by Nancy Imelda Schafer - ~§pyder~
Editor-In-Chief
[ Read About the Editor-In-Chief ]

I don't know about you... but when I feel the compulsion to write, I launch up notepad and take off writing. Usually by the tyme I am finished with the work, I head to the site and submit it. By then, I do not feel like recording it properly into my files of written work. Here is something I do that makes it a lot easier.

I have created a file, this one in particular is a .doc (WordPad, or any other word processor) and titled it "Tyme Shares." I saved the file on my desktop, so there is no clicking through directories to find it. When I feel that urge write I launch the document, draw a <---dotted line---> at the top of the page, and begin to write. When I have finished the work, I put the title at the top of the work, and ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use the Time/Date stamp to mark it's copyright date.

The next tyme I go to write another piece, I simply repeat the steps above, thus having one file with all of my work on it. This is particularly helpful if you are considering applying for a Chapbook in Spyder's Poetry Empire. Here is a snip from my actual file of original work that I call "Tyme Shares". you will see exactly what I am referring to.

When the sun, moon and all the planets align perfectly in the sky, I will go back and create separate files for each piece of work. Since I don't know when the galaxy will ever meet that criteria, my work is mostly contained in the Tyme Shares file.

Also... You MUST back up that file onto a floppy disk. You simply MUST. Make 2 copies of that disk in fact in case one fails. Do that all the tyme, so you will never loose your work.

It is also helpful, to take that file, and print it out ENTIRELY. After it is printed, mail the printed copy to yourself (sign it too), along with a copy of the file on floppy disk. DO NOT OPEN IT ONCE IT ARRIVES. It is your signed and SEALED copy and proof that it is your work. With following that procedure, and utilizing E-MAIL PROTECT on the site, you can feel confident that your work is safe without a formal copyright.

I might add here.. you cannot imagine how many times, I receive a tearful letter from a writer who has submitted work to the site, WRITTEN ON THE FLY AT THE SITE, only to 'loose' it somehow in the submission process. Why are they crying you ask? They are crying because they did not FIRST save the work.... THEN submit it. Sheesh.

Recently, a person got angry at me when I wrote back to her, explaining that; NO, I cannot retrieve work that is lost somewhere in the submitting process.. and also told her that it is stupid to submit original, unsaved work. Manoman she got pissed off at the word stupid.. but even now, several weeks later, I as the site proprietor, can think of NO OTHER WORD to describe it. I have taken so many measures on the site to ensure you are protected and feel confident that your work will be well taken care of when you write... that I just could not sympathize with her one bit.

If you are one to have fights with either your browser bookmarks or finding your work on Spyder's Poetry Empire, I really feel this will help you;

Do you spend tyme searching back through all of the Archives to find your work looking for new comments and responses? Are you TRYING to locate all of your work to select some for your Chapbook? Since there are soooooooooo many Archives, and so much work... this is what I do...

I have set a SEPARATE bookmark folder called "MY WORK" in my browser. When I have finished writing a new piece of work... I submit it to the main page, then go back to the page, refresh the page, then click on the new piece. Then, I bookmark the work, and file it away in the folder of bookmarks called "MY WORK." . Remember, every submission of writing on the forum has the title of the piece at the top of the page, so when you look at your bookmarks, you will see what you are looking for right away. Also, the location of the work will never change for its life on Spyder's Poetry Empire.

You can use that also for a person's work you like to read again and again. Simply create a file in your bookmarks with their name as the title, and file them away thusly.

by Nancy Imelda Schafer - ~§pyder~
Editor-In-Chief
[ Read About the Editor-In-Chief ]