This time last week, I was feeling pretty pleased with all the progress I was making with various writing and work projects.
Then on Monday, my kitchen burned down. The fire fighters, neighbours, friends and everyone has been amazing but it's been a real shock.
Now that I've had a few days to adjust and things are moving forward (although it could be 2-3 months before I can cook in my own kitchen again), I realise that my "emergency plans" weren't adequate.
When it happened, I was just relieved to get out myself. If it hadn't been contained by the amazing fire fighters so quickly, I'd have lost all my work (including all the careful backing up I do).
As it is, workwise, I've only lost a few days' concentration and some books that were in the kitchen.
Luckily, I was ahead of deadline on the 6 most urgent features I'm working on so that's not a disaster.
You don't have to be melodramatic, working yourself into a state thinking about all the potential disasters that could befall (we writers often have overactive imaginations).
But do think about the kind of emergencies, accidents, illnesses and other disasters that could negatively impact your writing.
When you back up work, keep a memory stick off site (whether at a friend's house or in a safety security box). I've been doing this but the most recent back up was a couple of months ago so I'll be more careful from now on.
Also, consider the kind of insurance you need if you work from home. It's hard to predict the unpredictable (and who wants to give deepest fears energy anyway?) but taking basic precautions will help you relax and enjoy life.
© Eve Menezes Cunningham 2008. All rights reserved.
www.articlesbyevemenezescunningham.co.uk