67. Fiction Has Nowhere to Hide with Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay
Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay “put away the calls of her soul” to become a scientist, earning a PhD. in biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology. But after two decades as a science writer, being grateful for her career wasn’t enough. Her debut novel, Chitra Demands to Go Home, was drafted in the car during her youngest kid’s tennis practice, and Raj proceeded to encounter the sheer vulnerability of fiction where you can’t hide behind rules, facts, or data.
Highlights
Unique ways science storytelling prepared Raj for fiction
Moments of generosity that led to writing (and finishing) her novel
What happened when she accidentally showed up to an open mic night with nothing to read
First draft strategies: writing in the car and using a distraction-free typewriter
Navigating a story through ambiguity
How an ordinary conversation with her mom planted the seed of her novel idea
Writing the realistic yet mythological mother/son relationship in Bengali culture
The surprising reaction from her LinkedIn community after announcing her book
The vulnerability of publication after a lifetime of meeting external expectations
Links & Mentions
Chitra Demands to Go Home, out from Modern Artist Press
Meet Raj
Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay, who goes by “Raj”, originally trained as a scientist. After earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology, Raj launched a career in science communications. For nearly two decades, she worked as a science storyteller in various forms, including as a journalist and the leader of an award-winning custom content studio. Her science writing appeared in several print and digital outlets in the U.S. and the U.K. Raj was selected by Poets & Writers to be one of the 2025 Get the Word Out fiction fellows. Chitra Demands to Go Home, published by Modern Artist Press, is her debut novel. Raj has lived in India, Kuwait, and Canada. She is now based in the U.S. with her partner, two children, two dogs, and two cats.
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