Long-time readers of this blog (Hi, Mom!) know that I’ve been wrasslin’ with Mandriva 2011 — or, I should say, my installation of it. It’s crashed its brains out about fifteen times, but it’s loaded two days in a row without incident.
But that isn’t what I’m posting about, except to remind everybody to BACKUP YOUR FREAKIN’ FILES!! If you have an off-line mail reader, backup your mail, address book, and profile. Dig into your browser (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer) and save your bookmarks. Backup any settings on it that you can export. If you have a calendar program — Sunbird, for example — export your calendar file; don’t just backup the folder, export the calendar file. If you write, for the love of all that’s holy, back up your writing. That, I did.
Now, here’s the nifty trick. You may already know it. I may have already told you about it. It bears repeating.
If you leave a comment on a blog, and if you have a blog or web page or buy link for your books that you want people to know about, you can leave a clickable link to it in your comment. Some blogs let you fill in a space with your name and your web site, but some don’t. So you go like this:
I loved your post. You are absolutely right, that Michael Z. Lewin is the greatest living detective story writer! My mother likes his Leroy Powder books best, but I lean toward the Albert Samson ones.
Marian Allen
<a href=”http://MarianAllen.com”>Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes</a>
When the comment posts, the reader will only see what’s between the two sets of brackets: Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes — and that set of words will be a clickable link to the web address.
Nifty, eh?
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character’s computer crashes.
MA
Helen Ginger
August 6, 2012 at 11:31amExcellent reminder. It’s been a while since I backed up. Thanks!
Marian Allen
August 6, 2012 at 4:37pmI remembered to back up my files, but forgot about my mail. I lost a bit. 🙁
Holly Jahangiri
August 6, 2012 at 8:09pmYou just taught me how to make a hyperlink?
I keep forg–er, thank you! 🙂
Holly
Author of Trockle and A Puppy, Not a Guppy
Marian Allen
August 6, 2012 at 9:07pmAre you wiseing off at me, Missy? 😛 Nah, I know YOU know how to make a hyperlink, but it’s amazing how many people don’t. Or didn’t, until now. 🙂
Holly Jahangiri
August 6, 2012 at 9:29pm@Marian Allen – Yeah, I am, a little. But you’re right, and it IS a good tip! 😉 Come over and read my tips – see the link, below (of COURSE it’s another contest entry – because I’m a complete dork, that’s why – but your comments and the button dance will help me win! You could even enter and compete with me if you felt like it…)
Marian Allen
August 6, 2012 at 10:02pmDone, bébé. The commenting and button-dancing, not the competing. 🙂
Holly Jahangiri
August 6, 2012 at 10:09pm@Marian Allen – Merci! I know, I know, you have a bigger prize to snatch away from me, and I’ll owe you a cruise on the Riverwalk and a good single malt Scotch when it happens.
Marian Allen
August 7, 2012 at 2:44pmOh, er, ah, um, ahem, uh, yes. That prize. But why Scotch? I thought you LIKED me?
Clarissa Draper
August 7, 2012 at 11:02amThanks for this nifty trick. And the reminder to back up my blog.
Marian Allen
August 7, 2012 at 2:44pmYou’re welcome, Clarissa! Thanks for visiting. 🙂