Dropbox for writers
I think most writers agree that writing is our most important task. That task can be seriously hindered when we find out a file has gone corrupted and there is no backup! I have had that happen for me over the years, but not anymore. I use dropbox. It is a file sharing system, that stores your files on the web, and distributes them to all computers having the dropbox client and your login. You get 2 GB Free storage.
Here is how to use it: Step 1:Install dropbox
You can install the dropbox client in windows/mac/(ubuntu) linuxStep 2:
Sign up for an account
Get a very obscure password (I use the passwordmaker firefox extension to generate one)Step 3
Set up your dropbox folder, and copy/move all your current writing projects into it
Dropbox will synchronize your document to the web, and also keeps a revision history for every file. When you work offline on a file, the changes get synchronized the moment you are connected again. ---
And that's the basics. From now on all your writing projects are stored on a server for backup. You can work on like you used to do (with your files in another directory than usual, though), but you can rest assured that all your writings are safe. But there is more
For my notes related to writing projects I use TiddlyWiki. This is a wiki you can keep as a single file on your computer. In it you keep separate subjects, called tiddlers. A usual writing project is usually built up as follows.
- ProjectFile = main menu for the project, with a short synopsis and links to all the other pages.
- ProjectPlot = the plot structure broken down in scenes. I edit that file when I make changes during writing (new plot twists for instance)
- ProjectCharacter1 2 3 etc (names for main charactes, b-cast in separate file)= character description, for B-cast characters: where I saw them last, what they did to help the main character along (I tend to lose track of them lol)
- ProjectIdeas = general notes on the book. Things I think about while writing to add to rewrites of older chapters (I rarely go back while writing)
- ProjectNotes = my jot pad while I write. Everything gets moved to character/ideas/plot eventually.
- ProjectToResearch = everything I can think of that I need to research later. Using TK (thanks to Cory Doctorow) in the manuscript to make it easier to find points where I need to enter that research during my editing process.
- ProjectBackstory = This file is filled with everything I sometimes hint at for my book, but never really say out loud (who likes to read ten pages of backstory in a novel?)
I also keep a journal in the wiki, and use it to create my to do list for the day and smart goals for the week. As with everything else: when it's in the dropbox, it's in the server backup :)
I have two computers, and dropbox runs on both of them. It only contains my graphics work, my e-library and a directory for software I only wanted to install for me (I run ubuntu). So there you have it. Dropbox for Writers. As the free plan allows you to store up to 2 GB of data, you could also think of copying a playlist for your writing. I keep my project files small, as I only use text files for my writing. That way I can use a simple full screen editor to write in (I use JDarkroom, Q10 is a good alternative for windows).
