so you want to be a science writer? dan jones freelance science writer 16 february 2009

So You Want To Be A Science Writer?Dan Jones

Freelance Science Writerwww.multipledrafts.com/sywtbasw

16 February 2009

About Me

• Degree in molecular genetics

About Me

• Degree in molecular genetics• MSc in Science and Technology Policy Studies

About Me

• Degree in molecular genetics• MSc in Science and Technology Policy Studies• Worked in a number of editorial positions

About Me

• Degree in molecular genetics• MSc in Science and Technology Policy Studies• Worked in a number of editorial positions• Started doing freelance work in 2005

About Me

• Degree in molecular genetics• MSc in Science and Technology Policy Studies• Worked in a number of editorial positions• Started doing freelance work in 2005• Completely freelance since 2006

Some Past Clients

Plan of Talk

Plan of Talk

• Types of scientific, medical and technical writing

Plan of Talk

• Types of scientific, medical and technical writing

• Routes into writing, with examples

Plan of Talk

• Types of scientific, medical and technical writing

• Routes into writing, with examples

• Freelancing

Plan of Talk

• Types of scientific, medical and technical writing

• Routes into writing, with examples

• Freelancing

• Writing for scientists

1. TYPES OF WRITING

• Journalism

1. TYPES OF WRITING

• Journalism• Science/technical writing

— steady employment— freelance

1. TYPES OF WRITING

• Journalism• Science/technical writing

— steady employment— freelance

All science journalists are science writers, but not all science writers are journalists

Journalism

See the Association of British Science Writers’ guide So You Want to Be A Science Writer? (PDF available on my website)

Science/technical writing

Science/technical writing

• Scientific organisations/institutions (RI, RS, British Psychological Society, Natural History Museum, Wellcome Trust, British Science Association, Medical Research Council)

Science/technical writing

• Scientific organisations/institutions (RI, RS, British Psychological Society, Natural History Museum, Wellcome Trust, British Science Association, Medical Research Council)

• Charities

Science/technical writing

• Scientific organisations/institutions (RI, RS, British Psychological Society, Natural History Museum, Wellcome Trust, British Science Association, Medical Research Council)

• Charities• Research funders/universities

Science/technical writing

• Scientific organisations/institutions (RI, RS, British Psychological Society, Natural History Museum, Wellcome Trust, British Science Association, Medical Research Council)

• Charities• Research funders/universities• Pharmaceutical industry

Science/technical writing

• Scientific organisations/institutions (RI, RS, British Psychological Society, Natural History Museum, Wellcome Trust, British Science Association, Medical Research Council)

• Charities• Research funders/universities• Pharmaceutical industry• Medical/science communication agencies

Science/technical writing

• Scientific organisations/institutions (RI, RS, British Psychological Society, Natural History Museum, Wellcome Trust, British Science Association, Medical Research Council)

• Charities• Research funders/universities• Pharmaceutical industry• Medical/science communication agencies• Publishing

What does scientific and technical writing entail?

• Charities/scientific organisations— PR/press work— Science Information Officer

Other jobs in science communication

• Scientific/medical copywriting for advertising• Medical education• Report writing internally for pharma • Healthcare PR• Project editor

Publishing

• Editorials• News and analysis• Opinion and commentary• Research summaries (In Brief/Highlights)• Features

2. HOW TO GET INTO SCIENCE WRITING?

• Jobs pages in Nature/Science/newspapers/ recruitment agencies

• Association of British Science Writers blog• Internships• Writing competitions

Once you’ve got a foot in the door…

….possibilities open up.

3. FREELANCING - Opportunities

• Science communication and writing for scientific organisations/institutions

• Online content of various sorts• Journals and magazines – features

– news– commentary/opinion

• Copy editing

Freelancing - How to get into freelancing?

• Have to put yourself out there• Helps to have a springboard to launch from:

- A job that provides opportunities to gain relevant experience

- Create a freelance portfolio- Write a blog

If you fancy trying your hand at freelancing, do it!

Freelancing – What does it involve?

• A day in the life of a freelancer: Get up, log on, check e-mails - set up interviews

- respond to editor queries- look at press releases/ToCs- general reading (blogs, news sites etc)

• Do interviews/speak with editors• Write/edit/revise works in progress• Read papers/books• Admin

Freelancing – Practical issues

• Isolation (blessing or curse?!)• Earnings - likely to be low at first,

and perhaps never great

- irregular, uncertain (helps to have a wealthy partner, or to be independently wealthy!)

• Tax issues, pension, holiday cover, health insurance etc.

4.WRITING FOR WORKING SCIENTISTS

• Opportunities:- Opinion/commentary (Nature

/Science/NewScientist, newspapers (Comment is Free@Guardian.co.uk)

- Features (Nature/Science/, PLoS journals, NewScientist)

- Books

Opinion/commentary

If you’ve got something to say, and you think it’s important or

interesting, why not say it?

Features• ‘Stories, not issues’

Features• ‘Stories, not issues’• Think about the needs and wants of journals

and magazines, and the audience of each

Features• ‘Stories, not issues’• Think about the needs and wants of journals

and magazines, and the audience of each• Get a sense of the latter by reading the

relevant journals and magazines

Features• ‘Stories, not issues’• Think about the needs and wants of journals

and magazines, and the audience of each• Get a sense of the latter by reading the

relevant journals and magazines• Journals and magazines also often provide

guidelines for submitting proposals (essential to read these – see publication’s website)

Features• ‘Stories, not issues’• Think about the needs and wants of journals and

magazines, and the audience of each• Get a sense of the latter by reading the relevant

journals and magazines• Journals and magazines also often provide

guidelines for submitting proposals (essential to read these – see publication’s website)

• Some go even further - see NewScientist’s features guidelines

Books

Books

• The proposal (see PDFs on my website)

Books

• The proposal (see PDFs on my website)- Overview of book

Books

• The proposal (see PDFs on my website)- Overview of book- Sample chapter or two

Books

• The proposal (see PDFs on my website)- Overview of book- Sample chapter or two- Market analysis (existing and

competing titles, target audience)

Books

• The proposal (see PDFs on my website)- Overview of book- Sample chapter or two- Market analysis (existing and

competing titles, target audience)• Royalties and earnings

- Advance versus all royalties- Likely sales

In summary• If you’re interested in science, but don’t feel

cut out for life in the lab, science writing or editing might be for you

In summary• If you’re interested in science, but don’t feel

cut out for life in the lab, science writing or editing might be for you

• There are a lot of ways to make a living in science writing – and it can be a stimulating and rewarding path

In summary• If you’re interested in science, but don’t feel

cut out for life in the lab, science writing or editing might be for you

• There are a lot of ways to make a living in science writing – and it can be a stimulating and rewarding path

• Freelancing can be particularly liberating, but is also difficult

In summary• If you’re interested in science, but don’t feel cut

out for life in the lab, science writing or editing might be for you

• There are a lot of ways to make a living in science writing – and it can be a stimulating and rewarding path

• Freelancing can be particularly liberating, but is also difficult

• But there’s no reason why you can’t be a scientist and write too!

So You Want To Be A Science Writer?Dan Jones

Freelance Science Writerwww.multipledrafts.com/sywtbasw

16 February 2009