We're Having Technical Difficulties

Hi all,

Apparently, there is a little button on the top of the Microsoft Word panel that says "UNDO".   I still can't find it, but my daughter assured me it's there.  That little button would have undone the potentially devastating deleting I did of my entire manuscript two days ago!  Someone will have to show me where it is because I'm not seeing it.

Disaster averted yesterday afternoon, however, when I went back to search for the deleted manuscript and found a copy of it deep in the files!  I'm good!!  I can't tell you how relieved and grateful I was to God and Microsoft for automatically making a copy for me!  Prayers answered.

The saved copy of the manuscript was the most recent copy minus the adverb search and changes I'd done, but no big deal.  I don't mind redoing that, believe me!  I was smiling like crazy when I saw that copy.

This morning it occurred to me that when the power is off in my house, the only way to find out the time is to check my phone.  I realized that with the TV off, the laptop off and having no way to charge my cell phone, the only source of time would be the stove which is off by an hour!  There's gotta be a better way.

I've owned one watch in my life.  I love that watch and it needs a cleaning.  It's an expensive watch, so it makes sense that the cleaning will cost me a few $100's.  After buying a house, I never have a couple hundred dollars sitting around so, the watch sits in my bedroom and I rely on the clocks in the house when the power is on :)

It also occurred to me that if my laptop was lost, stolen or broken - I wouldn't have access to my novel nor could I save changes made.  I now have several copies of the manuscript on the laptop, the hard copy my editor sent me, and I've saved the ms onto a USB thingie, as well.  As a matter of fact, I saved it onto two USBs and one is on my key chain.

Have I checked all the boxes of being safe?  This morning, a friend recommended that I download (burn) the manuscript onto a DVD or CD.  Good thinking!  I would do that if my laptop CD drive worked, however it hasn't worked in years.  It might be time for a new laptop...I've had this one for over two years.  It seems ridiculous to me that laptops don't seem to last over four years.  Why is that?

I suppose I've done all humanly possible to save and protect my manuscript save for saving it on an external hard drive which I own, by the way.  But, I lost the cord to it when I moved two years ago.  I carefully wrapped the respective cords of my laptop, computer, printer DVD player and external hard drive and put them in one box...which, of course, I can't find.  Don't you just love moving?

A friend suggested taking my hard drive to Radio Shack and perhaps, there is a universal cord and battery pack.  I guess that's where I'll be next week.  Aren't you happy I wrote this blog?  Ha ha!

I'm supposed to be working non-stop on this novel and I seem to be dealing with technical difficulties and issues relating to technology!  Stop already!  I just want to write a book and see it published, for goodness sake.

Have a beautiful day.  It's all good :)

Peace and love,
Ellie

I Did The Unthinkable.

Hi all,

The unthinkable happened this afternoon...I lost the copy of my manuscript that I've been editing for a week.  It wouldn't have mattered if I'd saved it, either.  I was deleting a paragraph on page 98 and must have hit the wrong key.   I then clicked on the Enter key without noticing I'd highlighted the whole manuscript and poof, gone.  I went from over 300 pages to page 1 of 1.  Gone, all gone in a blink of an eye.

Wow, I couldn't believe it.  Shocked and stunned would best describe my face.  I immediately set about retrieving the manuscript, but no cigar.  I couldn't find it!  I checked the trash can icon and it wasn't there either because I didn't delete it, I simply erased it.  Shoot.  I didn't actually say "shoot" by the way...it was more like, "shit, shit, shit".

Thank the good Lord I have two earlier copies of the manuscript in my files, a hard copy and one copy of my editor's Track Changes, thank GOD.  So, I started again.  There was no sense in screaming, running around the house or getting mad, it was done and I had to accept it.  I could say this was a disaster or put a positive spin on it.  I'm no Mother Teresa, believe me, but what would have been the point in losing it or worse - giving up?  I guess I am getting wiser with age or I truly have gone nuts.

So, I just chalked it up to life.  Live and learn.  I am a fan of things happening for a reason, so who knows?  Maybe this version will be THE one.  Maybe this was meant to happen and maybe not.  I had a choice and I made it.

I made a copy of the manuscript with my editor's Track Changes and decided to begin on page one.  Yes, page one.  I decided to focus on re-removing (that might not be a word, but it aptly describes what I have to do!) all the "ly" words, the adverbs throughout the entire manuscript and tweaking dialogue without the adverbs.  It's going faster than the first time and along the way, I've remembered dialogue that I'd tweaked before, places where I'd made changes, and remembered to delete unnecessary paragraphs.  Carefully deleted, mind you!!

I've certainly been through much worse in my life and I survived.  I shall survive this, too :) It's not life or death for goodness sake.  I'm happy and healthy; my kids are happy and healthy and that's all that matters.  It's all good :)

Be careful with your writing, editing and saving!

Peace and love,
Ellie