THE WEEKEND PROGRESS REPORT 2005

Re: Cindy Update



I got a nasty virus that just wiped everything off my HD yesterday! (Yes, my stories are backed up....somewhere)

The worst casualty was that I lost 6,000 MP3s!:eek




*crawls back out to install her XP Office, so she can attempt to be productive*

Re: Cindy Update

Tell me you backed up those mp3's too? Ouch.

Re: Cindy Update

*sniffles*

No.

Well, not exactly.

See, I got this lovely new DVD/CD burner for Christmas. The bundled software that came with it has a wonderful back-up application. Well, my original burner had died, and the discs I had were a jumbled mess. I made the stupid mistake of giving those discs to a friend, since I was going to "clean-up" all my MP3s and reburn them in a nice neat manner.

I was also going to back up the Hard-Drive.

*cough*

I kept procrastinating.

And yes, I can get most of the MP3s back (just coordinate with the friend for that), and a large number of them were ripped from CDs we have already. But it's going to take some doing to get back a couple thousand that I had gotten from friends all over the planet, and these aren't songs you can just search for on WinMX, or KaZaA. Those particular MP3s were also my favorites. *whimpers*

Not to mention, I spent $13.00 on the conversion software (to convert the .wma, and .wav files to MP3 format), that was downloaded, and now....lost (I emailed them, on my knees begging them to replace it for me...not holding my breath, though)!

Oh, you can bet, I got the extended version of the "I told you so" speech from Sam.

I took it like a big girl, though. He was right.

Hard Drive Troubles

Good luck in your recovery efforts, drgnlvr. I feel for you.

Now, off to do my own back-up....

Re: Hard Drive Troubles

Oh, drgnlvr, know how you feel. Lucky me, though, I just put all those MP3s on an actual player, so if the computer dies it's nothing to fret about.

Hmm.. but now that I'm finished with Part One of the WIP, I'm thinking it's time to make another writing disk.

Re: Hi

Thanks Lori

I sat on it for a week before I actually sent it.

Now I just need to write a masterpiece to sub somewhere else, or maybe edit some of the crap have...:rollin

I want to keep it up.

Renee'

Re: Hi

Think you can do another 11k by next weekend? Hmm?

Click to expand...

...
...
:lol

Oh Barb.


(I put the period on "Part One" last night. Part Two is hard.)

Re: Hi

Congrats, Katie! Time to celebrate!



I'm such a party animal.

CC: How is the Holly Lisle Revision method working for you? I used it to work on my rewrite and it went well for me... Unfortunately, Monster needed LOTS of work.

Click to expand...

I just hit another spot that needs a major insert of new material. I'm close enough to the end that I want to keep going, so I made copious notes in the margins like she said.

Renee -- good on ya for sending your work in!

Re: Hi

Holly Lisle Revision Method?

Anyone care to fill me in?

Re: Hi

Thanks Chunky

Re: Holly Lisle

drgnlvr, I think this is what Chunky was referring to. Lots and lots of great info on that site.

Re: Holly Lisle

I'm a big Holly Lisle fan (just reread Glenraven this week) and can highly recommend her advice, since her books show that it works!!

Re: Holly Lisle

That's the spot, Cindy. I really like Holly's attitude toward the process. She comes across as a very likeable, determined person. I just finished her first book, FIRE IN THE MIST, which is available for free from the BAEN Free Library, a great place. I might never have purchased one of Holly's books before, but now that I've read one, I have her on my list whenever I go to the bookstore. I also downloaded her e-book MUGGING THE MUSE, which is a great read and very inspiring. Get it here over on the right, under Free Stuff.

Re: Holly Lisle

CC and others, thanks for the infor about Holly Lisle, newbie that I am I hadn't heard of her. The link was nice, just downloaded her ebook also.

During my short scan of her site I liked that she says to rework your piece from the printed page. Was beginning to feel like a cave-woman. Some of the people in my writing group insist everything can be done on the computer. Me, I like the feel of the paper and pen in my hand. Also, I can taked the print-out with me anywhere. So far can't do that with my computer.

So, long winded way to say "thanks ya'll".

Nita

Cate Checks In

Hey!
Holiday stall is ending, tho I'm not up to my usual yet.
Here goes:
Submitted 2 articles to a web-based publication
Am editing a fiction piece to send out per Jan challenge
Hounded 2 publications for my CHECK! (aggrivating)

My pride--Cut out all of my articles for 2004 (or printed them if on web) and made a 3-ring binder full of them in archival plastic sleeves. Threw out the rest of the mags and feel great that everything is in order if I need a clip!

