Take Time to Back Up Your Story

11/18/18 • 5 min

Take time to back up your story.

It's day 18 of NaNoWriMo. We've been chugging along for two and a half weeks. I feel like things are going well. I'm optimistic about the state of our novel writing because I believe we will get there.

But... And there had to be a but... I feel like I need to back UP here and let you know about something important.

Imagine this scenario of you getting almost all the way through your novel and all of a sudden, due to circumstances beyond your control you no longer have access to your previous writing. How does that make you feel? If you have a growing pit in your stomach at the mere thought then this is the episode for you.

This episode is meant to help you back up your novel. I would advise you to do that immediately.

If you're anything like someone we know you've probably devised a trustworthy method to flawlessly capture your finest novelry along with a few other words you've bookmarked to rework later.
You're feeling secure in this method of writing that has never failed you before.

Let me do a time check. Yep, it's time Back up your novel.

No matter if you're writing on your own reliable personal computer, offline, in the cloud, or some other way. Now that you know why you need to back up your writing I'm going to give you a few tips on how.

There are typically three ways that writers are writing their novels.

Offline

This means either by hand or dictation into a device with audio capturing capability.

On a computer, this could be a desktop, laptop, or other personal digital device, such as a tablet or a phone.

Online

I recommend using a different storage method than the one that you're using to write your novel.

For personal device /private storage

Back up methods Offline/ external storage

External Hard Drive
Thumb Drive
Print

Cloud-Based

Emailing your novel to yourself and then downloading that file
Google Docs
One Drive, if you prefer Microsoft

If you use an iOS device you can use AirDrop to transfer your novel to another iOs device using blue tooth or WiFi.

NaNoWriMo Sponsored: Dropbox Paper

If you do at least one of these this week you will avoid the panic and heartache that will overtake your senses in the earlier scenario I gave.

I'm curious to know if you have a backup, which method you prefer to use: Offline, Transfer to an external device, or the cloud where it's always accessible with an internet connection?

LMK #amadvox on Twitter, and note you're responding to Episode 18.

Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.

If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!

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Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).

Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".

Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.

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Take time to back up your story.

But... And there had to be a but... I feel like I need to back UP here and let you know about something important.

This episode is meant to help you back up your novel. I would advise you to do that immediately.

Let me do a time check. Yep, it's time Back up your novel.

There are typically three ways that writers are writing their novels.

Offline

This means either by hand or dictation into a device with audio capturing capability.

On a computer, this could be a desktop, laptop, or other personal digital device, such as a tablet or a phone.

Online

I recommend using a different storage method than the one that you're using to write your novel.

For personal device /private storage

Back up methods Offline/ external storage

External Hard Drive
Thumb Drive
Print

Cloud-Based

Emailing your novel to yourself and then downloading that file
Google Docs
One Drive, if you prefer Microsoft

If you use an iOS device you can use AirDrop to transfer your novel to another iOs device using blue tooth or WiFi.

NaNoWriMo Sponsored: Dropbox Paper

If you do at least one of these this week you will avoid the panic and heartache that will overtake your senses in the earlier scenario I gave.

I'm curious to know if you have a backup, which method you prefer to use: Offline, Transfer to an external device, or the cloud where it's always accessible with an internet connection?

LMK #amadvox on Twitter, and note you're responding to Episode 18.

Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.

How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?

Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).

Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".

Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.

Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Previous Episode

Try the Weekend Double Up Challenge

Try the Weekend Double Up Challenge.

Today, writer, let's play a writing game called the "Weekend Double Up Challenge"

We're headed into another weekend. This is a perfect time to try to boost your word count up there, as this next week might be a little shorter and unpredictable due to the upcoming holiday.

The Double Up Challenge

Calculate your daily word count goal and double it

Do three sprints with the following prompts.

Incorporate two senses in your story. If your character has seen something, try adding in another way to experience something in your story. For example, have the lights go out and let them find their way out of a situation by sound or by smell.

Memories - Every show has that character building episode where the characters sit around and reminisce about the old days. Try a scene where each character is rehashing a version of past events that somewhat contradict another character's version of events. That will make for some interesting character-driven moments and it may help your MC figure out what motivates others by being able to see them in a new light.

Double double. Have your characters double back and return to a place they've been to before. What would they do differently having the knowledge and info at this point in your story that they didn't have previously?

For more prompt ideas

NaNo Word Sprints: twitter.com/NaNoWordSprints

NaNoWriMo Prompts forum: nanowrimo.org/forums/word-wars-prompts-sprints

If you are a subscriber and find the show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider leaving a rating and a review to help others know about A Mad Vox.

Have you followed any writing prompts this month or have you decided to stick strictly to your plot?

Let me know #amadvox on Twitter or reply on this episode page: podcast.amadvox.com Episode 17

Thank you for listening!

Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.

How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?

Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).

Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".

Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.

Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Next Episode

Give Your Story A Soundtrack

Give your story a soundtrack.

This is the 19th day of NaNoWriMo.

While writing today I had a soundtrack going that helped me power through to hit my daily word count goal and I got to wondering. How cool would it be if my story had a soundtrack? Does anyone else's story have a soundtrack while writing it?
Does your story have a soundtrack?

If you were to set it to music what would it sound like?

What's a leitmotif?

I'm glad you asked. According to the English Oxford Living Dictionary:
Leitmotif: A recurrent theme throughout a music or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea or situation.

Example: Peter and the Wolf

This is a story about a boy named Peter who explores his world and learns about the nature of the animals surrounding his home. He interacts with a bird, a duck, a cat, and the wolf, as well as his grandfather and some hunters. Each character is represented by a different instrument.

Watch on YouTube and experience the beauty of leitmotifs.

Peter and the Wolf via YouTube

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ueGfjBKbiE

What's striking about this is even if you hear the music, years later, it brings back feelings that evoke the characters in the story, and makes YOU feel like you have a greater understanding of each of those characters.

Assigning a leitmotif to each character also gives you the opportunity to have a little fun and to connect with your audience.

A story that did this brilliantly is A Christmas Story

Watch A Christmas Story Yellow Eyes scene via YouTube

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgagC4pUmQo

Think about each of your characters and their personalities. What music would each one evoke if they were all in a scene together?

Working from a musical angle may help you with the character building as well as the choreography needed to figure out new ways for them to interact.

Try it out and see if doing this makes it easier to help your minor characters work together in a symphonic symbiosis around your MC to solve the major conflict in your story.

I'm curious to know if you've given your MC an instrument, song, or leitmotif to represent them? LMK in a comment on social media @amadvox mentioning Episode 19. Use the hashtag #amadvox and I'll check it out.

Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.