NASA intends for Percy to determine some key information about Mars, including whether there is evidence of past or present microbial life on the planet, whether oxygen can be produced, if water on Mars is only subsurface or is incorporated in the soil (as some recent hypotheses suggest), and characterizing the environmental conditions that will affect future astronauts.

This is exciting science!

Percy Stuck the Landing

Pathfinder, Spirit, and Opportunity rovers all entered the Martian atmosphere and descended with the assistance of parachutes. The rovers were then encased in air bags and hit the ground like bouncy balls, the airbags deflated once the rovers came to rest, and the rovers themselves deployed.

Once the lander conducted its landing navigation, the skycrane’s rockets ignited, the parachute was ejected, and Percy was suspended on cables below the skycrane. The “seven minutes of terror” ensued as the skycrane maneuvered Percy to Jezero crater and Percy touched down. The skycrane then made the ultimate sacrifice, crashing a safe distance away.

Remember, it takes several minutes for information to be communicated between Earth and Mars. The landing sequence had to be completely automated. The technology used to accomplish this feat is nothing short of amazing.

Improved Imaging

Perseverance is equipped with six entry, descent, and landing cameras, six engineering cameras (two specifically for navigation), and four science cameras. It’s already returned over a thousand images, and you can also view the videos on NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) YouTube page. If you haven’t already (and maybe even if you have), watch the landing video.

The Mars Orbiter also has cameras, so you can get a bird’s eye view of the planet. Finally, one of the most spectacular images is this panoramic shot. You can zoom in, pan around, and see the detail of the Martian surface. Toggle to full screen mode for an even better view. If you have an interest in geology, here’s fair warning: you may spend way too much time on this image, trying to sort out what kind of rock you’re looking at.

The Soundtrack

For the first time, we can hear Mars! Because Mars’ atmosphere is thinner than ours, the wind is quiet (very, very quiet). You may have to turn up the volume on your speakers to hear it.

There is also a recording of Perseverance’s laser pinging off the rocks on Mars. This is one of the ways that the rover makes its observations about the kinds of rocks it studies.

Finally, you can hear recordings of the rover in action as it navigates Jezero crater. It sounds like a bunch of bumping around, but it’s coming from another planet. That’s awesome enough for me.

Ingenuity

Ingenuity is the first helicopter to be deployed on Mars. The first flight is, at the time of this writing, scheduled for early April. By the time this column is live, Ingenuity may have already flown! Or, it may have tried to. The thing is, we don’t know how Ingenuity will perform. And that’s what we’re all waiting to see.

Ingenuity was designed with Mars’s lower gravity and thinner atmosphere in mind. NASA engineers did their best. But even they won’t know how Ingenuity performs until it’s deployed.

If Ingenuity takes flight, it will be able to record and return observations from areas of Mars that Percy can’t reach.

Retrieving Samples

Previous rovers could only send their observations and analysis back to Earth. Perseverance is going to collect samples in containers and leave them on the surface in a process called “depot caching.” These samples will be picked up by future missions and returned to Earth for study.

That’s when even more magic will happen. There’s only so much that can be learned from remote observation.

Taking it to the Page

So, what is a writer to do with all this mind-blowing innovation? Do you have a story set on Mars? Use the imagery and recordings to help solidify your setting and deepen your description. Even if you have a story set on a planet that isn’t Mars, you can use the media banks to help you imagine your alien world.

How would transportation work on another planet? Both Perseverance (ground travel) and Ingenuity (flight) can help you there. Even the skycrane and the other entry, descent, and landing (EDL) technologies can offer some insight.

Pay attention to the experimental results returned to Earth. How will they change our understanding of life on other planets? How will they affect our ability to establish research bases, or even colonies on Mars (or elsewhere)? How can you use this information to heighten the verisimilitude of your science fictional work in progress?

Once your head is swimming with possibility, head to the keyboard and set it loose.

Until next time, keep speculating, and see where it leads you!

