Ideas into Words: Mastering the Craft of Science Writing - Hardcover

Hancock, Elise

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801873290 ISBN 13: 9780801873294

Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003

Synopsis

"I am so proud to be Elise's student. Read this book and I suspect you will be too."―from the foreword by Robert Kanigel, author of The Man Who Knew Infinity

From the latest breakthroughs in medical research and information technologies to new discoveries about the diversity of life on earth, science is becoming both more specialized and more relevant. Consequently, the need for writers who can clarify these breakthroughs and discoveries for the general public has become acute.

In Ideas into Words, Elise Hancock, a professional writer and editor with thirty years of experience, provides both novice and seasoned science writers with the practical advice and canny insights they need to take their craft to the next level. Rich with real-life examples and anecdotes, this book covers the essentials of science writing: finding story ideas, learning the science, opening and shaping a piece, polishing drafts, overcoming blocks, and conducting interviews with scientists and other experts who may not be accustomed to making their ideas understandable to lay readers.

Hancock's wisdom will prove useful to anyone pursuing nonfiction writing as a career. She devotes an entire chapter to habits and attitudes that writers should cultivate, another to structure, and a third to the art of revision. Some of her advice is surprising (she cautions against slavish use of transitions, for example); all of it is hard-earned, astute, and wittily conveyed. This concise guide is essential reading for every writer attempting to explain the world of science to the rest of us.

About this title

About the Author

Elise Hancock is a science writer and former editor of the Johns Hopkins Magazine

Reviews

This is a slim book, but it contains a wealth of information. The author, a veteran science writer, tells us pretty much everything we need to know about her demanding field. She discusses finding the story you want to tell, conducting the research, and developing the story structure, and she breaks each down into its component parts. In the chapter titled "Research and Interview," for example, she discusses the proper use of press releases; how to choose your interview subjects (and even what time of day is best to conduct an interview); and the importance of being able to spot when information from one source conflicts with information from another source. Smartly written and constructed, the book is absolutely essential to someone looking to enter this very tough, competitive field. David Pitt
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Edition details

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801873290
• ISBN 13: 9780801873294
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176