I hope everyone who writes does a daily back up of their work onto a mini or flash drive. I do.  I used to use floppies and then CDs and now I use a  mini.  Each day's work I back up on the mini and then carry it with me in my purse. I have one mini that has all my books on it.  Also I back up all my files on my computer on a DVD once a month.  If you are serious about your work, you would never have it only on your computer. What if it crashes or gets a virus?  What if the house burns down while you're away? Where would you be then?

I have always kept a journal of every day I work on a particular novel. I favor 8 x 11.5 spiral notebooks. I note the date and the work  I did that day on the novel.  I also use this to list ideas as they come to me for the book. As I incorporate the ideas in the book, I check them off in my notes. I find this helpful because ideas come to me throughout the day for what to work on next or a new idea for plot or character and it is easy for me to walk into my writer room and make handwritten note. Others may favor using digital notebooks but the handwritten ones are easy for me.

I'm working on my next book, my WIP or Work in Progress.  This is a bigger book than my previous ones . I'm writing third person with two major POV (points of view), it's set in Harney County where I live, and has more characters to develop for more depth. The fun part is doing research in a place where I live. Often I will start with people I know but then the character develops their very own life and takes off. I'm surprised almost every day with what they are doing and thinking. I'm still writing nine to noon weekdays. My goal is at least three pages a day. I'm up to page 185 of the first draft. Very helpful has been meeting on a weekly basis with fellow novel writer, Terry, who has an amazing talent for seeing depth in characters and their relationship to each other.  She see the forest whilst I am immersed in the trees.  It is very helpful. She is writing a fascinating young adult book about a girl growing up in San Francisco (who is very much like the real Terry) and who has vestiges. I'll say no more for now, but the book takes us into the realm of fantasy. Happy writing!