Melanie is an instructional designer by day, SF&F author-in-progress and ink alchemist by night. She is the third generation of Marttilas to live in her little house on the street that bears her family name. She blogs at https://www.melaniemarttila.ca and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Celebrating Perseverance appeared first on DIY MFA.

Sound intimidating? Over 300,000 people have participated in the past several years and the average percentage of winners lingers in the mid-teens. Now that you know the details, let’s get back to that question for a moment: Should I do NaNoWriMo? Well let’s break this down:

The Pros of NaNoWriMo

1) The community

I have been participating in NaNoWriMo since 2008. One of the main things that keeps me coming back is the huge community that surrounds this challenge. The NaNoWriMo website has forums where you can connect with other writers participating in NaNoWriMo, as well as get inspiration and encouragement during the month itself. You can find and join your local region that will connect you with your municipal liaisons (ML) who is in charge of meet-up events in your local area. The website itself also has a ton of other goodies, including creating your own profile and becoming friends with other writers so you can all keep an eye on each other’s word counts. There are also daily emails from published authors that are encouraging and inspirational (and often funny). And really, I always personally find it rather mind-blowing to know I’m writing alongside ~300,000 other people.

2) The rules

Every writer knows that sometimes it’s hard to actually make time to sit down and write. What’s great about NaNoWriMo is that it sets November aside for writing. This keeps you from being what they call the ‘one day’ writer, (“Oh, I’ll get around to writing, one day.”) and basically tells you to get your butt in the chair and write some words.

Not only that, but it gives you some rules so you have structure around how you’re writing. (Oddly enough when I went to look for the rules they weren’t super easy to find on the website I had to google. So here’s a link.)

Basically, write 50k words into a novel form between Nov 1-30 all by yourself. (Notes and character descriptions count). It’s also perfectly fine to skirt the rules a bit too. Most years I start writing before November, but I only validate the 50k (or so) words that I write during the event. It can often times be easier to write when you give yourself some structure and NaNoWriMo takes care of that for you.

3) The challenge

Part of doing a writing challenge like NaNoWriMo is just that: the challenge of it. You may succeed, you may fail, but I bet you learn something about your writing during this time. You could learn that with a little structure you can really crank out the words. You might also learn that writing that much every day is way too draining. Both outcomes are great, because it’s better than looking at this challenge and deciding you can’t do it before you even try. Either way, you will have more words by the end of the month than you had at the beginning AND you will have learned something about who you are as a writer.

The Cons of NaNoWriMo

1) The rules

Yes, that’s right. I put the rules on the pros list and the con list. Some writers will lose the excitement of a new project if they have to wait until November to start. Some writers have current projects they’re working on that they don’t want to, or can’t stop working on. And let’s not forget the little niggling fact that 50k words does not a novel make. So in some cases the rules actually will hold you back. This is generally only an issue if you already have a developed writing habit, though.

2) NaNoWriMo is not for everyone

A lot of people get super excited about NaNoWriMo. You may have friends who are encouraging you to participate. You may want to try it because you’ve never written that many words on one story before. What happens if you give it a try and you fail? Does that mean you’re not a writer? No.

There are as many types of writers out there as there are stars in the sky, and some people do not mesh well with the ‘write every day’ writing style. That doesn’t mean you’re not a writer, it means you’re not that type of writer.

So …should I do NaNoWriMo?

I’m going to be completely straight with you. If you’ve never done NaNoWriMo before, then do it. Throw yourself at it and try your absolute best to win. Then, when the month is over, sit back and evaluate how it went for you.

If you have done NaNoWriMo before, then your question should be closer to: ‘Did this style of writing work for me?’ and that is not a question I can answer for you. If you can’t remember it being terrible, then give it another go. If it feels more like an interrupt to what you’re already doing, then keep up with your current writing habit. Or shift the rules so it works for the writing habit you have, which is basically what I do every year.

On the path to becoming a better writer, you’re going to find just as many (if not more) ways of writing that don’t work for you as do. The way you reach mastery in anything is to continually challenge yourself and then evaluate how it worked and how it didn’t. Then you keep the things that worked and discard the things that didn’t. Over time, this is how you will develop your writing process. So get started with NaNoWriMo.

