BellaOnline Forums Career Fiction Writing how do you save multiple drafts?

I need to pick your brains...

I am working on my first novel. I have already published 3 history books, and that was WAY different, let me tell you!

I am having trouble "letting go" of some of the things that I've changed in the novel. I think of a new way to revise a section, but I'm afraid that the first way was better, so I don't want to completely erase that part in case I want to put it back the way it was.

I didn't experience this with my history books. I had one file for each chapter that I plugged away at. No multiple drafts, just one draft that was moving forward.

Obviously, I was very comfortable writing history, and this novel has pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit. This fiction thing feels so unwieldy to me! I am having trouble coming up with a way to organize all these drafts.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

Kim

I know the feeling entirely. This is how I do it:

I create a folder called the (Working) Title of the book or sometimes the main character's name if I'm not sure of the title.

I start with one document called "Title - working doc" and another called "Title - notes". I start my first draft in the working document and put all my plot outlines, character notes, and ideas for any changes in the notes file.

Once I finish the first draft, or if something major changes in the plot, I resave the working document as "Title as at [date] - draft 1".

Then I continue making the changes or rewriting in my working document. If I have a break I will save a version again as at the date of saving, just in case I change my mind about something while I'm away.

I like to write in a different format to the way I submit, so when I'm ready to submit, I'll change the formatting and resave it "Title as at date - formatted version".

I often end up with 6 or 7 drafts - some of them are experiments in editing where I'm seeing if I prefer one version to another. Eventually I end up with "Title - final version".

In my opinion, Send the emails to yourself, so you get a copy back. Put your email in however many times you want a copy, and just click "save a draft" for an extra. There you go!

Good ideas! I'm still trying to figure out what will work for me. Right now I have a "CURRENT WORKING COPY" that I have been writing on. After significant changes, I date the old draft and move it to another folder called "PAST DRAFTS." Kinda of what you are doing, Elle, but a lot less refined. :-)

To further complicate things, I have been saving the drafts on my laptop and a USB drive. I am terrified of overwriting the wrong version! I go really slow, making sure I have clicked the right things in the right order so I don't re-write over the same files.

Emailing is a great idea. I might try that too!

Thanks!
Kim

Yes, I also use email as an additional backup system.

I've expanded on this topic for this week's article:

Organising and saving your writing