Back it up, folks!!!!

[jhetley]

A writer of my acquaintance has lost the contents of her novel file. The file is still there, but empty. Now digging frantically through the temp folders for automatic backup files, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Sackcloth and ashes. We're talking professional author here, under contract, advances, deadlines, the whole meghilla.

Back it up. Back it up _again_, using removable media. Duplicate the files on another computer and verify that you can read them _there_. Send a copy off to your mother.