On Writing : Archiving old drafts by Chiara Torrisi

Hi, Chiara Torrisi. I make an original file and a backup file(s), I rewrite the original file. If something goes wrong during the rewrite or I change my mind about something new I put in the script, I have the backup file(s) to start over with.

Usually I keep working on the same file. But it happens that I feel confident about a later draft and still want to try some changes like adding scenes or cutting some. Then I'll copy it into a new file and do my changes and then compare both and decide how I want to proceed. When I feel like I have a "polished" version I simply move my old versions to a flash drive. So yes I'm kind of archiving old drafts.

But since I'm also very much into handwriting I mostly have my outlines, notes and first drafts on paper and collect them in a huge folder with a section for each of my stories.

Good strategy Maurice Vaughan, this way you can always check the original file. Do you keep your backup files on the same device or a different one, also to prevent accidental loss of data?

Thanks for sharing Lucy Addams

Lucy Addams

Keep all drafts, i.e. Draft One, save, copy and name it Draft Two. Work on that and so forth. The last script there were 15 drafts.

The idea is to keep all the writing in case something needs to be referenced or text re-inserted from an old draft into a new one.

Then there are two backups: all drafts as they progress and the working draft after every writing session.

I keep my backup files on the laptop I write on, Chiara Torrisi. I also email the files to myself. And I have a USB flash drive for the files. And a USB cable

Chiara Torrisi I haven't tried Scrivener yet but it's a good tip. I will check it out.

This is a great strategy E Langley! You never know when you have to check something in a very old draft. And creating backups after every session allows you to secure your creative works.

What was your last script about?

Thanks, Chiara Torrisi.

The Final Draft Auto-Save is also very useful. Here, it's set to 10 minutes and 100 versions. FD does crash and occasionally corrupts the working file. It will have zero bytes and is unrecoverable.

With Auto-Save, all you have to do is navigate to the Backup Folder and load the last version. Theoretically, you'll never lose more than ten minutes of work. Note that Auto-Save is not on by default.

Depending on the computer, Auto-Save does buffer typing for a second or two.

Auto-Save settings are in Tools, Options, General. Tip: Turn off "Ask Before Auto-Save." It's a pain in the ass.

Happy writing.

Thanks, E Langley! I use Scrivener that has auto save too and creates an online backup every time you want: I have chosen a backup every time I close the software and I've never lose anything this way.

I'll save newer drafts with a slightly different file name usually a number on the end.

Thanks for sharing Rob Jones. This is a good approach too

Example: MICHAEL316, then MICHAEL320. That way you know when it was written.

I save older drafts as pdf’s on my laptop and they are copied to the cloud. I have an Apple laptop and use the file colors to track the development stages of the scripts. I am considering saving characters in the same manner. I think they are as important to go back to as the scripts.

Hi David Austin Veal, it's a very good idea do save files about characters too. Have you ever considered using Scrivener to do it? You can create different sections for every element of the story, from characters to settings, and store useful resources for the research.

Naming the files with dates is also a clever way to archive them, Jon Shallit

Chiara Torrisi, I’m definitely someone who creates a new file for every major revision. I like to track the evolution of the story, and sometimes I’ll even go back and pull a line or scene from an earlier draft that hits differently after some time away. For me, it’s part of the process of seeing how the story matures. I also love that Scrivener makes that organization easier! It’s such a helpful tool for managing multiple versions! Curious to hear how others tackle this too.

No on Scrivener. Tools are interesting. I used to be a graphic designer, for 30 years, and the newest software, or it's latest version, was always replaceable every year. Adobe drove us crazy in that regard. Just pencil, paper, and Fade In. The searching, saving and such are built into the Mac software. I very glad Scrivener is working for you, as we all have to find our working environments and tools.

Having the chance to go back to the old drafts and see how much the writing has improved gives a lot of satisfaction, doesn't it Ashley Renee Smith

I probably keep waaaayy too many drafts LOL but it makes me feel better having them on hand. That way if I make a change and want to go back to something I had before, I can dig around and get it without having to remember everything.

Chiara, nice post to bring up. I usually average anywhere from 15 to 20 revisions on all my screenplays. It’s a habit I found helpful and learning but it also opened up my eyes as to how important revising is. I never discard my old drafts. I keep them in individual folders as a reference and reminder of how my growth has developed. Never hesitate in entering your earliest material into competitions. You’d be amazed how well you might finish regardless of the standing.