The New Fire

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Abstract

ry stored copy of it — sometimes easier said than done (I did track down every stored copy of a stillborn novel once and deleted them all, only to find more copies on an older laptop and even more copies on some forgotten external drives). Then I either open the original, hit ctrl-A, and then press delete. Text all gone. Now, if I want to start over I start over, I’m at the right place.</p><p id="1332">But if I’m so disappointed with the thing that I don’t even want to revisit even the concept, well, then it’s just a matter of highlighting it in the directory and hit delete to send it to the wastebasket, then empty said basket. Gone. And good riddance.</p><p id="b5ad">For us writers, there should be a recycle bin icon depicting a blazing hearth, ready to receive any tossed manuscript you feel like sending its way.</p><p id="4f83">Just saying.</p><p id="4faf">© Wolfstuff</p><p id="bc51">P.S. If you like what you’ve read here and would like to contribute to the creative motion, as it were, you can do so via PayPal: <a href="http://paypal.me/UlfWolf">here</a>.</p><div id="84be" class="link-block"> <a href="http://wolfstuff.c

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Burning Manuscripts

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To toss my story into the fire: <ctrl-A>, Delete

You read about the frustrated 19th Century writer who, after battling with it for a decade or two, tosses his manuscript into the fire to watch a quarter of his life burn. Well, my manuscripts are all zeros and ones masquerading as letters on a screen, so how do I toss them into the fire?

These days, I don’t even print my stories (or attempts at) anymore. Yes, I do back them up rather religiously — at least while they’re alive — and these days Microsoft 365 provides the One Drive as additional (automatic) backup.

But here’s the question: What do I do when I am so disgusted or fed up or disappointed or frustrated (you pick the word) with a story that, yes, I’d rather just toss it into the fire? Paperless and fireless.

Well, first I have to track down every stored copy of it — sometimes easier said than done (I did track down every stored copy of a stillborn novel once and deleted them all, only to find more copies on an older laptop and even more copies on some forgotten external drives). Then I either open the original, hit ctrl-A, and then press delete. Text all gone. Now, if I want to start over I start over, I’m at the right place.

But if I’m so disappointed with the thing that I don’t even want to revisit even the concept, well, then it’s just a matter of highlighting it in the directory and hit delete to send it to the wastebasket, then empty said basket. Gone. And good riddance.

For us writers, there should be a recycle bin icon depicting a blazing hearth, ready to receive any tossed manuscript you feel like sending its way.

Just saying.

P.S. If you like what you’ve read here and would like to contribute to the creative motion, as it were, you can do so via PayPal: here.