I’d love to hear about your experiences, good or bad, with NaNoWriMo and what you’ve learned about yourself as a writer as a result.

Laura Highcove has a degree in computer science, which is obviously why she is a fantasy writer. She has been influenced by anime, table-top gaming, and Norse mythology, in no particular order. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with horses, playing video games, and looking at pretty men (both real and imaginary). Her psychic abilities have not yet developed, but she remains hopeful. Visit her website or follow her on Facebook to learn more.

The post #5onFri: Pros and Cons of NaNoWriMo appeared first on DIY MFA.

One of the fundamental concepts behind DIY MFA is that the program starts with you. All the creativity, effort and success comes from and goes back to you. Sure, I can show you some options or suggest some places to start, but ultimately, you are the driving force behind your own DIY MFA experience. All I’m doing is helping you get started, setting you on the road to your destination. You have to drive the car.

And that can be kind of scary.

After all, it’s easy to follow instructions and work within an established framework, but do-it-yourself doesn’t work that way. It can be terrifying to forge your own path, and sometimes structure can be comforting, even for us free-spirited creative types. So what do we do when there is no structure? We develop a writing habit. And how exactly do we develop and nurture this habit? Here are some easy tips:

1) Take baby steps.

Try not to push yourself too hard at first because if you do, you’ll be more likely to face burnout later on. The goal is for your writing habit to be sustainable in the long run, so don’t go for a huge overhaul. Instead try to make a handful of small, significant changes that will make a big impact on your writing down the road.

2) Give yourself permission to make mistakes.

Building a habit is like being a constant newbie at something. After all, as soon as you get comfortable, you take another baby step toward your goal. This means resting on your laurels is never an option, which is why it’s so important to allow yourself the freedom to make mistakes. Remember that mistakes are inevitable so you might as well learn how to bounce back.

3) It’s OK to have fun.

Many of us have had the idea crammed into our heads that writing is “hard work.” And, that can be the case sometimes, but more often than not, writing is just plain fun. This is why when we start having fun with writing it’s hard to believe we’re actually working. But we are; we’re just having fun at the same time. It’s OK for writing to be fun and just because it feels more like play than work doesn’t make it any less worthy than other vocations. Like fixing plumbing, or doing brain surgery or whatever else.

4) Real writers write when it’s hard.

Writing when it’s easy is, well… easy, but when it stops being fun, you still need to write. The thing that separates true writers from the wannabes is what happens when the writing becomes tough. Wannabes quit when it stops being fun, true writers work through the pain. And when they come out on the other side of the hard times, these true writers are stronger for it.

5) When you fall off the horse, dust yourself off and try again.

Don’t waste precious energy beating yourself up for missing a few days of writing. Just tell yourself “it’s a new day” and start fresh. In the words of the ever-wise Yoda:

All his life has he looked away, to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hm? What he was doing. (from The Empire Strikes Back)

The point is, if you’re always focusing on yesterday or tomorrow, you can’t focus on what you’re doing right now. Rather than wasting energy thinking about writing that could have been or is still to come, just think about the writing you need to do right now. Write. Now.

6) Find out what’s causing writer’s block.

If you have a string of bad writing days, take a few moments to reevaluate and figure out why that might be happening. Maybe you’ve been over-stressed or over-tired. Maybe you’ve got a lot on your plate right now. Think about how you can adjust your writing habit to account for the hurdles you’re facing. Once you’ve come up with a plan, let go of the past and move forward toward your goals.

7) Take the day off, now and then.

And when you do, don’t spend the whole time feeling guilty because you’re not writing. If you need a day off, make a conscious decision not to write, then go about your life.

In the end, it’s all about being a more mindful writer. Don’t let the past and future moments dictate whether you’re able to write in the present. Learn from past experiences or mistakes but don’t let them haunt you.

When you’re writing, write. When you’re not writing, live your life.

