A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
When I write, I am compulsive about frequently "saving" my work.
I was recently writing my column for Connections Magazine (which reminds me, it is time to write the one for the next issue), when my computer locked up. I hadn't saved my work for about 5 minutes.
Sometimes writing is slow and arduous, the words coming with great difficultly. I can write for 30 minutes, ending up with nothing worth saving. If those words were to be lost, it would merely present an opportunity for a fresh start.
Other times, the words flow smoothly and the results are good.
On rare occasions, I get in the zone. Not only do the words come quickly, but they are good words, in a clever order, that project profound ideas in a compelling manner.
When my computer locked up, I had been in the zone. I was dismayed. The thought of losing my eloquent prose was unacceptable.
Hoping for the unlikely, I took a break with the improbable wish that my computer would not be locked up upon my return, allowing for a tardy "save" command to be executed. It didn't happen.
Out of desperation, however, is born innovation. I took a photo of my computer screen.
Then I rebooted and merely re-keyed my brilliant words — and it was good.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. In my case, it was only a couple of hundred words, but they were good words in a great order and I couldn't bear to lose them. Thanks to a digital camera, I didn't have to.
I was recently writing my column for Connections Magazine (which reminds me, it is time to write the one for the next issue), when my computer locked up. I hadn't saved my work for about 5 minutes.
Sometimes writing is slow and arduous, the words coming with great difficultly. I can write for 30 minutes, ending up with nothing worth saving. If those words were to be lost, it would merely present an opportunity for a fresh start.
Other times, the words flow smoothly and the results are good.
On rare occasions, I get in the zone. Not only do the words come quickly, but they are good words, in a clever order, that project profound ideas in a compelling manner.
When my computer locked up, I had been in the zone. I was dismayed. The thought of losing my eloquent prose was unacceptable.
Hoping for the unlikely, I took a break with the improbable wish that my computer would not be locked up upon my return, allowing for a tardy "save" command to be executed. It didn't happen.
Out of desperation, however, is born innovation. I took a photo of my computer screen.
Then I rebooted and merely re-keyed my brilliant words — and it was good.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. In my case, it was only a couple of hundred words, but they were good words in a great order and I couldn't bear to lose them. Thanks to a digital camera, I didn't have to.
Posted by Peter DeHaan at 8/28/2009 3:24 PM 
Categories: Technology, Computers, Writing
Tags: Connections Magazine writing Peter DeHaan blog author Peter DeHaan Peter DeHaan Musings Musings of Peter DeHaan
Categories: Technology, Computers, Writing
Tags: Connections Magazine writing Peter DeHaan blog author Peter DeHaan Peter DeHaan Musings Musings of Peter DeHaan
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