The Craft of Science Writing: Selections from The Open Notebook

by Siri Carpenter (Editor)

Science journalism has perhaps never been so critical to our world—and the demands on science journalists have never been greater. On any given day, a science journalist might need to explain the details of genetic engineering, analyze a development in climate change research, or serve as a watchdog helping to ensure the integrity of the scientific enterprise. And science writers have to spin tales seductive enough to keep readers hooked to the end, despite the endless other delights just a click away. How does one do it?

Here, for the first time, is a collection of indispensable articles on the craft of science writing as told by some of the most skillful science journalists working today. These selections are a wealth of journalistic knowledge from The Open Notebook, the online community that has been a primary resource for science journalists and aspiring science writers for the last decade.

The Craft of Science Writing gives you a crew of accomplished, encouraging friends to whisper over your shoulder as you work. In these pages, you'll find interviews with leading journalists offering behind-the-scenes inspiration, as well as in-depth essays on the craft offering practical advice, including:

- How to make the transition into science writing
- How to find and pitch a science story to editors
- How to wade through a sea of technicalities in scientific papers to spot key facts
- How to evaluate scientific and statistical claims
- How to report on controversial topics
- How to structure a science story, from short news to long features
- How to engage readers in a science story and hold their attention to the end

CONTRIBUTORS TO THE CRAFT OF SCIENCE WRITING

Christie Aschwanden, Siri Carpenter, Tina Casagrand, Jeanne Erdmann, Dan Fagin, Dan Ferber, Azeen Ghorayshi, Geoffrey Giller, Laura Helmuth, Jane C. Hu, Alla Katsnelson, Roxanne Khamsi, Maggie Koerth-Baker, Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Apoorva Mandavilli, Amanda Mascarelli, Robin Meadows, Kate Morgan, Tien Nguyen, Michelle Nijhuis, Aneri Pattani, Rodrigo Pérez Ortega, Mallory Pickett, Kendall Powell, Tasneem Raja, Sandeep Ravindran, Julia Rosen, Christina Selby, Alexandra Witze, Wudan Yan, Ed Yong, Rachel Zamzow, Sarah Zhang, Carl Zimmer

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Writing, Unfinished, Essays, How To, Journalism

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2020

Reviews

[Rohini Murugan · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a budding science communicator, this book is the sprightly first step she takes towards her passion. This book is the first whiff of the whats and hows of a career, explained in crafty steps as a Martha Stewart's cookie recipe.

And, just like a recipe, it takes the budding sci-commer by hand. It guides her through the necessary ingredients - the lede and the nut graff and the kicker - the mechanisms of the process - the interviewing and the fact-checking and the paper-reading - and finally, the sensory feel of the finished product - the smooth buttery flow from one sentence to the next.

Towards the end, she feels not anymore like a budding sci-commer but like someone who is armed with the necessary know-how and can bravely take the next step ahead.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of advice pieces from science writers all about the craft! Recommend for anyone interested in the field of science journalism!

[Aida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just preface this by saying that I am, in fact, a journalist trying to break into the science writing field, so I am EXACTLY the kind of person this book was written for. That being said, I loved it. I've been reading the Open Notebook for over a year now, and their articles are like Columbia Journalism Review specifically for science journalists: a way for us to become better at what we do.

"The Craft of Science Writing," which is a collection of articles written by dozens of science journalists, details the ups and downs of the field, the lack of money, the pitfalls and the foibles. It's a little discouraging to read at times, but it's written by people who obviously love their jobs and believe in what real science journalism can accomplish. I loved how honest all the writers were about the difficulties of the job, but their passion in explaining how to become better, smarter, stronger journalists.

I literally just finished reading this, but I've already made plans and goals about how I'm going to become a better science journalist because of this book.

Although this was written for science journalists, I would recommend this book for anyone wanting to become more critical consumers of scientific material.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would it be dramatic to say that this book is my Bible? Because I think it will be for years to come.

[Rohini Karandikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a science educator and a communicator. I read an e-version of this book. This is one of those fewer books e-books that I have read from start to finish. I had never so meticulously taken notes while reading any book other than while reading this one. This book has shown me a new path in science communication. The book paints a real picture of science writing, especially science journalism. The author of each chapter explains various aspects of science writing, some which I had never known. The book gives an idea of how adventurous and beautiful the journey of science writing is! I have already started imagining myself in different roles in science journalism and communication.

[Rebecca Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect toolkit for an aspiring science writer like me. I’ve read a few great introductions to the field, but this has everything they did and more. It answers the questions I’d have been shy to ask, provides details of free resources online, and is incredibly readable - almost like you’re sat around a table with some of the best science writers in the world having a natter. I know I’ll be coming back to it again and again at every stage of writing. Huge thank you to Siri Carpenter and all those involved in The Open Notebook.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half of the book is about standard journalistic practice and not specific to science writing. The pointers that do address the science beat are instructive, but for the most part they refer to the big, award-winning stories covered by major news outlets. Something to add to your reference arsenal, I guess.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with solid advice for aspiring science writers, divided into sections and chapters that kept the information digestible. Only drawback is that there's (understandably) a focus on the US. There seems to be a dearth of resources for Canadian science writers starting out and I wish that book filled in the gaps more.

[James Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've been considering getting into the often bewildering world of freelance science writing and journalism, are already dabbling in it, or are involved in any form of science communication, I highly recommend you buy a copy of this terrific book. My own copy is never too far away and is now dog-eared from use.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written

It is one of the top books on writing. I was looking for some writing tips for my dissertation and this book provided me with a perfect framework. I gave this book a 5 star rating because it was captivating, concise and easy to read.

[Ian Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I start to try more long-form nonfiction writing, I'll refer back to this book a lot. Great intro for people who know a little about writing or a little about science, but very little about how they come together in the real world.

[Hana Gabrielle (HG) Bidon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science communication and wants to either become a freelancer or have a career in this area. The content is easy to digest to understand and captivates me from the beginning to the end.

[Colleen Stinchcombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for science writers, but also a great resource for journalists and nonfiction writers in general. Lots of underlined sections - this will be a reference for me for years.

[Ania · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and must-read book. It's definitely not for science journalists only!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vital guide for anyone trying to communicate science to the public.

[Eliza]

200930 winny rec

[Clarissa Brincat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A guiding hand for science writing newbies like me

Because of the density of useful information packed into this book, I found it overwhelming but also very helpful at the same time. I needed to stop and digest each piece of advice, stop to look up contributors on LinkedIn, or just stop for a mental break. Which meant that it took me 10 months to get through it all. I highlighted the hell out of it and am sure I'll keep going back to certain sections for guidance.