
Start Writing ASAP
You pitch a story, get an assignment, sign a contract, and start reporting. When do you start writing? When I was first starting out, I would find sources, read papers, […] ...Keep Reading »

Field reporting: Why there’s no substitute to being there
Somewhere between soaking my boots in the frigid surf as the Atlantic chewed away at a beachfront vacation home and being blasted in the face by sand traveling fifty-miles-per-hour upon […] ...Keep Reading »

These are a few of our favorite reads: 2013 edition
While schmoozing at the New England Science Writers recent holiday party, a fellow writer asked me what I’m reading these days. My answer? Playful Parenting, How To Get Your Kid […] ...Keep Reading »

Friday Snapshot: Find My iPhone
On a Friday evening last month, while on a reporting trip in western North Dakota, I managed to drop my phone out of an airplane. That’s right, folks. Chris Boyer […] ...Keep Reading »

Non-ultralight field reporting: With baby in tow
In mid-June, I got word that I had received a National Health Journalism Fellowship from the California Endowment. This was wonderful news, of course, but it presented some logistical tangles. […] ...Keep Reading »

Talking Narrative @ WCSJ 2013
Assemble demi-gods of the science writing pantheon like Maryn McKenna, Ed Yong, and Helen Pearson to talk about narrative, get the Guardian’s Alok Jha to moderate, and you know it’s […] ...Keep Reading »

A story to die for?
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with science writers and journalists about The Science Writers’ Handbook during an event in NYC. Here’s a story I told there. Last fall, I […] ...Keep Reading »

Friday Snapshot: Sightseeing in Guyana
For the past couple of years, my annual business plan has included a somewhat vague, but very important, goal: Travel to two interesting locations for stories. I shamelessly swiped the […] ...Keep Reading »

Our 100th post
At the beginning of the year, we launched this blog as a virtual water cooler for science writers. We have showed you our home offices and favorite coffee shops. We’ve […] ...Keep Reading »

Improve your craft with photography, part 2
Photography has not been a terribly lucrative part of my business. The main value comes in making assignments possible, or improving spreads where the publication might otherwise go with generic […] ...Keep Reading »