My laptop is five years old, but has never given me a problem. Like everyone else, I kept getting these invitations to download Windows 10, so against my better judgment, I downloaded it. After all, my computer fit the system requirements, so there shouldn’t be a problem. Right? For a few days it worked just fine. Then the start menu disappeared, and I could not open the notifications icon. Very scary. The Microsoft techs―all four of them―took a great deal of time and did their best, but nothing they did really worked. I then took my old Acer to Capitol Computer in Santa Fe. I had no time or the ability to focus on Chet, Lupe, and the mysterious watcher in the woods in my novel.
After a week, I got my computer back running Windows 7. All of my files were there (yes, I had all of them backed up on an external backup drive), but programs I really wanted had to be reinstalled. Apparently what was really causing the snafu were the old programs on my computer that Windows 10 was trying to update. I know of at least one program that was no longer supported by the manufacturer.
I think this was the Universe’s way of telling me I needed a new touch screen computer because big changes were a-coming. Looking around, it’s pretty clear the computer world ain’t what it used to be. Initially, I hated Windows 10. Now, I really like it. (Hm, could this be reverse engineering of alien technology―touch screen, a talking Cortana?) My new HP computer came loaded with Windows 10, so I didn’t have to go through the scary process of downloading it. This time of agonizing and relearning has again allowed my subconscious to alert me to details that I need to add or change in my novel, even working out the story for my next novel, so not focusing on my writing was a good thing. (I don’t think the subconscious gets nearly enough credit.) Yep, slow down and go deep. Oh, and I finally got most of my office reorganized. That was long overdue. Ah, finally living in the 21st Century. But what about writing in long hand, you ask? At this point, my brain seems entrained to a keyboard. Things flow and it’s so much easier to fix things.
Some other resources for going deep can be found at
http://www.livewritethrive.com/2015/09/02/telling-the-whole-story/
http://www.livewritethrive.com/2015/09/09/dont-jump-to-conclusions-the-perils-of-underwriting/
http://www.livewritethrive.com/2015/09/16/avoiding-underwriting-induced-magic/
http://www.livewritethrive.com/2015/09/23/how-writers-can-avoid-underwriting-emotions/
http://www.livewritethrive.com/2015/09/30/check-your-underwriting-10-key-questions-to-ask-of-your-story/
Yours, Valerie
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