Are you new to science writing? Or are you just thinking about getting into the field and wondering what it’s all about? The Open Notebook has published hundreds of articles and other resources aimed at helping science journalists sharpen their skills—and helping newcomers get started. This page contains a subset of those resources, with a focus on what’s most relevant to people who are getting started in science journalism. Dig in!
Breaking In


Do You Need a Science Degree to Be a Science Reporter?

The Intern’s Survival Guide


Entering Science Writing as a Child of Immigrants

On the Origin of Science Writers

Finding and Landing the Right Internship in Science Writing




Why Is It So Hard for Foreign Journalists to Break into U.S. and European Outlets?

Tip Sheet for Newcomers to Science Writing
Finding Ideas

Repurposing Story Ideas for Multiple Venues

Freelancing in the Time of Coronavirus

Sharpening Ideas: From Topic to Story

Finding the Science in Any Story


Ask TON: Saving String

Ask TON: From Idea to Story

Is This a Story? How to Evaluate Your Ideas Before You Pitch
Pitching


Ask TON: How Soon to Repitch an Editor?


Going Digital: Inside New Science Journalism Outlets

Pitching Errors: How Not to Pitch

Ask TON: Repitching Killed Stories

Ask TON: How Do I Write a Good Pitch Letter?

Picking a Publication to Pitch

Making First Contact with Editors
Want to Be Pitch Perfect?
To tell a compelling story to readers, you first need to sell your idea to an editor. The Open Notebook’s Pitch Database contains 284 successful news and feature pitches a wide range of publications. Each one is accompanied by a link to the resulting published story. Search or browse our database and discover how other journalists have succeeded in selling their stories.
Story Planning and Reporting

How to Take Advantage of Online Conferences

Is Anyone Out There? Sourcing News Stories

Spotting Shady Statistics

How to Read a Scientific Paper

Ask TON: Finding Patients

Who Is an Expert? Broadening the Definition Strengthens Journalism

Nice Niche: How to Build and Keep Up with a Beat


Ask TON: Using PIOs to Hunt Stories

Guide to Tracking Source Diversity

How to Find Scientist Sources and Plan Interviews



What to Do When a Source Asks to See Your Unpublished Copy

Writing Accurately, Clearly, and Engagingly

Don’t Despair: How to Handle Writer’s Block

Diversity Style Guides for Journalists

How to Find and Use Quotes in Science Stories

How to Ask for Feedback from Editors

Explaining Complexity

Good Transitions: A Guide to Cementing Stories Together

Nailing the Nut Graf



How to Do a Close Read

Fat Chance: Writing about Probability

Fact-Checking, Self-Editing, and Revising

The First Critic Is You: Editing Your Own Work

Ask TON: How to Fact-Check

How to Handle a Mistake

Ask TON: Who Should Trim Long Drafts?

Surviving the Grind of Fact-Checking


Ask TON: How Much Editing to Expect?

Ask TON: Is This Draft Too Long?
See What Science Journalism Instructors Say
To learn what experienced science writing instructors view as the most important skills to learn and what they’ve learned in their own careers that they most hope to convey to their students, take a look at the provides in our Office Hours series, where we’ve picked the brains of more than a dozen instructors.The Business and Economics of Freelancing


What Is Science Journalism Worth? Part II

Show Me the Money: The Economics of Freelance Science Journalism

What to Expect When You’re Expecting as a Freelancer

What Is Science Journalism Worth? Part I

Reading and Negotiating a Freelance Contract
Being Part of the Science Journalism World

How Journalists Can Overcome Math Anxiety

How to Be (or Not to Be) an Advocacy Journalist

Feeling Like a Fraud: The Impostor Phenomenon in Science Writing

Including Diverse Voices in Science Stories

Navigating Conflicts of Interest


Making the Most of a Writers’ Association Membership

