This first appeared on The Writing of a Wisoker on the Loose in October 2011.
So you probably heard about Apple’s iCloud, their sort of automatic backup service that stores things on Cloud-based systems so they’re easily accessible anywhere — and backed up.
Think of what this means to a writer. Me, I’m excited about it for a lot of reasons.
Now, yes, there are concerns about privacy, security, and reliability. I’m enthused for, shall we say, the “ideal i”, and will just cope with the flaws while they get ironed out.
Imagine what it means to be able to write anywhere on the same document. Add a few paragraphs on your phone at lunch. Sneak in a few pages on break at work. Ignore a meltdown of your computer and just borrow your roommate’s while you get your own system fixed.
Writing away without significant interruption, the same document growing all the time. Hell, someday you might be able to text-message updates to your book.
This is going to change writing for people that know how to use it. Think about what the cloud means.
Think about the confidence. If you set up your iCloud right (or a similar service), then you never worry about losing your work. Of course I encourage multiple backups, but still.
Think about the lack of limits. Writing anywhere.
Think about the collaboration — take your document anywhere, anytime — others might even be able to see it. Imagine being edited on the fly (you know, in a good way).
Think about inspiration: your new ideas immediately get recorded in a core document or documents. You’re not limited to the muse or the place.
The cloud, if we take advantage of it, is going to be a great opportunity for writers.
Again, if we take advantage of it.
Steven Savage in his own words:
I’m Steven Savage, and I am Geek 2.0.
OK … that sounds either pretentious or obscure, and I try not to be either too much. So what do I mean by Geek 2.0?
Geek 2.0 is a lifestyle. It’s about taking the geeky values of technology, knowledge, creativity, and media as far as possible. It’s a way of life – and a way of contributing to society.
I believe in taking Geekiness farther – into the next iteration, into 2.0.
Steven Savage is the author of the Fan to Pro blog and books (Unlocking Career Insights With Your Hobbies; Convention Career Connection; Focused Fandom: Cosplay, Costuming, and Careers; Focused Fandom: Fanart, Fanartists, and Careers; Inhuman Resources; and Progeek Rising), has his own web site, and incidentally is the mind behind the popular Seventh Sanctum site. He also writes for Nerd Caliber and Comics Bulletin.