Thread: GAH! Does anyone have a tried and true method for backing up work?

I'm so frustrated at myself. I am always so careful about backing up. I save my files on my hard drive as well as a flash disk, and I back up a complete version every few weeks or so on a different flash disk. I guess where I went wrong was not saving a version more often than every few weeks...

Since my story is so big (110,000 words) I have it saved in multiple files, section 1, section 2, etc. And SOMEHOW (I have no clue, I blame staying up too late spiked up on caffeine), when I was working in section 9, I saved it OVER section 7, therefore erasing about twelve chapters. *sigh*

THANK GOD (seriously) that I was able to go on the third disk and get a version from a few weeks ago, but I still lost about 3 awesome rewrites on those chapters. It's upsetting but not devastating as it would have been had I now had that third disk. Wheww... scary...

What is everyone's method for backing up? How should I change mine to make sure this never happens again? I'm a very fast typist and can rewrite 3-4 chapters in one night, so its difficult to save so many different places every time I have new writing, but I guess I need to step it up and just do it. How often do you back up a complete version of your work? Because now I know that every few weeks isn't enough. I'm thinking I should save a version every few days, at the least.

This has happened to me before, it's very frustrating. I have no idea how I did it. All I can think is when I hit "save as" (to save to the flash disk) I accidentally clicked on the other file and saved over it without noticing. So stupid... argh!

Last year I lost some of my writing, not to mention all my music. Since then I have backed up my work after every writing session on a flash disc. I have my story set out in chapters in a folder on my laptop. After every writing session I will enter the date on the folder title and copy it on the flash disc. The result is that I have a flash disc with about 100+ folders of the same story. Also when I finish a significant draft I back it up on a permanent disc and also a external hard drive.

I use Subversion and commit a copy of the file every thousand words or so, but that's a pain if you don't have a home server to run it on (and doubly painful if it runs Windows). That way I can always go back to an old version and the files are stored on a RAID on the server so it's on at least two disks.

I also try to make backups to an encrypted directory on Ubuntu's cloud storage thingy every once in a while, but I've been forgetting to do so latey.

Originally Posted by movieman

I use Subversion and commit a copy of the file every thousand words or so, but that's a pain if you don't have a home server to run it on (and doubly painful if it runs Windows). That way I can always go back to an old version and the files are stored on a RAID on the server so it's on at least two disks.

I do this too, and it was actually simpler for me to manage the repositories on Windows than it was on Linux.

However, the simplest "tried and true" method is just what Robdemanc said: Back up after every writing session.

I use Mozy for automatic backups of all my valuable files (not just writing). Other suggestions I've heard are emailing copies to yourself, or setting your writing program to automatically file a backup copy every so many minutes. Personally, I don't like using any mechanical device (external drive/CD/DVD) because I've had those things go wonky on me, losing everything that was on them.

With my nanowrimo stuff I've been emailing the manuscript to myself. I've backed it up on flash disk as well and have an automatic backup but if you want to have a record of different versions, emailing it to yourself might work. Plus, it's cheap. Email it to a friend, too, in case your email does something horrible (like gets hijacked).

Each time I finish a writing session my work gets saved to a cd-rw and a memory stick. As I'm becoming fonder of my work, and as it is becoming more and more important to me now, I plan to extend this to a second memory stick.

I shudder at the thought of losing work that I'd spent hours on.

Once you have saved a version change the attribute of the saved copy to Read Only, that way you can't overwrite it. I try to do a back-up at least once a week, and I don't write novels. Not knowing what computer you are using, and what budget you have available for preventing a re-occurance, makes specific advice difficult; but a RAID array (whatever that is)would seem to do the job. But remember, all these things are as reliable as the person using them.

If you are using an Apple, there are all sorts of routines you could write to automate the process of backing up - Don't ask me how, you need an Apple geek...

Ok, ok, here comes Ms crazy. I save my work on 3 usb sticks, a disc as well, the computers own harddrive, plus a portable harddrive as well. Talk about paranoid. Ha ha.

