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The beginner's guide to a career in science writing

W e're both relatively new to science writing, but we often get questions from STEM students about how to become a science communicator. We've passed down the advice and resources older students and alumni gave us, but this is an inefficient (we are scientists, after all!) and inequitable method of knowledge transfer.   

What about the students who don’t know anyone who can help them get started in science writing? Many online "how to become a science writer" resources skip some of the basics, jumping right to internships and fellowships that require a big time commitment and a competitive CV.   

So where can you learn more about  the craft and business of science writing  while still in school or your current job? How can you get the experience necessary to apply for fellowships, internships, or science communication jobs? In this article, we  answer five common questions about how to become a science writer .   

We've collected these answers and resources from talking to other science writers and editors, seeing the right tweets at the right time, and learning about the right places to look.  That process took us years —h opefully, this piece saves you some time !  

How do I publish my first piece?  

Most writing jobs, internships, and freelance opportunities require a strong track record of "clips" (writing lingo for "published articles"). Publishing your writing when you’ve never published anything before feels like a classic "need experience to get experience" scenario, but there are plenty of non-intimidating ways to get that first article and start building your portfolio.  

First of all, any first clip is better than no first clip. Don’t agonize too much about the  right way to publish or getting impressive bylines right out the gate—focus on what works for you and your style. Some people start blogs (or find a blog to write guest posts for, like a ScienceBites site ) to practice writing about science in a more conversational style. Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok are also popular ways for people to dip their toe into science communication, build an audience, and make conne ctions. Brittany got her first clip from a  Chemical & Engineering News  tweet calling for pitches for grad student essays (which they are  still accepting  on a rolling basis.)This led to more clips and editor introductions down the road.  

As a new writer, local opportunities can be your best friend. If you’re a student or work for a university, there’s likely at least one campus publication that would be happy to work with you—that’s how Bri got her very first clip. There may even be specific science communication training workshops on campus or in your area, like  ComSciCon . If you’re not affiliated with a university, regional chapters of professional or educational societies are often looking for people to help out with newsletters and blogs.   

If you're a scientist already, you might have some thoughts on scientific life that could help you get your first clip. Both  Science  and  Nature  have careers columns and  invite people  to  pitch  essays and opinion pieces.  For those in the life sciences,  The Xylom  publishes opinion pieces and  The Scientist  has  opportunities  for both opinion pieces and features written by life scientists, as well as opportunities for freelancers. You can also submit an idea or pitch to  Cell Mentor  using the form at the bottom of this page .  

Once you have a few clips, you can  cold pitch  different publications if you have an  idea for an article  and  can prove you can execute it . This  Google Doc  by Robin Lloyd lists publications that commonly publish science stories, as well as info on pay and other resources for freelancers.  

How do I connect with other science communicators?  

If you have even the faintest inkling that you want to do science writing or science communication, start seeking out people doing the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, you can contact the research communications or media relations people at your university.  

Don’t know where else to find science communicators? They tend to congregate on social media, especially Instagram and Twitter. To get started, follow your favorite science journalists and editors, look for posts tagged as  #SciComm  and join the conversation, or  direct message  someone whose work you've admired from afar. The science communication community is full of fun people who are passionate about what they do and are usually super willing to share advice with newbies.  

There are also more targeted science communication communities, such as National Public Radio's  Slack group for science communicators  or the  Binders Full of Science Writers  Facebook group for women in science writing. (The Facebook group is currently invite-only, but once you've made some connections in the field, you’re likely to find someone who can add you.) The  National Association of Science Writers  requires two sponsors and five clips for regular membership, but if you're a student, you can join for a discounted price without sponsors or clips.   

What education do I need to be a science writer?  

There’s no single path into science writing— successful science writers can come from  a science background, a writing background, or some combination of the two. To see the diversity of paths one can take to becoming a science writer, check out  The Open Notebook 's " On The Origin of Science Writers .” Overall, the quality of your clips and your ability to pitch and find opportunities through your network are generally more important to your career than the degrees you have.   

That said, a science background gives you many transferable skills that are integral to being a good science writer. An advanced science degree gives you the ability to put together projects on a deadline, understand scholarly articles, interpret and question data, learn about new technical fields quickly, and understand what scientists are trying to communicate about their work.   If you're interested in formal education, there are  science writing programs  specifically designed for scientists to transition to science writing.  

