so you want to be a science writer? dan jones freelance science writer 16 february 2009
TRANSCRIPT
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 [email protected])
- 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