Okay, so I accidentally deleted my novel...

[Antisocial_Worker]

That's about the size of it.

In other news, the doctor seems to think my scabies is gone. So, woot on that.

But about the novel? I've had to restart it something like 4 or 5 times. I went to work on it this morning for the first time in quite some time, and sometime over the course of dealing with the scabies and what not, the novel disappeared. I hadn't felt like writing a single word while dealing with the goddamn scabies and what a nasty surprise to find out that two chapters I was very pleased with are now gone.

I need a hug.

And I am now safe to hug.

[HYHYBT]

Internet hugs are always safe

Of all the files to disappear...

[ArcticChicken]

*hugs*

Can you take the computer to a data recovery dealie?

[Amina516]

*hugs*

Im sorry about the deletion..that sounds heartbreaking. How far along were you?

Also, Scabies sux! My son picked it up in kindergarten.. I felt to bad for him..all i would hear at night was him scratching himself to death. Im pretty sure I was starting to pick it up as well before we figured out what it was. Thank God for pesticide lotion.

[Evil Queen]

*hugs*

It has happened to me more then once.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Okay, hug.(hug hug hug).

Now.

Get thee to Google Docs and set up an account. They have free Microsoft Word you can use, plus storage. Write and store in that. Google docs is connected to GMail, so you can mail stuff to yourself. My gmail account is for my own personal use only, so it does not get cluttered up with other crap. I use it for my writing.

Then upload your stuff as you write it to either a storage harddrive or a second service (In my case, I write a "story blog" and just post each chapter when I'm ready in Blogger. No, I'm not trying to get it traditionally published. It's an experiment').

That way, two things can happen:

One, you can access your work from any computer. I have a netbook, so I can work and upload anywhere. It's very nice.

Two, if your harddrive or your storage service goes down, or you have a brainfart and perform some monumental fuck up, you have backups.

I got something like forty thousand words online right now. I'm not inclined to risk that with a lightning strike or me downing too much tequila. Both have been known to happen.

[ArcticChicken]

Get thee to Google Docs and set up an account.

Oh, yes, this.

I do all my writing on google docs. It's very handy, plus I don't have to worry about losing my flash drive. I cannot keep track of small objects.

[Red_Dazes]

If you accidentally deleted it... it should still be in the recycle bin on your desktop. ... Make sure you check it first before you give up on it. I would recomend buying a cheep 2 gig flash drive, they are like 9.99 at office depot. I back all my writing up on one and keep it in a safe place "Just in Case" I also made a back up on my e-mail. "just incase" cause my computer has fried itself enough times that I would have had to re-write 5 -7 chapters like 50 times :P

[Evil Queen]

I do all my writing on google docs. It's very handy, plus I don't have to worry about losing my flash drive. I cannot keep track of small objects.

I've started doing the same thing. I keep getting ideas while I'm at work and I never seem to remember to bring my notebook into the building.

[Antisocial_Worker]

Thanks for the suggestion, Kinkoid! I'll definitely have to look into that...

On another bright side, while at work last night, I came up with an even better -- and grosser -- way to start my story!

[Evil Queen]

Woot! Yay for guts, blood and gore!

So, what's your novel about?

[Antisocial_Worker]

You know, everyone asks me that, and I always have to say that it would sound weird to explain. And it would take waaaay too long...

But, in a nutshell, we've got fallen angels, Egyptian goddesses (enslaved!), Greek goddesses with lollipops, serial murderers, a very nasty creature that lives in a little white house and eats human misery, people driven insane, hotel desk clerks... and the whole thing is heavily predicated on the notion that everybody (and every creature) has a affinity with a specific tarot arcana.

Oh, and yes, it's set in Asheville, about the closest you'll ever come in real life to Derry, Maine.

[Primer]

Oh, and yes, it's set in Asheville, about the closest you'll ever come in real life to Derry, Maine.

I was about to say that it sounds a bit influenced by Stephen King...