The Science Writers' Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Pitch, Publish, and Prosper in the Digital Age

by Writers of SciLance, Thomas Hayden (Editor), Michelle Nijhuis (Editor)

This indispensable guide shows you how
* Jump-start your career as a freelance or staff science writer
* Develop stories and hooks that editors can't resist
* Find ideas, pitch stories and report narrative
* Navigate the emotional side of writing (envy, loneliness, rejection)
* Handle the business details (contracts, taxes, retirement saving, insurance)
* Balance freelance work with the rest of your life--even kids

With over 300 years of hard-won experience, the Writers of SciLance know how to prosper in the evolving world of popular science writing. They want you to succeed too. Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned veteran, these award-winning pros will help you to polish skills, improve business smarts, and create community in what is a rewarding but often solitary field.

As a close-knit community of 35 science writers, The Writers of SciLance have worked as staffers and freelancers for newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and web sites; as public information officers; and as corporate, university, and non-profit organization writers. Their articles on nearly every science topic imaginable have appeared in National Geographic , Discover Magazine , Smithsonian , the New York Times , The Washington Post , and scores of other outlets. They have won prestigious journalism awards, written best-selling books, and contributed to leading anthologies. SciLancers have taught science writing at Johns Hopkins, Stanford and in workshops throughout Canada and the United States, and been awarded Scripps, MIT-Knight, and Alicia Patterson Foundation journalism fellowships. They live in communities big and small scattered across North America, with partners, children, dogs, cats and even a parrot.

PitchPublishProsper.com

Genres: Writing, Science, Nonfiction, Reference, How To, Academia

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2013

Reviews

[Cassidy Motahari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource to anyone pursuing freelance science journalism, regardless of medium.

[Mook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book back in 2014, when it was still very new. I myself was just leaving school and was considering becoming a science writer. While I'm not currently a science writer, I do a lot of science communication and writing, and this book has been a great reference. While there are some sections I've bookmarked and used repeatedly, there are others I have never read until I finally made the decision to read through the entire thing to see what other tips and tricks I could collect.

The digital landscape has changed a lot since this book came out, so some parts are slightly dated. Additionally, everything about the American tax system and healthcare would not apply to me. That said, the rest of it holds up incredibly well and has been extremely valuable.

Information about pitching, crafting narratives, interviewing, building relationships between editors and other writers - that has all been helpful and reassuring to read and go back to when I need a refresher.

[George Van den driessche · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone wanting to transition into the field of science journalism and writing! Each chapter is written by an expert from the field and targets different aspects of the field from pitching your first story, conducting interviews, managing your career, budgeting, and more.

It is also a good book to keep on the shelf as you gain your own experiences, so that you have a quick easy reference to pull up.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of really good practical advice, but I must have not really been the target audience because it was like 90% about things that were relevant to journalism more generally and only maybe 10% about science writing specifically. I also wished there was more about other ways to be a science writer beyond the journalism route. Nevertheless I'm sure I'll return to some of the advice in the book, like about navigating contracts and editors and such.

[Book O Latte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku ini berisi kumpulan artikel dari penulis sains, tapi lebih fokus ke hal-hal teknis: teknik kepenulisan, mencari ide tulisan dan berita, bagaimana bekerja dengan editor, bagaimana menawarkan tulisan ke penerbit, bagaimana suka duka profesi penulis (sains) dan work-life balance, tentang bayaran, royalti, kontrak dll.

-dydy-

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most useful resources I've come across.

[Daniel Bastardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for any aspiring science writer. A world of knowledge and experience condensed in a book.

[CJ Forneste · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great for science writing practitioners and budding science communicators. Lots of advice and I will probably reference it throughout my career.

[David Valencia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference material

[Richard Cytowic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are breaking into the field or a seasoned professional, this book is dense with advice from the SciLance workgroup's 225 years of experience.

Read my full review at New York Journal of Books.

Two magic questions alone are worth the book’s price: “Can you raise my rate?” and “Do you have a better contract?” Sounds obvious, but few people know how to ask and, more importantly, when to ask it.

[Nola Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was am excellent read, inspiring many ideas that I can see as helping me in my role as a freelance science writer. The book covers an array of topics, ranging from pitching to contact negotiation to working with editors to handling the isolation of working at home solo. I probably shouldn't have read it while on vacation; it all but demands closer reading and note-taking that I wasn't able to devote to the text. Still, I'll definitely revisit the text, probably multiple times, both to help me grow my career and to inspire me to stretch a bit.

[Chris]

Great complement to A Field Guide for Science Writers: The Official Guide of the National Association of Science Writers: a bit more practical information and less about different types of science writing jobs.

[Tracy Duvall]

This singularly useful book answered many questions I had about freelance writing - and some I should have had. The informed advice regarding dealing with editors and with contracts was especially enlightening.

[Elizabeth]

As seen on Twitter.

[Theryn Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

My The Science Writers' Handbook post.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Mills College Library]

808.0665 S4167 2013

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful guide for those who are new to the field, like myself. Lots of good advise and perspectives on a broad range of topics related to science writing.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially liked the chapter on procrastination. :)

[Carl Klutzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good, clear, honest advice here, from folks who know what they are talking about, and who know how to write well.