When the "magic" happens...

For a writer, especially a fragile one, one of the worst possible things that can happen is the loss of ones work.  It cannot by any means compare to the loss of a loved one, or a family friend, but it can put you through all five steps of grief at warp speed and feel absolutely daunted afterward.

1. Denial, "Oh my god, I did not just lose 3,300 words that it took me almost a week to write."

2. Anger, "Damn it, the new program gave me the chance to save by sending myself e-mails."

3. (I went through the next two steps in reverse order) Depression, "I just don't want to try again on this story, I can't.  I'll just try and write something else."

4. Bargaining...and here is where this blog really starts to get good.

I use a program called, "My Writing Spot."  It gives me to ability to write on-line or on my iPod and then I can sync both together.  I sync a lot because I need them to be up-to-date as I have this impending fear that there is a mass potential book stealer out there stalking me and the minute I lay down my iPod he's going to steal my story, change the names of my characters, and make a zillion dollars. 

(I never said I was normal or that I made logical sense, I'm a writer.)

So as I hit the bargaining stage my brain starts screaming at me.  Write the company, see if they have magic fingers and can reach into the ether and pull the newly developing infant script out of the virtual goo, and give it back to you. 

An e-mail, went out, pined in pain.  "I don't suppose there is any way to recover something I was working on?"

A day later, "Hi there, If you have been syncing with the web app, then there's a chance that a copy of your document still resides on the server, but deleted docs are purged regularly. If you've been syncing, send me the document name and the email address that you use to sync with and I will check.

If you have not been syncing with the web app, then the only copy of the document would have been stored on your device, and the only way to recover it would be if you had done a sync and back up with iTunes recently.  Peter"

My heart lifted.  Could this be true, could Peter have save my baby?  I wrote back, "I have been doing regular syns with my iPod.  The email address I use is: raenboe@gmail.com. 

The document was titled "It's Only Deja Vu". I sent copies of the other four to my email.  THANK YOU, Suzie"  Yes, overly excited, I typed 'syns' instead of syncs. 

The same day, a little later I received an e-mail from Peter, "Hi Suzie, Good news! I was able to find and restore that document. It should be visible in the web app now. I see the three others that you deleted at the same time, so if you'd like me to restore those as well, let me know. Peter" 

Big tears welled up in my eyes, I could hear the sound of happy laughter and realized that it was my own.  I wrote back, "

OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, Oh my God!  You are the best!!!!  I litteraly have tears in my eyes. 

You are the BEST!!!  That is the only document that means anything to me.  (there was an emoticon  clapping inserted here)  Thank you so much!"

His parting words to me, "You're welcome. I'm glad that I was able to help. :) Peter

P.S. - Now go make a backup by emailing a copy to yourself or downloading it to your local computer via the web app."

There are tech angels in the world, and I believe in miracles.  And one day Peter de Tagyos will be a character in a novel where I can write him in the wondrous light which he deserves. 

Today I will have to thank him once again, on my blog.