Storage Has Always Been an Issue
As a writer, I have another storage issue. I have five manuscripts, close to a hundred short stories, blog posts, numerous articles, data from 122 Squidoo lenses, research material, and my personal journal. My work is cluttering up my hard drive as surely the outdated clothes are cluttering up my closet.
You lost it!
HOW COULD YOU!
I worked on that story for over a month!
Fickle Creatures
My muse is a fickle creature. She will bounce from fiction to writing another article to reading and updating something I wrote ten years ago. The point is, I want all of my work, past and present, to be readily available, but safe and secure as well. 
Backing up and protecting your data is vital.
Burning CD's
If you have a CD burner on your computer, get into the habit of making a back up disc of all your data on a regular bases. How often you do it depends on how much time you put in at the computer and how important the work is. There are other factors to consider as well. I use my computer a lot and my current laptop is showing signs of wear. I usually back up my writing every week or two, but my computer is going to die on me soon. I will lose data. That's inevitable but I'm burning a disc every day or two. If I've done a great deal of writing on any given day, I'll burn a disc before shutting down for the night.Discs are cheap. I simply write the date on it and stash it in my CD storage box. I also use a CD to make a copy of any manuscript I send to my publisher. It may not be necessary but I feel better for it. I have a copy of all my completed manuscripts in our safety deposit box at the bank.
Last but not least, I use CD's to store a file with a list of all of our bank accounts, charge cards, and stocks and CD's. I hope that the CD will never be needed but if something happened to us, our sons would have the information needed to settle our estate. I usually replace the old one with a new one once I've finished with the taxes each year.
Burnable CD's
Thumb Drives
Another excellent way to keep a copy of your work is with a thumb drive, flash drive, or jump drive. Whatever you prefer to call them, they are handy little gadgets. I'm on the computer at home, at school and at the library. A thumb drive allows me to work on the same project no matter the computer I'm at. It's also convenient for moving a document from one computer to the next. If I write a test at home, I can take it into school the next day and print it.Jump drives come in a variety of sizes. I have several small ones that I use going from home to school, and a larger one to store my manuscripts on. They are an excellent way of adding storage space to your computer.
The Grand Daddy of Flash Drives
Corsair Flash Voyager 32 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive CMFUSB2.0-32GB
Amazon Price: $79.23 (as of 07/05/2009)
When Size Matters
The Corsair 32GB Flash Drive can store up to 8,000 MP3 files, 9,900 digital photos or 13 hours of video footage, and a serious number of text files.
Flash Drives
Great Stocking Stuffer for High School and College Students
SanDisk Cruzer Micro 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (SDCZ6-8192-A11, Retail Package)
Amazon Price: $15.45 (as of 07/05/2009)
Kingston DataTraveler 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive DTI/8GB
Amazon Price: $20.27 (as of 07/05/2009)
Transcend JetFlash V30 - 4 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive TS4GJFV30 (Black)
Amazon Price: $12.16 (as of 07/05/2009)
Kingston DataTraveler 4 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive DT100/4GB
Amazon Price: $7.45 (as of 07/05/2009)
My Flash 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
External Hard-Drives
When your storage needs are less than 10GB, a flash drive is usually adequate. When more than 50GB is needed, an external hard-drive makes more senses. It costs more but one external hard drive is easier to keep up with than an assortment of flash drives. I have several flash drives. Keeping track of what's on which one is frustrating.I picked up an external hard-drive this fall and often wonder why I didn't do it sooner. I still back my work up on discs, that's a habit I don't think will change, but the hard-drive eliminated the frustration of not being able to find the file I need.
However you back up your work, don't forget to do it. I don't know about your Muse, but mine has a bit of a temper. I want to keep her happy and productive. I need all the help I can get.
External Hard-Drive
Iomega Prestige 500 GB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive 34270
Amazon Price: $74.95 (as of 07/05/2009)
Toshiba 320 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive HDDR320E03X
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 07/05/2009)
Iomega Desktop Hard Drive 500 GB Hi-Speed USB 2.0 External Hard Drive - 33654
Amazon Price: $119.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Toshiba 160 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive HDDR160E03X
Amazon Price: $199.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Western Digital My Book Essential Edition 500 GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive WDH1U5000N
Amazon Price: $89.00 (as of 07/05/2009)
Do you back up your work, or do you count on Fate to keep it safe?
Do you back up your work, or do you count on Fate to keep it safe?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byI lost an important document once, from there on out I back up my documents on a regular bases.
Evelyn_Saenz says:
I recently got an external hard drive and I use that to back up all my important files. I wonder if I need to back that up as well?
The files that I do have backed up on CD's I have two copies of. One copy I keep here in Miami and the other I keep at my house in Vermont.
Posted April 24, 2009
Tipi says:
Fate has gotten me. I know I should back up everything. Lost lots of photos on my old computer...
Posted January 24, 2009
I know I should, but rarely remember to do it.
vbright105 says:
I have lost important material more than once. I didn't realize flash drives were that inexpensive though!
Posted April 24, 2009
Work Worth Saving
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Benjamin Franklin
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If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing. B. Franklin Benjamin Franklin lived by his edict. His writings and his work had a profound impact on people around...
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Bonnie and Clyde
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You've read the story of Jesse James- Of how he lived and died; If you're still in need Of something to read Here's the story of Bonnie and Clyde.
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Annie Oakley
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In an era when opportunities for women were limited, Annie Oakley's amazing ability with a gun proved that a woman could do just as well (or even better) than a man, even in traditionally "masculine fields" like shooting. Through talent and hard work...
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South Carolina Song Birds
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There are over 4,000 species of birds that are considered song birds. They are capable of producing a variety of sounds commonly referred to as bird song. Evidence suggests that song birds evolved over 50 million years ago in the Australia, New Zeala...
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Benjamin Franklin's Virtues to Live By
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At the age of 20, Benjamin Franklin developed a list of virtues to live by. The original list had 12 virtues but when a Quaker friend commented on his pride, Ben added the 13 virtue, humility. When asked why he created the list, he said, In this piec...
How do you back up your work?
susannaduffy wrote...
OMG yes! I had a big crash last year and I'm still realising just how much I lost!
Posted June 24, 2009
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
Another wonderful lens! Thank you for reminding me to back up my work. Thank you, also, for being a fellow member of Rocket Moms.
Posted April 24, 2009
vbright105 wrote...
Good information! I learned something. You've been blessed by an angel.
Posted April 24, 2009
Tipi wrote...
Thanks Lizzy! This is a good reminder to me to back things up on CD's... I lost a lot of wonderful photos in Dec. '08. - Thanks for visiting the Kabetogama lens! :) - Would love to meet up with you when you make your annual trip to MN - ND. - Just an idea I've had for awhile now. - We could make a lens about it on Squidoo!!!
Posted January 24, 2009
About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,690 lenses, favorited 454, and has created 165 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
Let Inspiration Strike
by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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