Another story. I had written another short story for this blog. I saved it, five times as I wrote, to be sure that I wouldn't lose it. I was pleased with the tale. I was eager to share it. I hit the publish button. I hit preview--the preview would not open. I hit publish again. Preview--no preview. I hit save. I hit publish. I hit preview. No preview. I closed the blog, reopened my blog. My post wasn't there. I went into the control panel. It showed my post to be saved as draft. I opened the draft---Arrrrggggghhhh! Only the first paragraph of the first draft of my post was saved!
I am crushed. Though I can remember most of the story, I can't remember it word for word and it will never be the same. Maybe it will be better, but still, that version, that work is gone forever, lost in limbo somewhere on the internet or within my computer.
Losing a story is probably like painting a masterpiece only to have the wind come along and knock your painting to the ground where the grass, dirt, twigs and sand smear it and stick to it. It is like baking a cake, mixing the ingredients just right, gently placing it in the oven at the proper temperature, waiting patiently as it cooks, its aroma filling the house with sweetness and making your mouth water in anticipation. Then, when you're not looking, someone comes in and peeks into the oven at the absolute worse time--and the cake falls, ruined. The loss is deflating.
But, it is a lesson to write my stories in word pad or word first, save them, back them up and then copy them to my post. I have done it, but I don't always do it. I have had no trouble, so I fell into a false sense of security with Blogger. Obviously a big mistake.
I am busier these days, so I have less time to devote to my stories. Though I love weaving words into tales, I must work other jobs to pay bills until such time as my writing pays my way. The story lost was time lost. I suppose I can consider it practice. Sounds better than a total waste. And, I will rewrite my little tale and share it here on my blog. The next available hours to do so though are an unknown. My hope is that they will make themselves available soon. And, that my inspiration will align with the spare time.
Until the next post, God bless.
Lori Vidak 7-14-14