If you don't have the time or resources to take a formal class, there are plenty of resources for teaching yourself about science writing:  

• The Knight School of Science Journalism at MIT has  many good resources  for science writers, including a module you can use to teach yourself about  how fact-checking works in journalism .  
• The Open Notebook  has  tons of articles about getting started in science journalism  as well as a free  Science Journalism Master Class  series that delivers a writing course directly to your inbox.   
• You can join the  Consortium  at  Massive Science  for $15, which includes a storytelling course, feedback as you write your first few training articles, and then increasing scales of payment for your subsequent articles. (The site also occasionally runs promotions and has a  fee waiver application , so you may not need to pay.)  
• If you're a government researcher, an academic, or a PhD candidate, check out  The Conversation , where editors will work closely with you on an article on a topic related to your research.  

Can I do this for a living?  

If you’re just starting out as a writer, you probably shouldn’t quit your day job yet. You can build up your portfolio as a side hustle while you wait for the right opportunity to go full-time—or simply decide whether you want to pursue writing full-time.  

Internships can be a great opportunity if you are (1) financially able to take on a short-term position that typically won’t offer benefits and (2) eligible (many, but not all, are targeted towards current undergrad or grad students or people within a year of graduating.) The "big one" for scientists who want to get hands-on journalism experience is the  AAAS Mass Media Fellowship  (MMF), which is open to current students, postdocs, and recent graduates in the sciences who want to spend a summer working for a media outlet.   

Of course, the Mass Media Fellowship is far from the only internship out there.  This article  lists internship opportunities at journalism outlets, research institutions and nonprofits, mostly in the US and UK, but it’s not an exhaustive list. The  Broad Institute  and  Cell Press  are two other scientific institutions that offer writing internships; as of our publication date, Cell Press’ application window is currently open!  

For more opportunities, check out national labs, universities' research communications offices, local and national scientific societies, museums, conservancy organizations, biotech companies—anywhere there’s science, there are people communicating it. Looking beyond big name publications and top-tier research institutions can turn up unexpected opportunities.  

Freelancing full-time can also be an option, but be aware that it takes self-discipline and some business sense. Science writer  Wudan Yan's article about hitting six figures as a freelancer  outlines many of the financial ideas you'll need to keep in mind if you want to make a living from freelancing.   

Where can I find more resources?  

Newsletters, powered by the  popularity of the Substack platform , are having a moment right now. For science writers,  Marianna Limas'  free Science Writing News Roundup  is a goldmine of information. If you want to keep up to date on the latest science writing tips, news, and opportunities (including pitch calls, awards, internships, and jobs), the newsletter is an easy way to see those exciting links in one place every week.  

Dr. Anna Funk, a freelance writer and former editor at  Discover , keeps a  blog  with lots of good advice for new science writers, including topics like " How to Juggle Your Budding Career AND Your Unfinished Dissertation ."  

We've mentioned  The Open Notebook  several times, but  TON's website  (and accompanying book  The Craft of Science Writing ) is one of the most comprehensive resources out there for science writers. They have articles and resources for just about any situation a writer might face, from pitching—they keep a  database of successful pitches  to a variety of publications—to covering stories that affect marginalized communities.  

Of course, the biggest resource is other people. Don't be afraid to reach out via DM or email to ask for help. Diving into science writing can be intimidating, but the scicomm community is full of people who are willing to provide advice (for example, us).  

Posted by Brittany Trang and Brianna Barbu Brittany Trang earned her bachelor's in chemistry and English at the Ohio State University and is currently a chemistry PhD candidate at Northwestern University. Her work has appeared in several magazines, including Chemical & Engineering News and Chemistry World, and she is a 2021 AAAS Mass Media Fellow. Brianna Barbu earned her bachelor’s in chemistry from Hope College with a minor in creative writing, and her master’s in chemistry from the University of Michigan. Her science writing has appeared in publications including Chemistry World, Discover, and Symmetry magazine. She was a science writing intern at Fermilab and is also a 2021 AAAS Mass Media fellow.

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