Advice for Beginning Science Writers

This document is the record of a discussion that took place on the nasw-talk mailing list from May 10th through May 14th, 1997. It deals with several issues at the core of the science writing profession.

NASW (2006). Careers>Scientific Communication

The End of Science Writing

I wanted to be a science writer for the same reason that many of you probably wanted to be scientists. For my generation, at least in our youth, truth and beauty were as one. I dabbled in poetry and paleontology, astronomy and architecture. I finally chose writing because it gave me art and science as well. I'd never heard the phrase 'science writer' but science was always my subject. When I went into daily newspapering I told my editor I wanted to be a science writer. He grunted and said the paper didn't need one of those. But history was against him, and the young kid he'd hired had a talent for finding science in any story he was assigned. Early on I turned a story about the city's rat eradication program into a piece that could have blended seamlessly with Zinsser's Rats, Lice and History. In my hands a zoning story metamorphosed into a piece on urban demographics. A school bond issue assignment came back to my editor in the form of an un-rejectable profile of a chemistry teacher. The editors grumbled but the readers loved it – and soon everyone outside the paper referred to me as a 'science writer.' I will never forget the great victory it was, the first time my boss called me that.

Franklin, Jon. NASW (1997). Articles>Scientific Communication

NASW: Just for Freelancers

A collection of useful links, especially for science freelances.

Robinson, Richard. NASW (2004). Resources>Scientific Communication>Consulting

National Association of Science Writers: Local Affiliates

Links to the websites of regional chapters of the NASW.

NASW. Organizations>Scientific Communication>Regional

National Association of Science Writers: Members' Web Sites

Any NASW member who wants to set up an individual web site on the nasw.org server is entitled to 2 megabytes of space at no charge. If you're an NASW member, we have some information on setting up individual web sites. Here is a complete alphabetical list of links to the web sites of NASW members. Some are on the nasw.org server, and some are located elsewhere. We also have separate pages for members whose writing fits into one or more specialty areas (Thanks to Richard Robinson for this idea.)

NASW. Resources>Directories>Scientific Communication

National Association of Science Writers: PR Mailing List Archive

The National Association of Science Writers maintains three public e-mail lists for the discussion of subjects of interest to science writers. Anyone may read, subscribe to, and post messages on these lists subject to the NASW's policies and procedures.

NASW. Resources>Mailing Lists

National Association of Science Writers: TALK Mailing List Archive

The National Association of Science Writers maintains three public e-mail lists for the discussion of subjects of interest to science writers. Anyone may read, subscribe to, and post messages on these lists subject to the NASW's policies and procedures.

NASW. Resources>Mailing Lists