by Janice Nigro A great irony in science is how generic we scientists often write about it. We use clichéd lines. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show X…” Or “However, X still remains unknown.” Or my favorite, “Such and such cancer is the most aggressive tumor type in... Continue Reading →
Tips for writing travel stories
by Janice Nigro Since my travel story hit the LA Times, I have been wondering why that one worked while so many others did not. And if I could figure out why, then I might be able to make it happen more often. Or tell others how to do it. There are some straightforward procedural... Continue Reading →
Elements of the travel story buried in an education in science
by Janice Nigro When I started to write this piece, I thought, I have no idea why travel writing comes so naturally to me. I just thought, it’s like anything, when you want to do it, you actually do it. Still when you do something right, the first thing people want to know, is how... Continue Reading →
How I got my first byline in a major media outlet
A PhD in biology isn't the direct route to becoming a travel writer, but my wish to be paid for a travel story recently came true. Not only was it my first paid travel article, but it was also my first byline in a major media outlet. “How did you get your article into the... Continue Reading →
Why did this get published?
by Janice Nigro Good question. I too wonder how my travel story ended up in the LA Times. It did and one thing for sure, it’s easier for me to say, “I am a writer” when people ask. There it is, the proof in print. But with visibility like that comes comments like that (although... Continue Reading →
The cherry on top of the Hawaiian toast
When the stars align, I now believe you can’t stop what lies ahead. Like Meghan and Harry falling in love. In February, I was conflicted about taking a trip to Germany for a friend’s special celebration. The question wasn't whether I wanted to go, it was did I deserve to go. Struggling a bit with... Continue Reading →
An affordable piece of art
by Janice Nigro I had a boyfriend in college who wasn’t much of a romantic. But he did leave me a surprise Valentine’s Day card once in a place where I wouldn’t have expected it. I remember the card still today. Without saying much, I felt it said, "I am thinking of you." The history... Continue Reading →
Shopping on an award miles budget
or when the moon and the stars align...or something like that... by Janice Nigro My phone dinged. Just in those few moments before sleep when you are supposed to have your best ideas that you will never remember. I ignored it. I didn’t want to suffer the consequences of a poorly worded response when... Continue Reading →
Hung up on plastic
Ambon Bay in the Maluku province of Indonesia is one of the most exciting dive spots on the planet. There is no predicting what you will find there, but you have to be game for the hunt. I have also felt like I was diving head first into a garbage dump. I have been told... Continue Reading →
An Accidental Artist: Discovering Creativity through Scuba Diving
Do you think of artists as super-powered people? I did until I discovered underwater photography. Discovering my artistic side I tend to think of as a glorious accident, but I wonder, because underwater photography has all the elements that are important to me: travel, sport, art, and science. An Accidental Artist is a collection of... Continue Reading →