Today’s post is part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, a blog hop where insecure writers like myself can share our worries and offer advice and encouragement. Click here to find out more about IWSG and to see a list of participating blogs.
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Okay, today’s post is about writing. I promise. Just bear with me.
Late last month, the Opportunity rover straightened its wheels and resumed driving. You may be thinking, “Who cares? That doesn’t sound like a big deal.” But for regular Mars rover fans, this made headlines.
Mars rovers have their moments of glory: discovering new kinds of salt, observing evidence of liquid water, or detecting the faint whiffs of organic chemicals. One day a Mars rover may even uncover signs of past or present Martian life.
But between those moments of discovery comes the day to day (or rather sol to sol) drudgery of Mars roving. Moving a few inches forward. Turning your wheels. Communicating your status back to Earth then waiting 8 to 48 minutes for the go ahead from mission control to move a few inches more. Every small rock or patch of gravel can become a serious obstacle, and climbing a small hill can take months or even years.
The payoff comes eventually in the form of amazing discoveries, but only after long, tedious months of maneuvering cautiously and methodically across the craggy Martian wasteland.
Now I promised this post would in fact be about writing, and it is. A few weeks ago, I somehow got myself stuck in some gravel, so to speak. The kind of small, annoying problem that could bring my entire mission to a grinding halt. It’s only in the last few days that I’ve managed to straighten my wheels, and now I’m ready to resume driving… eh, I mean writing.
Planet Pailly 
Love it. Love the twist on the little train that thinks he can. Martian walk, really cool.
‘ Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
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Thanks! To be honest, I came up with the Mars rover cartoon first. Matching it to an IWSG post came later.
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Sometimes it sure takes the slow and steady approach to make discoveries, in writing and on Mars.
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It sure does, but if you stick to the daily grind, the big discoveries will come.
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Cute and perfectly pointed post 🙂
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Thanks! Glad you liked it!
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Here’s to you. Good luck keeping out of the gravel. You can do it.
Thanks for the link-back, too.
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You’re welcome! I figure not everyone knows what a sol is, so it’s a good opportunity to learn.
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I really like reading about the Mars mission and others. Wonderful images coming back from Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. The media nowadays is so distracting that the news from these missions gets lost to me. But I did start following them on Twitter. Liked your analogy to the rover and getting stuck. 🙂
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Thanks! Yeah, I get pretty frustrated with the regular news. Space news is far more inspiring and uplifting, in my opinion.
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Definitely. 🙂
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Woot for figuring out your problem and working your way out of your gravel. Hope you make it up the hill!
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Thanks! I’m sure I will. It just takes patience and persistence.
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Often it takes just a little bit of time and planning.
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Yup, that’s true.
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Yeah, that’s how writing goes: a little bit at a time. You think, you contemplate, you push, and it finally moves ahead. Somehow. Keep pushing your rover (I mean you story). It will get to the top one day.
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Thanks, I’m confident that it will.
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The Rover’s progress reminds me of my writing. Excruciatingly slow! As long as it keeps moving, though, everything is good.
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I agree. The pace may be slow, but so long as you can keep moving the mission continues!
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I hope you’ve gotten out of that gravel *breaks into song* Don’t stop believin’
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I think I have. At least I hope I have!
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Love that mantra “I think I can” good luck now that you are past the gravel 🙂
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Thanks! Yeah, it is a good mantra. Much better than constantly telling yourself “I don’t think I can.” That’s a mantra I really need to get out of my head.
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