ABOUT THIS BOOK

A deeply sourced, inclusive guide to all aspects of science writing with contributions from some of the most skilled and award-winning authors working today.

Science writing has never been so critical to our world, and the demands on writers have never been greater. On any given day, a writer might need to explain the details of AI, analyze developments in climate change research, or serve as a watchdog helping to ensure the integrity of the scientific enterprise. At the same time, writers must spin tales that hook and keep readers, despite the endless other demands on their attention. How does one do it? The Craft of Science Writing is the authoritative guide.

With pieces curated from the archives of science writers’ go-to online resource, The Open Notebook, this book explores strategies for finding and shaping story ideas, pitching editors, and building a specialty in science writing. It delves into fundamental skills that every science writer must learn, including planning their reporting; identifying, interviewing, and quoting sources; organizing interview notes; and crafting stories that engage and inform audiences. This expanded edition includes new introductory material and nine new essays focusing on such topics as how to establish a science beat, how to find and use quotes, how to critically evaluate scientific claims, how to use social media for reporting, and how to use data. In addition, there are essays on inclusivity in science writing, offering strategies for eradicating ableist language from stories, working with sensitivity readers, and breaking into English-language media for speakers of other languages.

Through interviews with leading journalists offering behind-the-scenes inspiration as well as in-depth essays on the craft offering practical advice, readers will learn how the best science stories get made, from conception to completion.

Contributors:
Humberto Basilio, Siri Carpenter, Tina Casagrand, Jeanne Erdmann, Dan Ferber, Geoffrey Giller, Laura Helmuth, Jane C. Hu, Alla Katsnelson, Roxanne Khamsi, Betsy Ladyzhets, Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Amanda Mascarelli, Robin Meadows, Kate Morgan, Tiên Nguyễn, Michelle Nijhuis, Aneri Pattani, Rodrigo Pérez Ortega, Mallory Pickett, Kendall Powell, Tasneem Raja, Sandeep Ravindran, Marion Renault, Julia Rosen, Megha Satyanarayana, Christina Selby, Knvul Sheikh, Abdullahi Tsanni, Alexandra Witze, Katherine J. Wu, Wudan Yan, Ed Yong, Rachel Zamzow, Sarah Zhang, and Carl Zimmer

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Siri Carpenter is an award-winning science journalist and editor whose writing and editorial work has appeared in the New York Times, Science, Discover, Scientific American, Science News, bioGraphic, and other publications. She is co-founder, executive director, and editor-in-chief of The Open Notebook, a non-profit organization that is widely regarded as the leading source of online training and educational materials for journalists who cover science. She is a past president of the National Association of Science. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

REVIEWS

“If I had to strip my go-to shelf of reporting and writing books down to a very few, this one would remain. I am neither a scientist nor a science journalist, but The Craft of Science Writing offers valuable tips for any reporter or editor, of any experience level, covering any topic. In an era when facts are under assault, this book is especially welcome.”

— Jacqui Banaszynski, Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter and editor, Knight Chair Professor Emerita at the Missouri School of Journalism, and editor of Nieman Storyboard

“Since 2010, The Open Notebook has served as an indispensable online guide to science writing. With The Craft of Science Writing, they’ve distilled those years of insights into an excellent survey of the field. You’ll find the nuts and bolts here—how to read a scientific paper, how to craft a lede, and so on. But you’ll also get a sense of what it’s like to wake up every morning and face the delights and dread that this job brings.”

— Carl Zimmer, journalist and author of She Has Her Mother’s Laugh

“Listen up, journalism professors, students, and media professionals! You won’t find a better guide to the art (and craft) of science writing than this book. The Open Notebook has produced a fascinating, informative, empathetic, and pragmatic tour through an increasingly vital set of skills. Whether you cover politics, education, national security, transportation, or business, the ability to write intelligently about science is now essential. Luckily for us, TON has distilled almost ten years’ of expert observation and insight to light the way.”

— Jennifer Kahn, contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and Narrative Program Lead, University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

“Accessible, informative, and engaging, The Craft of Science Writing can serve as an excellent resource for both classroom instruction and self-study. A welcome contribution!”

— Barbara Gastel, MD, professor and Science Journalism Program coordinator, Texas A&M University

“Great collection of advice from some of the smartest voices in science writing. It’s sure to be of help to people just starting out in the field, as well as to professors to the next generation of science writers.”

— Robin Marantz Henig, author, contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, and past president of the National Association of Science Writers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Aneri Pattani

Julia Rosen

Aneri Pattani

Humberto Basilio

Sandeep Ravindran

Kendall Powell

Knvul Sheikh

Amanda Mascarelli

Mallory Pickett

Dan Ferber

Megha Satyanarayana

Kate Morgan

Laura Helmuth

Siri Carpenter

TON

Roxanne Khamsi

Michelle Nijhuis

Geoffrey Giller

Alla Katsnelson

Mallory Pickett

Christina Selby

Katherine J. Wu

Sarah Zhang

Jane C. Hu

Wudan Yan

Tasneem Raja

Robin Meadows

Tina Casagrand Foss

Abdullahi Tsanni

Jyoti Madhusoodanan

Marion Renault

Robin Meadows

Tiên Nguyễn

Jeanne Erdmann

Alexandra Witze

Jane C. Hu

Rachel Zamzow

Roxanne Khamsi

Rodrigo Pérez Ortega

Betsy Ladyzhets

Carl Zimmer

Siri Carpenter

Ed Yong