When Life Hands You Lemons...

This month I was all set to offer my version of charting a story ala Myra Johnson, when disaster hit.

The ultimate is a computer crash – mine wasn’t quite so bad, but almost.

I’ve been zapping out computers in our house left and right – literally. It started back in June when my HP desktop refused to open the Internet. Then Word. Then Mahjong. Well, the computer was a fine companion for three years of extraordinary use. I guess I understand we all have to go sometime. Bummer.

So I confiscated a Dell desktop my husband used for Ebay – yes, he loves me enough to sacrifice, LOL! Things went fine and dandy for a month and then that computer went south, too.

Since I’d purchase a laptop for my son as a high school graduation present this Spring, I took the desktop from his room, reloaded all my info and continued on my merry way – for yet, another MONTH.

I’m beginning to think my office is possessed.

My husband is now guarding his laptop – ebay is very important when shopping for sporting equipment, you understand – so I turn to the last vestige of hope…my son’s gaming computer. Of course I asked permission first!!! That computer is so souped up, its boot up time goes 0 – 100 in no time flat.

Ah, I’m on my way.

You have to understand how I write. I can’t write at the desktop because it’s connected to the Internet and we all know what a distraction THAT can be. Instead, I have a many generations old IBM ThinkPad across the room that only has Word, Publisher and Excel loaded on it. That’s where I write. AND I back up to a flash drive just because I’m paranoid. So, okay, I have my Internet fix going gangbusters on my worksurface beneath the window, and my laptop smokin’ on the desk with my newest creation being formulated for Love Inspired.

Life is finally going good…

Until my laptop screen goes black. Oh, the computer is still working, the screen has just taken a break. Good for me I’ve become obsessive about saving my work. I hardboot the computer off (ouch) and walk away.

With tears in my eyes.

I love that computer.

The next day, I turn on the laptop and all my work is there! Thank you, Lord!! About a half hour into my writing, the screen goes black again.

Okay, forget this. I move over to mega computer with Internet. You really won’t believe this…I certainly can’t and I’m living it…the processor starts humming. It’s just a phase, right? I insert earplugs and keep writing. A week later, the entire computer is running slow as molasses. I’m so not believing this!!!

By now you’re probably thinking, doesn’t this woman know about anti-virus programs??
Yes, she does, thank you. I’m protected to the hilt.

Arrgghhhh! What’s a girl to do?

Eat chocolate.

Make chocolate chip cookies.

Buy a fudge chocolate cake.

When all those crumbs have been consumed, I’m ready for my next attack. Drum roll please….

AlphaSmart.

I hope y’all caught Debby Giusti’s post on November 20th. She is the master of the AlphaSmart. I’ve had mine for years, but with computers getting bigger, faster, and prettier, I had shelved Ol’ Reliable for Slick and Multi-functional.

Lucky for me, my AlphaSmart buddy doesn’t hold it against me. For the past two weeks, Alpha and I have been the best of friends. Really, we’re better than friends, we make great partners. Since I can’t edit on it, I’ve been averaging 1500-2000 words a day. I download to the molasses computer each night which gets backed up cyberly (is that a word?) each evening.

Heaven help me if Mozy backup ever crashes…

So, that’s the story of my writing life these past months. It’s just me, AlphaSmart, and Netbook.

Now, the moral of this story??

BACK UP YOUR WORK. OFTEN.

I manually back up my desktop harddrive to an external drive after each use. The thing holds a tigabyte of info so all my pictures, mss, and misc stuff is safe. I also use Mozy to back up all my work in cyberspace.

And flash drives?? I’ve got tons of them each dedicated to separate project.

Oh, and let’s not forget hardcopy.

Some may call me obsessive. Can you blame me?

I’ve asked for a brand new shiny computer for Christmas. Until then, I’m chugging along great in a very minimalistic manner, cranking out words for NaNoWriMo.

Spending very little time on the Internet.

Please Lord, no more calamities…

Okay, your turn. Have any computer disasters you’d like to share?? Any creative solutions? C’mon, let’s cleanse out all our computer frustrations today.

And today, I’m offering 2 – IOUs for Rocky Mountain Hero, my January 2011 debut book. Just leave a comment AND your email address to be included in the drawing. Check out WE to see if you’ve won!!

Happy writing, all!!