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

Finding and Landing the Right Internship in Science Writing


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


On the Origin of Science Writers

Tip Sheet for Newcomers to Science Writing

Entering Science Writing as a Child of Immigrants

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



The Intern’s Survival Guide

Finding Ideas

Sharpening Ideas: From Topic to Story

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

Ask TON: Saving String

Ask TON: From Idea to Story

Repurposing Story Ideas for Multiple Venues

Freelancing in the Time of Coronavirus

Finding the Science in Any Story

Pitching

Ask TON: Repitching Killed Stories

Picking a Publication to Pitch

Pitching Errors: How Not to Pitch

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


Making First Contact with Editors


Going Digital: Inside New Science Journalism Outlets

Ask TON: How Soon to Repitch an Editor?
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 289 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


Who Is an Expert? Broadening the Definition Strengthens Journalism

Is Anyone Out There? Sourcing News Stories

Guide to Tracking Source Diversity


Getting the Most out of Scientific Conferences


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

How to Read a Scientific Paper

Finding Diverse Sources for Science Stories


Spotting Shady Statistics

How to Take Advantage of Online Conferences

What to Do When a Source Asks to See Your Unpublished Copy

How to Find Scientist Sources and Plan Interviews
Writing Accurately, Clearly, and Engagingly


Fat Chance: Writing about Probability


Explaining Complexity


Good Transitions: A Guide to Cementing Stories Together

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

Diversity Style Guides for Journalists

How to Do a Close Read

How to Find and Use Quotes in Science Stories

How to Ask for Feedback from Editors

Nailing the Nut Graf
Fact-Checking, Self-Editing, and Revising

Ask TON: How to Fact-Check

Ask TON: Is This Draft Too Long?


How to Handle a Mistake

The First Critic Is You: Editing Your Own Work

Ask TON: Who Should Trim Long Drafts?

Surviving the Grind of Fact-Checking

Ask TON: How Much Editing to Expect?
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

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 II

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

Including Diverse Voices in Science Stories

Navigating Conflicts of Interest

Making the Most of a Writers’ Association Membership


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

Feeling Like a Fraud: The Impostor Phenomenon in Science Writing

