offer online back-up storage for a monthly fee. You could also try a few less secure, but free, ways of backing your work up online, but if you do, please be very careful to avoid posting your work on public sites and make sure you protect your files with passwords.
Do you back up your blog posts? How much do they mean to you? Mine are very important to me. I've come up with an easy solution. Simply copy and paste each post into a Microsoft Word file. Back the file up on a memory stick. You could also print out your posts and keep them in a binder. I do!
How do you back up your manuscripts? Your blog? I'd love to hear your tips!
Join me on Friday when we'll discuss publishers.
Okay, I am scared. I am now going to go back everything up!
ReplyDeleteI was planning on getting my blog published from that site that does it but haven't yet. Today I better do some basic back ups again!
ReplyDeleteI use flash drives, but printing my blog posts for a binder is an awesome idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the important reminder.
I've learned the hard way about backing up my work as I go, but I never once thought to back up my blog. Even after I read Sarah's story last year about getting hacked.
ReplyDeleteSomething to think about doing today...
Jill, I use a memory stick for my MS's, but never thought about my blog posts, and most importantly my email lists. GEESH! I have also heard that you should email that stuff to yourself and keep it in a special folder. Which I'm going to do today.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding us that stuff happens. And we need to be prepared. :) Great post.
Same for me. Always back up my memory sticks, but haven't backed up my blog posts. Huh. This is scary to think about.
ReplyDeleteI type most of my posts in Word, so we are good there and am needing to do more w/ saving my MS's.
ReplyDeleteYou are a star, Jill!
~ Wendy
I hadn't thought of backing up my blog. I use a memory stick for my mss, but now I'll have to consider my blog too. THanks for bringing this to my attention, Jill!
ReplyDeleteI use mozy.com to back up everything...files, email, blog,the whole sha-bang.
ReplyDeleteThey have a free version (up to 2GB) but their unlimited is only $5/month.
Go to mozy.com and sign up and then they do automatic back ups for you two or three times a day.
easy peasy lemon squeezy!
Hi, Jill! Right now I send my manuscripts to a secret email account. I also use a jump drive, but possibly not everyday. I need to get better at this!
ReplyDeleteI use a flash drive to back up my work. But I hadn't thought about a computer back-up for blogging. I guess I always thought if my computer crashed, my blog account would still be safe. But I didn't think about hackers.
ReplyDeleteWow, you print out your blog posts! That's an idea...Well, you know I had a computer crash as well. Thankfully I make a habit of using a memory stick. There's just too much I would hate to lose!
ReplyDeletei back everything up. blogs are easy to back up to your hard drive, and then switch to a jump drive. i use mozy to backup all manuscript files online. it's just too important not to. besides, i nearly lost everything here at the beginning of the summer...not going through that again. :)
ReplyDeletejeannie
Where Romance Meets Therapy
I'm pretty good at backing up my short stories and novel drafts. I'm not sure if that's a result of respect for my work or out of laziness at the thought of having to duplicate something from a hard copy! It's interesting that you brought up blog posts. I haven't been backing those up. For now, I've been enjoying the thrill of the fact that they could be lost and I'd have to rethink some of the ideas I put down.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I never considered backing up my blog posts, but in a sense, they're like an online diary, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should. Good tip.
Wow! I leave for the morning and come back to all of these amazing comments! I love you guys!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like we all make an effort to back up the most important files. Mozy sounds like a terrific option too. And it's cheap. I love that!
I would say if you're going to e-mail yourself anything important, to work hard at protecting it. Maybe password protect the file? I'd hate to think of a hacker stealing any work.
Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and tips!
I heard about that author. I can't understand why someone would do that to anyone. It's terrible. I better go now. I have some backing up to do!
ReplyDeleteOk, that's my worst nightmare. I would cry if someone deleted our entire blog. What a horrible thing to do! I wonder how they got in and why anyone would want to do such a thing!?
ReplyDeleteMy manuscripts are always on my home PC and my thumb drive, but I need a good hard drive for an extra-sure backup. My big problem is I'm not the best at backing up my current WIP. Sometimes I'll work for a week or two before saving it to my home PC. I need to be more diligent about that!
ReplyDeleteI always backup when I'm writing, so I'm never too concerned about my computer crashing.
ReplyDeleteNever thought about backing up the blog, though. I guess because it's more fun than work. :)
The thought of someone maliciously hacking anyone's files makes me sick. What on earth? You know? It's so great to hear the memory sticks are strong back-ups for everyone!
ReplyDeleteI use Apple's Time Machine, which backs up hourly to my external hard drive. I also have an off-site back-up service.
ReplyDeleteWait...you got me all freaked out here. I am very slow when it comes to all this techno stuff. I back up my files. But my blog? How do I back up my blog? I've never even considered this before.
ReplyDeletePlease help!
I'm with Tess - I'm a Mozy girl.
ReplyDeleteI've tried jump drives - I lose them. Then my email got hacked - I lost all of my folders. Technology is awesome, and yet it sucks at the same time.
I'm doing Mozy for backup, but I also print up hard copies of all of my articles/essays/etc. I'll probably start with some of my blog entries, but I'm not as concerned with those...mostly because they really are just ramblings and I don't spend as much time as I should editing them. (now you know).
Thank you for the great idea of backing up blog posts in a binder.
ReplyDeleteJump drives are my friend. I usually e-mail stuff to myself if I'm short on time but indeed, that can be hacked into, so, no bueno.
Many of my blogs come from previous sources I have waritten and updated, so they won't be lost. I now have a printer that goes with my new computer, so I like your idea of printing out each blog. I will pprobably do that.
ReplyDeleteI write on my laptop and our home computer is for photos and everyday use. Copies of those are placed onto DVDs and a portable hard drive, as I take entirely too many. In my handy dandy laptop bag I have a flash drive to backup any writing work that I have. I have not backed up my blogs at this point in time.
ReplyDeleteHi Jill -
ReplyDeleteI back-up my files on CD. (I know. Old fashioned, but it works for me.) Eventually, I want to back up to flash drives and a portable hard drive.
It's also important to keep copies off site. What good is making a back-up and losing both the computer and copies in a fire?
Blessings,
Susan :)
My husband got me an independent hard drive to back up everything automatically. Even with that, I keep my ms and poems on a flash drive too.
ReplyDeleteHi Jill - I can't believe this is the first time I've read your blog! For some reason I thought I had before, but I think I've just seen your name on other's sites, which caused me to be a faux follower! I'm legit now, by the way :)
ReplyDeleteWe just got wireless internet, and I back up to that - as well as use a thumb drive. I hadn't thought about backing up my blogs, but I am definitely going to do that now - thanks for the suggestion!
Hi !.
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There is no initial capital needed You may start to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.
AimTrust is what you need
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It is based in Panama with offices everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become a happy investor?
That`s your chance That`s what you wish in the long run!
I feel good, I started to get income with the help of this company,
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ReplyDelete