Organizing Writing Files

After many errors, tears, and frustrations over time, I've developed my own writing file organizational system and file back-up plan.

We own a large hard drive that is stored in a secure location. This is backed-up once a week. It includes all kinds of files like documents, media files, and in the case of my kids, user settings. It's very handy but it's not my only back-up.

I've also got a document thumbdrive. I back-up my document files even more often. Losing a whole day of data is too much to imagine. Losing several could require mental intervention. I've lost more and I vowed never to lose it again.

As for the files themselves, I save them after each major change. Let's say I've got a story called Boring Book. First of all, I have a whole file folder for Boringbook. Then each version is saved in order with a three digit identity number. Boringbook001, Boringbook027, Boringbook113 etc. This way, each file has its creation date intact on my hard drive. I can go back in time and see what my book looked like a month ago or whenever. It's very handy! I save related files like Boringbookresearch001 or Boringbookcards008 (which had note card pages with story details on them).

Fan Fiction

I am kind of ashamed to admit that I have been dabbling in writing fan fiction. I don't read it but I thought it would be fun to write it. Though I know my work on fan fiction will never ever lead to anything sometimes it is nice to work within a universe that has already been created. I like expanding it with my imagination and speculating on other activities that beloved characters may have embarked upon.

It didn't occur to me until my husband bought a copy of Price and Prejudice and Zombies that augmented versions of works which have passed into the public domain are publishable. For modern novels that's a long way off and I have no plans in this direction. However, take classic literature and add an element of zombie invasion and you've got a publishable book! I've read a bit of PPZ now. It's ok but not as infused with zombieness as I was expecting. The author kept a lot of the original story, changed a details here and there, and added zombie scenes. It reads very much like the original book with added sections of undead action.

For me, the fan fiction is a solid story that I can write on when the well of ideas or willingness to work on my own book falters. Since I'd rather write something than nothing, it becomes a fall-back project when I just can't bring myself to work on my original stuff. They say that writing is best done on a regular basis and this keeps that regularity going when all else fails. However, it's not my only option. I also have some nonfiction writing projects that sometimes get my attention. I cannot, however, allow myself to work on any of my other fiction stories for fear of falling in love with them and abandoning my current fiction novel. So fan fiction is an option I can live with.

Writing Group

Last night I hosted a Writer's Group. Because of scheduling silliness, it was just my family of four this time. We do all have writing projects in the works though. My oldest already wrote a novel and is working on tweaking it and plotting out sequels at the same time. My youngest is also writing a book and she has actually been working on a single story for several weeks now.

The only activity we used for the Writer's Group this time was a brainstorming session. Everyone had at least one plot issue that was causing distress. For example, one of us needed to find a way that a monster who took over a human body would be recognized for the monster he was. Someone else wanted two friends to realize that they love each other in a non-corny way. There were pens and note cards available for writing down the inspirations that resulted from the brainstorming.

The rules were:
1. Responses are not limited.
1.5. Multiple responses are encouraged.
2. An author can either reject an idea being given or comment on the idea. The author may only comment on the idea if doing so helps the group to better understand the parameters of the dilemma. Otherwise, it can be rejected without discussion--no hard feelings.

The rule about commenting turned out to be very important. The first suggestions were often so far off the author's expectation that comments helped everyone refine their subsequent suggestions before blurting them out.

We will be doing this again, as it gave everyone ideas. It was like getting a lungful of fresh air after breathing stale air for a long time. Also, we had dessert!

Balance

I have a solid foothold on my recent novel attempt. Normally, I like to plot my way toward a fully fleshed-out story before doing much writing. Oh, I might indulge myself in a little bit of pre-writing but I don't do much in case I find too many holes in my story concept to proceed. However, this approach often results in frustration and abandoned ideas because it does not encourage my creative process as much as writing does.

This time, I've done a great deal of writing. I wrote before I plotted, then plotted a bit and wrote some more. The process has given me more ideas to include than advance plotting ever did!

However, the writing has run rampant. So I think that a hybrid approach is probably the best way to proceed from here. It's time to map out the story's process, tighten it up, and pull together the rest of the book. Otherwise it can feel like drowning in a sea of ideas. I won't avoid writing but I have to make sure I don't use muse writing as an excuse to procrastinate on the plotting.

I'm a pretty conceptual person but tangible, touchable stuff helps me too. So I am writing out index cards with story details and will assemble them into a story map. I think I'll take a large piece of fabric and pin them in place. Then I can take them off and bind them, in story order, into a little 2-ring notecard binder I bought.

That's the plan anyway.