Watch crappy TV, and other tips for science writers

Could you be a science writer? Yes.

There’s no single pathway to get there. Sure, you need to have an interest in science, and a science education can be helpful.

But lots of other factors are key as well — knowing your audience and seeing how and where science fits in general life, for example. And taking time to build up a body of clients.

Images thanks to @jeshoots on unsplash

Author and writer Allison Tait interviewed me about freelance science writing for episode 125 of the podcast So You Want To Be A Writer, and then she and co-host Valerie Khoo distilled some of that advice to create tips in their newly launched book So You Want To Be A Writer.

With their permission, here I’ve reproduced three of my best tips for science writers.

People have to know you exist

Building up your networks is the critical thing. Starting off, you need to work out a way to get yourself known. I’d suggest for anyone considering a transition to a science-writing career that they take it slowly. You’re not going hit the ground running immediately.

Just start taking on one or two clients and then build it slowly and make sure you show your face, physically and through social media and all of the places that clients might be.

Go to events, live-tweet from the events, learn how to use hashtags appropriately to hook up with the right people. Find out who matters in science writing in the place you live, or who does the kind of of work you want to do, and ping them regularly.

Know your audience

Audience awareness is one of the most important parts of science writing. Imagine a news story online: the detail can be there and available to people interested in the detail, but it can’t be upfront because you’re going to scare people away.

It needs to be interesting and relevant and suck people in early, and the you can link to more detailed information or have it further down in the piece as well, if there’s room.

Keeping the audience front of mind is absolutely critical, whether you’re working in the broad news environment or within an academic environment

See where science sits

Even though you’re a science writer, you can’t just know about science. You must see that science sits within a broader culture. You have to know what people are watching on TV. You have to know what kind of audiences you might be trying to tap into. Don’t shut yourself into a little science bubble. You have read broadly, use Facebook, watch crap TV.