Wooo!
Thats it for me.
Next week I want to be back in the fire--
Cate

*WHIMPER*

Okay, I don't have much progress to report this week and what progress I did make is gone. *poof* Like it never happened.

I started the week thinking I was going to have a hard time escaping the taser, but about mid-week, I rediscovered a short story I'd written more as a rant long about December 2003 and started rewriting. At the same time, I came up with three new ideas for short stories and wrote opening paragraphs for them so I could remember what they were and what I wanted to do with them.

And then... And then... my computer caught a virus.

I didn't think it was a major one and I was working diligently on cleaning it off my computer when.... something went wrong. In the end, I had to contact emergency tech support and perform a lifesaving Recovery Reboot.

The Good News is my computer is alive.

The Bad News is I lost all of my files and programs that did not come with the computer.

The News That Makes It All Bearable is I had just backed up all of my writing-related files two and a half weeks ago (Thanks for that kick in the pants, Frank -- what is the proper form of payment for undying gratitude?). So, as far as the writing goes, I can recover.

Music-wise, I don't really collect mp3's and own almost all of the songs I had on the laptop on CD. I did lose all the pictures of friends and my nephew that had been sent to me (I'd been MEANING to back those up, but hadn't gotten to it yet), but I think most of those can be recreated with the assistance of the people who sent me the pictures in the first place.

The writing, especially TBWN and the short stories currently circulating, are what were really important. And they are largely safe. The programs and setting the computer up again how I like it will take time, but is just a minor annoyance when all is said and done.

*breathing a deep sigh of relief*

So, Frank, about that payment....

Re: *WHIMPER*

::runs away to backup her laptop, because she forgot to do it last night::

It does sound like you'll survive, Lori! For that, I'm glad to hear. Sorry about your losses.

But three short story ideas? Wahoo!

Re: *WHIMPER*

So, Frank, about that payment....

Click to expand...

Jeepers Lori. I never thought at this stage of my life I'd have a young, intelligent and gorgeous woman in my debt. It's not likely an opportunity like this will come again. I'd better not blow it.

Okay. I've given it a lot of thought:

1- A big hug when next (first) we meet.

2- A signed copy of your first book.

3- You pay for the worms when we go fishing.

Now before everybody yells at me for taking advantage of Lori, I'd just like to say in my defense that I deleted #4 which was she had to pack the lunch for that fishing outing. I'm not a complete pig.



I'm really glad the damage was minimal Lori. And drgn, you have my pity.

Betty

Okay, so you're having an off week. sounds like you are nesting.

Congrats on the reading accomplishments and the new workout routine. I suspect that by the coming weekend you will put us to shame again.

BTW: Rich gave me the taser over the holidays. Wasn't that sweet of him? Now I can really intimidate Bud.

Nita

Okay, I won't zap you. 700 words, huh? well at least it's something. Now repeat after me: I will take the notebook. The notebook is my friend.

I'll expect better in the next report.

~b

CHARLIE

SO, CC, copious notes? ugh. At least you haven't had to redo half of your storyline. Sounds like you are almost ready to get back to the computer. I'm out here cheering you on!

Back to work.

~b

LISA

Yep, sounds like character shuffling is in order. Or perhaps just a long day staring off into space or contemplating your navel, or whatever frees your mind to wander around in the back rooms where the good ideas live.

If nothing else, fall back on the timed writing again. The exercise may just jump-start you again.

Sorry, your stuck with your muse. Just like I'm stuck with Bud. At least you get smoothies. Bud just burps and looks sweaty.

Good to see you back among us.

~b

Renee

Glad to have you on board for the challenge! And congrats on that first submission. Now get to work and generate another! No rest around here. Plus... it's much better to multiple projects in the works.

Best of luck!

Barb

Frank

You sound incredibly busy. Been taking lessons from Betty?

Okay, you're off the hook this week. And I won't start harrassing you about agents... yet.

Have been the executor of an estate and can honestly say, I feel your pain. Hang in there and in the midst if everything, don't forget to take care of yourself.

~b

RAY

Happy Anniversary! and congrats on completing your first year as a columnist!

If you can juggle two novels at once, my hat is off to you! I look forward to hearing more juicy details about this new project of yours. And next week, I hope to hear WORD COUNTS for both. Got it? Good. ZZZZzzt!

Barb