Author Archives: janishaag

About janishaag

Writer, writing coach, editor

Annie

Posted on July 8, 2016 by janishaag

(#4 in the Annie series) She was up at 6, as she has been every day for the past three years at The Lighthouse, the International China Concern (ICC) orphanage in Changsha, Hunan province, in south-central China. Her ayi (Chinese … Continue reading →

Posted in Bringing Annie Home | 10 Comments

Yeah Come

Posted on July 7, 2016 by janishaag

(#3 in the Annie series) Climbing the highly polished marble stairs, Nikki and I could hear them before we saw them: “Ni hao!” (Hello! Welcome!), and as we rounded a corner for the second set of stairs—three ladies in white … Continue reading →

Posted in Bringing Annie Home | 6 Comments

Hong Kong, part 1

Posted on July 6, 2016 by janishaag

(#2 in the Annie series) So after Nikki made the statement that Hong Kong is emphatically NOT China, I got to see a bit of Hong Kong… for less than 24 hours, but we’d be back at the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bringing Annie Home | 2 Comments

EGBOK

Posted on July 5, 2016 by janishaag

Jan takes iPhone photos of the United Airlines planes lined up at SFO. One of them will take Jan and Nikki to Hong Kong. (Photo/Dick Schmidt) (#1a in the Annie series) Friday, June 17, 2016, 4:51 p.m. California time We … Continue reading →

Posted in Bringing Annie Home | 10 Comments

Heebie-jeebie

Posted on June 15, 2016 by janishaag

(#1 in the Annie series) It’s that time again, the day before I leave for a big trip, only this time it’s a Really Big Trip, to the other side of the planet, the farthest I’ve ever been from home. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bringing Annie Home, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Paper weight

Posted on June 5, 2016 by janishaag

“But the thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.” — Marge Piercy, “To Be of Use” You confront the back bedroom, the one next to yours, where you have stuffed books and prompts for … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Go and sea

Posted on May 26, 2016 by janishaag

I had to stop and think: How long has it been since I walked away from my “to do” list and all the “haftas”? How many weeks? Months? Ah… since December. Kauai with Dick. One of Dick’s best qualities is … Continue reading →

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Turning the tassel

Posted on May 21, 2016 by janishaag

Every other year at my college I am required to don cap and gown for graduation. The faculty parade between two lines of students about to earn their associate degrees and enter our historic football stadium. We line up on either … Continue reading →

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I’m going where?

Posted on May 13, 2016 by janishaag

To China. Hunan, China, actually, which has not been on my bucket list, to tell you the truth. I toyed with the idea of heading there some years ago when my friend and former student, Nikki Cardoza, ensconced herself as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Eleven rules for writers (whether you think you are or not)

Posted on May 10, 2016 by janishaag

Keep your hand moving, said writing guru/wise woman Natalie Goldberg. Don’t stop. Don’t edit. Just keep your hand moving. I add: Or keep your fingers typing if you have them poised over the keyboard. Don’t stop. Don’t edit. This is … Continue reading →

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