Last week, OITE hosted an online chat with Mariette DiChristina, Editor-in-Chief of Scientific American. If you're considering a career in science writing, be sure to check out the transcript of the chat here: Day in the Life of a Science Writer.
During the chat, Mariette suggested that aspiring science writers begin blogging immediately. Setting up a blog is free, and forcing yourself to write in a more accessible way about science will improve your writing skills, your ability to juggle multiple projects at once, and will help you to build a portfolio of writing samples.
Also, think about submitting a short piece to the NIH Catalyst, or a newsletter associated with your undergraduate or graduate school, or with your professional association. Again, think in terms of building up a collection of writing samples for when you feel ready to submit a proposal to a leading journal like Scientific American or similar.
Whatever you do, start writing. As Larry reminds us in Throw Momma from the Train, a writer writes: always.
