Tedious but important

[mom2boys]

I'd like to pick your brains about how you guys save your drafts--do you save every draft under a separate date, do you save every few pages, or somewhere in between? My computer is fairly ancient and I don't have a lot of space left on it and, of course, I don't want to print everything under the sun. I suppose a zip drive would work (I think that's what they're called--don't be looking for me under "techno" anything . I would appreciate hearing how you organize your computer files--character development worksheets, photos, pertinent website info., etc.

Beth

[duchessashley]

For my most recent manuscript, I've been writing the scenes I want to write. I save the separate scenes individually, but I have them sketchily pieced together in a larger document. The scenes are labeled by who is in them and a keyword. The manuscript is labeled with its title.

I have all of this under one file, broken down with files for "Notes," "Research," "Pictures," "Parts" (for those aforementioned scenes,) and the more massive manuscript document.

Away from the computer, I have several binders full of notes and printed copies (which I regret, because it's constantly changing and I can't keep up!) I also have a smaller notebook that travels with me everywhere I go!

A thumb drive might be up your alley. You can store quite a bit on it. Plugs right into your USB port on your computer. And they are fairly reasonable in price. ;D

Hope that helps!

~Ashley

[mom2boys]

Thanks so much, Ashley--very helpful. I've been writing and saving my scenes the same way--its fairly piecemeal at this point but I'm just going where God leads me. I also carry a notebook with me all the time (I'm sure I look so sophisticated with it--it's a Captain Jack Sparrow one that I swiped from one of my sons...oh, well, it works.)

Enjoy this beautiful weather--I hear its coming to an end. Happy Sunday!

Beth

[torainfor]

Some people email themselves copies of their drafts. I have a Yahoo group (inactive) with my mom and my sister, so I store drafts there, but mostly on my thumb drive.

I do have a journal I keep around for notes but, when it comes to mapping out chapters (using Jeff's guidelines for POVs) and time lines, I use Excel.

[mom2boys]

OK--say you have the whole first draft of your novel done, do you write over it as you make revisions, or do you save Draft #1 in its original form, and the call revised copy Draft #2 (or something like that)? I'm just trying to figure out the best way to save everything I need without creating a virtual filing nightmare.

Also, where is Jeff's POV info? I'll check beyondthemap.com.

Thanks!

[torainfor]

Here's the link for "Tips of the Week." Scroll down to "21-30." POV is #30.

www.wherethemapends.com/writerstools/writers_tools_pages/tip_of_the_week.htm


As for the other, that's totally up to you. I tend to edit over, but if I come across an entire scene that I realize needs to go, I save just that scene in another file.

[morganlbusse]

This is how I do it... first, I save everything! You never know when you might want to go back to your original scene or see how you wrote something out. I do each chapter in a separate document, its easier for me to keep track of them that way, then I keep all the documents in one file. I also write upcoming scenes (like for the next book) as they come to me, then I label the document with key words from the scene and for which book they are for (book 1, book 2, etc).
One thing to remember... don't forget to back up your work! It can be a nightmare to write for weeks, months, even years then have your computer crash. Its usually a good idea to back up in multiple places. For me, I have a zip drive (or whatever they're called) that I use as one back up and a reminder that comes up on my computer every week to remind me to back up (so I back up weekly). I also have an online place that I back up just in case my zip fails or vice versa.

[tris]

Voice of experience here guys and gals...print off a copy of EVERYTHING. I can't emphasize that enough. I have too many horror stories of computers that crashed, cds and jump drives that malfunctioned to ever think of storing my novels just on a piece of high-tech equipment. ( and I have multiple backup cds of everything as well.)

There's something about typing a scene or paragraph that makes it impossible to re-create exactly word for word.

Yes, I know printing out copies is time consuming and takes up drawer space. But trust me....the day your computer eats the most important segment of that short story or crashes your entire novel you've worked on for months, you'll be glad you had a back up paper copy laying around the house gathering dust.

[knightofhyn]

Multiple copies are good. I have backup copies on several machines, a server at work and print copies.

[Spokane Flyboy]

I use a program, called yWriter, that operates much like a lot of you are talking. It saves separate files for each scene, organized by chapters, and is set with an autosave and auto-backup system that saves at whatever interval you set. It also has databases for notes, characters, locations, items, as well as the ability to archive pictures associated with it all. If you want a single-file master document, you can have it put one together. It happens to be freeware and can be operated off of a thumb drive.