The post How to Build Your Own Writing Habit appeared first on DIY MFA.

This is the final post of my 30-day blog tour, and I can honestly say that on multiple occasions in the last month, I tried to write a post and came up with nothing past the blinking cursor. There’s no magical point you pass that allows you to write every single time you want to. You can improve your percentage over time, but every so often, you just lose your writing groove.

When I lose my groove, here are five methods I’ve used to try to get it back.

1. Take the Day Off

Between my freelance writing gigs and my creative writing career, I end up writing more than 15,000 words most weeks. If I’m working on a story, that number can climb past 25,000. I often push myself to the limit. When I sit down to write and my usual tricks of a snack, a walk around the block or a trip to my local coffee shop don’t work, I know it’s time to take the day off.

The most important part about taking the day off is not to beat myself up about it. The relaxation time is typically deserved, so I do my best to smile and let the time off do its thing.

2. Take Care of My Health

If I’ve been writing up a frenzy lately, I may be stretching the limit of certain healthy habits to the breaking point. Too many heavy snacks, a lack of sleep and a dearth of exercise-produced endorphins can seriously damage my writing mojo. Stringing together multiple healthy days of eating, sleeping and exercising in a row can be just the thing to get me back on track.

3. Do Something for Somebody Else

Even though I write for my readers, writing can feel like a selfish profession sometimes. You spend a lot of time alone, and you can’t help but talk about your work when you’re with others. Occasionally, when I’m feeling burned out, I attempt to do a 180. I comment on a few friends’ blog posts or a donate a few bucks to a well thought out Kickstarter project. I go see a show with a few friends or I ask my wife if we can cook for a dozen or so of her co-workers. Doing something that doesn’t benefit me in the slightest helps me to feel good about myself. Inner positivity is one of my keys for writing productivity.

4. Do Something for Me

Writing also involves a lot of work. You research, outline, write, publish, promote and pray that people will actually care. It can be exhausting. With more than a few failed titles under my belt, I can tell you it’s pretty demoralizing work.

If I’m feeling blue, I try to do something nice for myself. I’ll watch a movie I’ve really wanted to see in the middle of the afternoon. I’ll gather the ingredients for my favorite meal. I may even let myself indulge in a silly, time-wasting computer game. I’d rather fit in some play time now than force myself to write until I feel even more burned out.

5. Remember My Pride

Before I published anything, I had plenty to be proud of. I have even more to celebrate now, particularly after a wild 2013 that included the publication of my 32nd book, the airing of a game show appearance and my wonderful wedding! I’m proud of the decisions I’ve made and the work I’ve done to reach this point. If I feel like the groove is gone, I remind myself of how proud I am of what I’ve accomplished. This positive boost is sometimes all I need to get right back in the game.

—

I didn’t always have a groove. It took me time to find it and I considered giving up many times along the way. I believe everybody has a zone they can get into that allows them to write productively. Keep looking and try out these tricks. With these methods, you may just find your own personal formula to writing grooviness.

In honor of his new book, Cohen is hosting the “1,000 Prompts, 1,000 Dollars” Writing Contest on his website. Click the link to find out how to enter!  You can also check out the rest of Cohen’s tour here

Bryan Cohen is an author, a creativity coach and an actor. His new book, 1,000 Creative Writing Prompts, Volume 2: More Ideas for Blogs, Scripts, Stories and More is now available on Amazon in digital and paperback format. His other books include 1,000 Creative Writing Prompts, The Post-College Guide to Happiness, and Ted Saves the World. He has published over 30 books, which have sold more than 20,000 copies in total. Connect with him on his website, Build Creative Writing Ideas, on Facebook or on Twitter.

The post How This Writer Gets His Groove Back appeared first on DIY MFA.

These creative monsters can take many forms.  That boss who conveniently remembers to give you an assignment just as you’re getting ready to leave so you can go home and finish your book… that’s a creative monster.  Another is the friend who keeps asking when you plan on getting published, even though you’ve been querying diligently and feel like you’re making good progress.  Or the spouse who calls you with a crisis just as you’re making an important discovery in your novel’s plot.  The one trait these figures all have in common is their uncanny knack for attacking right when you’re about to make some sort of creative breakthrough.

