I am so mad or upset or frustrated or something like that. I was working my fist NaNo from years ago, but I can't do it anymore. I lost what I had already written when the computer crashed. Take this as a lesson and BACK UP YOUR FILES! This did not just happen, but it is still upsetting. I pulled back out what I have left in paper notes and it was a huge mess. Then I was thinking about it and am thinking that it is a lot like The Last Air Bender, which I had NEVER seen when I had the idea. Now I wonder if it is worth creating because it is so much like another product which is probably better. I am not sure that all of that came out right or even remotely intelligible. The emotions I am wrestling with are kinda undefined, but still very powerful. **Insert screaming here**
ROW80 rundown:
1. Write 500 words per day on any project.
Monday - 343 on late post + 50 on WIP
Tuesday - 379 on WIP
Wednesday - 100 on WIP + 332 on this post
2. Blog at least every Wednesday and Sunday.
This post is done so there's that.
3. Check out at least 20 posts from each new ROW80 linky before the next one comes out.
I was only able to get to 15.
4. Use Twitter at least once per day.
I have definitely been on more than once a day.
5. Post on my author Facebook page at least 3 times per week.
This one is eluding me. Must try harder. I think I will look for writing related memes to share.
6. Read 1 book per week.
I have until the end of the day to finish a book or I'm officially behind. So of course there's no pressure.
What do you do when you just feel like throwing up your hands and screaming?
photo credit: Amy McTigue via photopin cc
So sorry about your work. I had that happen to me right after my first NaNo. Lost about 45,000 words of my 50K. Just so not fun. :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support. I am sorry you lost your work, too. I am forever remembering to backup constantly from now on.
DeleteI think it doesn't occur to us to back up as maniacally as we should until something like this happens. Sorry it happened to you, but take heart. I know someone who just quit, entirely, when her hard drive crashed. You're not doing that, so screaming is okay.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the proto-Last Airbender, sometimes we write stuff that goes into a drawer. If it isn't salvageable, it still taught you while you wrote it, so it wasn't wasted even if it never comes out of the drawer.
What do I do when I just feel like screaming? I meditate. A few minutes concentrating on breathing helps me (although I know some people find that unbearably corny)
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
OK, so screaming and then deep breathing. Got it. Seriously though, thanks for your kind words.
DeleteFunny, t hat's just what I do, too! Screaming, then deep breathing. :-) They work well together, for me.
DeleteI know the pain of losing a lot of work with a drive crash. My nephew once accidentally fried my thumb drive that had my only copy of NaNo on it. At Thanksgiving. Yeah. Now I save everything to my hard drive and back it all up constantly to the cloud. Lesson learned.
Oh Tammy, so stressful. We will all scream and then deep breath together. AAAAAAHHHHHHH!...OOOOMMMMM
DeleteI just finally scream when no one is around. I am so distressed for you? I'm sure you've thought of everything but just in case it is a possibility, is it totally wiped or is it possible to go back to an earlier version of your hard drive where it might still be saved? I did this once and got much of it back, though not all.
ReplyDeleteIt took losing something precious for me to do back up. Now I'm so fussy I save in three places.
Take care
I don't know if there was a way, but the friend who fixed it (for free out of a loving heart) didn't get the communication from me through the telephone game that my WIP files were on there. He thought it was just a kids computer so when he nuked and paved he wasn't aware that we really needed to get those files if at all possible. I have been told at this point there is not a way to get them back.
DeleteWhen I get frustrated with a story I try to work on a different project, or do something else for a few minutes and get away from the document.
ReplyDeleteI remember that story and the only similarity I can see with Airbender was the use of the elements. Your manuscript is a different story and concept all together so don't worry about that. :) Keep going with this story and bring it to life :)
So I think that throwing a tantrum on my blog may have been my way of getting away. With all the love and kind words I am starting to feel better. Thank you for remembering my story. I completely forgot about the night I talked your ear off about it at the writers meeting. This is why I look up to you, it's because you are full of awesome!
DeleteWhat do I do when I feel like screaming? Hmm. Usually I just drink tea. That usually calms me down and gives me a chance to relax. I also try to approach my life from a place of gratitude, think about the good instead of the bad.
ReplyDeleteFor a writer, a hard-drive crash can be scary. All of our darlings are on that hard drive. I do have back-ups I use, though probably not as often as I should. As far as your WIP being too much like The Last Air Bender, maybe have someone else read it and see what they think, or find ways to make it different.
Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think tea will work for me, but maybe if I put my Tequila in a tea cup it will have an additional calming effect.
DeleteI would definitely go for the screaming. Probably closely followed by crying and swearing, and then progressing on to tea, chocolate and cuddles. Losing your hard work really sucks, I'm so sorry that happened to you.
ReplyDeleteChocolate and cuddles! Now why didn't I think of that? Probably because I was too busy screaming which most definitely involved swearing.
DeleteSorry to hear about the loss. It's hard and yes screaming (or something of the equivalency) is appropriate. It's hard, but sometimes you should still try to write that story. You never know, the rewrite may be even more awesome than the previous version.
ReplyDeleteHope your week is better! ~hugs~
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I am now working on restarting it and making progress.
Delete