I am a stickler for saving to the usb's often and saving to the harddrive after every page typed. This craziness comes from being stooged once or twice before. I've lost lots of work in the past from not being safe. I had a computer smoke on me once; something inside started burning and all my files on the computer were damage. Physically damaged... Burnt to be exact.

So now I don't take any risks. With my current completed manuscript I have a copy of the writing on 3 usb's, one I sent to my sister. This way if mine go missing or gets damaged, I always have one for safe keeping.

The only time I have to write is while I'm at work during my breaks and lunches, so it's saved on my work computer. The only time I ever back it up is when I think I might be about to get fired, and all i do is email it to my personal email address. Maybe that's not very wise.

Originally Posted by Bloggsworth

Once you have saved a version change the attribute of the saved copy to Read Only, that way you can't overwrite it. I try to do a back-up at least once a week, and I don't write novels. Not knowing what computer you are using, and what budget you have available for preventing a re-occurance, makes specific advice difficult; but a RAID array (whatever that is)would seem to do the job. But remember, all these things are as reliable as the person using them.

If you are using an Apple, there are all sorts of routines you could write to automate the process of backing up - Don't ask me how, you need an Apple geek...

Ah, see this is the sort of thing I was looking for. I didn't know you could do that.

I learnt a number of years ago that you have to be serious about back-ups. I had my own business at the time so it was critical. Pleased to say that I just got in the habit of doing it regularly. I think everyone’s needs will be different depending on how much they write, what else the computer stores, etc. I use a portable external drive (Clickfree) weekly – it’s fabulously easy and very quick and backs up my entire computer effortlessly. I don’t know where you are located (your profile doesn’t mention it) so Clickfree may not be available where you are (it is available in North America). I can’t say enough good things about Clickfree and for about $100 you get a ton of memory; I like its simplicity and ease of use. I do like the memory sticks and their convenience but they seem only good for copying over a few documents otherwise it takes forever. The Clickfree does my entire computer in about 3-5 mins (this includes a ton of music and photos). It’s also important where you store it – mine is in a locked metal cabinet. I have another which is kept off site. If the house burns down, I get burgled or something bad happens, I have a copy in a different site. They say not to keep it in the car in case it get broken into (unlikely in this area but you never know). I also store a few important files on a memory stick. If I’ve written a lot on any given day, I will copy it to a stick. It’s one of those things you must make time for I think. I do often email documents to myself and/or a friend too just in case. I think the key is to be disciplined and get into a routine (ie by doing it on the same day of the week/same time of day, etc. – the Clickfree device will remind you which works for me). A lot of people don’t take back-ups seriously thinking it won’t happen to them until it does. Silly things can happen when you are tired and I’ve done something similar in the past. Hope that helps.

Two copies of each story on my computer, one as a plain text file. And the same on a memory stick. So, four copies total, plus a printed hard copy once I finish a draft.

I work in Google Docs, so it is saves as I write. I also print of hard copies now and then, and download all chapters to my Mac, which is automatically backed up through Time Machine daily. I should probably save copies to my computer more often, though. I probably will once I start writing more often.

So, I read Starseed's original post here yesterday evening. I guess it would have been at about this time. I felt a gentle, kindhearted sort of horror patting me right on the back of my neck as I realized that the only full backups I have of any of my work are the "review" copies I send to my few faithful readers--with all the notes, clippings, and unfinished scenes cut out. Gasp!

Appropriately panicked, I took it upon myself to write a program that automatically backs up any updated Word document to Google Docs (and to my thumb drive ) every morning at 5:00 AM (by which time any sensible writer will have stopped working, but I suppose I may have to reconsider that for my case). So now I can safely say that I do back things up on a regular basis. Or, rather, Windows Task Scheduler does. In theory. I'm not ready to rule out any kind of weird, post-Y2K bug throwing a wrench in things, and God knows Google trashes APIs like normal people trash tissues.

Do any of you have any kind of (fully; if I were responsible enough to click a button, I wouldn't be asking) automated backup system (preferably one that stores things off-site) that you've had good luck with?