Don’t get me wrong.  Sometimes the boss really does have an important assignment to give you, your friend is probably just curious about how the writing’s going and your spouse might actually be having a crisis.  These things might actually all be real, but don’t be fooled.  Just because these are real, that doesn’t make the words or actions that accompany those reasons any less damaging to your creative progress.

So, how do we deal with these creative monsters?

Here are two tricks and one treat I’ve picked up over time for dealing with my creative monsters.

1) Recognize that it’s not you, it’s them.

99% of the time, the reason creative monsters attack is because they’re feeling threatened.  Sort of like a wild animal, actually.  If you mind your own business, they’ll usually stay away but if you accidentally invade their space, they’ll gnash their teeth and start roaring.  Creative monsters make a lot of noise and a big spectacle of it all, but usually they only lash out because your creative progress has threatened them in some way.

Wait, what?  They’re feeling threatened?  But they’re the ones attacking me.  This makes no sense.

I know it doesn’t.  It seems like you’re the one being vulnerable by spilling your words on the page, but the truth is that when you start getting creative, you threaten the fragile world-view of your creative monsters.

For these people, the world makes sense as long as everyone fits their neat little roles.  Suppose you’ve always been a lawyer or a teacher or a full-time mom or whatever, but then you decide to add writing to the mix.  Suddenly you’re threatening the world-view of the creative monsters around you.  Because you’re making changes in your life, you’re forcing them to change as well.  They have to accept this new way of perceiving you and in some cases, they’ll even have to change their routines if they want to spend time with you now that writing is worked into your schedule.

Not to mention that people who are closest to you are often the biggest creative monsters of all because your creative progress causes them to change the most.  Some friend you rarely talk to except through holiday cards will likely not be threatened by your creative growth, but someone who sees you everyday and suddenly has to adjust their needs and requirements so you can have writing time… they’re much more likely to feel threatened.  Ultimately, you can’t control how others see you, but you can control how you let their words and actions affect you.  By recognizing that it’s not you–it’s them, you can start to learn how to evade their attacks.

2) Avoid giving them ammunition.

If someone falls into that creative monster category, don’t complain to them about how hard writing is.  Come to think of it, don’t tell them anything about your writing.  Trust me on this one.  Even if something really exciting happens (like you get a positive response from an agent or you finish a first draft), don’t share that information with creative monsters.  You can share it all you like with trusted writer-friends.  After all, they’ll not only understand how huge these milestones really are, they also won’t pester you about them after the fact.  But creative monsters will latch onto this information and keep bugging you about it.  “Is the book done yet?”  “Have you signed with that agent yet?”  “When will you start actually making money from this writing thing?”

Don’t get me wrong, it’s often quite tempting to share these milestones with creative monsters as a way of validating your progress.  But it’s a trap.  The truth is, they won’t understand what these milestones really mean and the frustration you’ll deal with afterwards is not worth the one minute of satisfaction in sharing the news with them now.  Instead, find a couple of like-minded writer friends who will offer support and be excited for you.  Tell them.  But when it comes to the creative monsters, zip the lip.

3) Treat yourself to something nice to celebrate your victories.

Since you often can’t rely on the creative monsters close to you to treat your writer-self nicely, you’ll have to do it yourself.  Find ways to celebrate when you make really good progress or hit a major milestone.  I give myself stickers whenever I make a breakthrough in a writing project.  My drafts and journals are covered in gold stars and smiley-faces.  When I hit a milestone, I treat myself to something small but meaningful to my writing: a notebook, a couple of colorful pens, or maybe a book on writing craft.  Learn to celebrate yourself and you won’t have to depend on other people celebrating you.

This Halloween, think about how you can trick (or treat) your way out of your creative monsters’ radars.  Any techniques you’ve found particularly effective?

The post Creative Monsters appeared first on DIY MFA.