Subscribe
Follow Cell Mentor on Twitter
Cell Press Facebook

The beginner's guide to a career in science writing

Posted by Brittany Trang and Brianna Barbu

The beginner's guide to a career in science writing

We'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—hopefully, this piece saves you some time! 

Brittany-TrangHow 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 connections. 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? 

Brianna-Barbu (1)

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: 

  • 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. 

Visit Cell Mentor

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).