cheer me up, please someone!

[SenoraPostrophe]

I've posted this in the writing section as it is connected with writing. Although maybe we should have a "what an idiot" topic.

I've just realised that I have deleted the only copy of my screen-play that I've been working on for about 2 years (off and on, obviously) in collaboration with my sis. I have an old draft, but I've deleted the most recent one. About 40 hours of work gone. Luckily it's only my work that's gone, not my sister's (we've been taking turns to re-draft), but I haven't been this upset since ds was born (and dd was in hospital and it was all a nightmare. A bit shallow of me to compare the two really. Maybe I should write something about that.)

Omigosh Senora, I can't imagine how distressed you must feel! I get pissed off when I've lost a long message I want to post on here.....can't imagine the sick pit-of-your-stomach feeling that must be washing over you at the moment.

Are you sure it's really gone? Could it be in the "recycle bin" of your computer? If not, I suppose the only thing you can do is take your sister's draft and start from there. Hopefully, you can recall many of the most important changes and can reconstruct from memory. And I understand the comparison to giving birth - you've laboured (in a different way) to give "birth" to this creative work, and it came from your core too! Good luck with taking it forward from here.

Is it worth tring to get someone to retrieve it (like they do for criminal prosections!)? For 40 hours of work I would pay a lot if it was me. Poor you, I'm not surprised you're upset

Not shallow - that much creative effort gone just like that must be devastating. Are you absolutely sure that a technical wizard could not find it somewhere in the depths of your computer? Poor you - I really hope so.

Have you thought about getting someone to look at your computer? Seriously there are ways of restoring 'ghost' files. (That is how Gary Glitter got caught by PC World!)
Goodluck

thanks guys.

It has really gone: I must have deleted it over a month ago when I did the last back-up/clearout. I remember carefully copying all the most important files, then deleting the ones I didn't need and I think I mixed up the name of the file. Files are only recoverable if you haven't used the computer much since you deleted it and as you can imagine, ours are used a lot.

The fact that I've only just noticed tells you about my lack of motivation I suppose.