Getting Started in Science Writing

Hi again, everyone! It has been 5 months since my last post. Much has happened in my life in that time, and setting aside the occasional procrastination, I have actually been quite productive during my time away from the the blog.

Apart from focusing on completing work relevant to my doctoral studies, I had the chance to be involved in two major science writing events in late 2020. Today’s post will focus on my experiences in these two events which have been foundational in getting started with a prospective career in science writing.

When it comes to science writing, just as any other creative endeavor that involves writing, you start by writing. Having a decent foundation in writing helped me and even more so when I benefited from my experience in creative writing. What mattered was to find the perfect balance between the two to establish a credible platform to communicate science.

On that account, two major resources were immediately helpful: A Field Guide to Science Writers, and The Science Writers’ Handbook. Both books are an awesome resource for the entry-level science writer providing one the means to learning the craft, alongside being standalone resources that can be referenced as required for various different styles of writing in diverse genres. A Field Guide to Science Writers is in fact the official guide of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW).

The importance of networking as an integral component of science writing was made evident in my reading of these two references, after all it is through networking that one can reach a wider audience of writers and readers alike. For starters, I registered myself for membership in the NASW. I highly recommend the same for all aspiring science writers as the NASW is host to so many resources for entry level writers including job postings, conferences, and various writing events. The membership is quite cheap for those running on a budget and varies between $20 – $60 depending on one’s status.

This first step literally opened the doors to a wider world. Similar to attending an art expo, I came across promotions for two events in ScienceWriters 2020, and ComSciCon-CanWest.

ScienceWriters 2020 was a month long event hosted by the NASW as part of a networking and communication opportunity for prospective science writers. The crux of the networking events took place over the span of the last week of the event where one could meet with just about everyone in the writing industry from editors to writers from Nature, National Geographic, Discovery Magazine, to name a few, alongside fellow aspirants. Beyond the networking itself, there were presentations and symposiums throughout the course of the events on science and scientific discourse.

ComSciCon-CanWest is a smaller and local workshop for graduate students in Canada (mainly in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon). I would learn about this event while networking at ScienceWriters 2020 and later on from my own university department. Other variations of the same program are available for students in the US. ComSciCon-CanWest featured workshops, a keynote speaker, a panel, and most importantly built up to a Write-A-Thon session. The Write-A-Thon was essentially the highlight as students could write up a piece, get it edited by the pros, and even take their chances pitching their research to their peers and colleagues on a very friendly platform.

Both events were virtual and serve as invaluable resources for the aspiring science writer to build their network. It also helps to realize that you are not alone in your goals and struggles. Registering in both events led me to a cap off a positive ending to 2020 when it came to working harder toward my goals to become a science writer. I highly recommend the same for anyone who is set on the same track.

In the days to come, I intend to build on what I have learned during my participation in these two events, begin pitching to journals and editors, and most importantly writing a whole lot more on this blog.

With that said I hope to see you again later this weekend with a new post to share!