The revelation after my six years of study and lab work to complete a PhD in biology is that I wasn’t on an automatic path to career fulfillment, or happiness. And I had an envious PhD experience. My principal investigator had a clear vision. He was so sure about his goals that our only problem... Continue Reading →
About self-publishing my book “Postcards to me”
I’m about to launch a second book. On my own. In just a few days. It’s a little more than a collection of some of my travel essays and stories I’ve been posting on my blog. A few stories are "new". Some I cover without enough detail, maybe because there’s too much there to write... Continue Reading →
Telling the world that your book exists
by Janice Nigro “Bird by Bird” if you’re ever to read any books by Anne Lamott, it should be this one. She wrote it as a memoir focused on her wisdom on writing, but I can’t get those words out of my head now when I think about any project I’m working on. Because when... Continue Reading →
You need to do research for a fiction novel?
by Janice Nigro Did you know sea stars have eyes? I didn’t, not until I started writing my fictional romance novel. Yep, they have a visual organ called an eyespot. And get this, they have one at the end of each of their arms! These eyespots detect light and dark, and large structures like the reef,... Continue Reading →
What I learned writing a novel
by Janice Nigro Lockdown has reached over four months in California. From the beginning, it was clear that life could be over for any one of us in a flash. One week you’re here and three weeks later you’re not. That edict somehow freed me from any guilt about pursuing projects of passion. So I’ve... Continue Reading →
Unexpected Results
by Janice Nigro I left San Francisco, California for Bergen, Norway. In late fall. As a single woman. A few weeks before Christmas one year. Norwegians in San Francisco. Do you need to know how to dress for winter? Thanks, but I grew up in Chicago. Light cycles of shadow and dark on a backdrop... Continue Reading →
The Lockdown Diaries: Week 10
by Janice Nigro Entering double digits for weeks in lockdown in California. I think we’re beginning to come out of it. That’s about all I’m going to say because life can go on somehow for those of us without a health crisis. Ten weeks in though and I can't shake the strange factor. Nothing is... Continue Reading →
The Lockdown Diaries: Week 7
by Janice Nigro Wow, April 2020 is one for the books. Suddenly, it is May and already 06 May 2020. Cinco de Mayo has passed. So has the deadline for lifting lockdown. Funny how 30 April has just sneaked past us. Life is not so different for me, especially as a freelance writer and editor.... Continue Reading →
The Lockdown Diaries: Week 6
by Janice Nigro You would think I would be running out of things to write about after a month and a half in lockdown and feeding my soul (eating chocolate). But the world out there keeps on giving me something to ponder on the page, even though I have limited interaction outside my apartment. But... Continue Reading →
The Lockdown Diaries: Week 5
by Janice Nigro No thoughtful title, just which week this is under lockdown in Los Angeles if you don't remember. The Lockdown Diaries is becoming a travel journal of sorts, of the kind of adventure you hope to have only once in your life. It’s definitely of the slow travel variety. New experiences. My most... Continue Reading →