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Further
Explanation of My Four Goals
1. Understand and practice the mechanics of good
science
writing
I've read, received,
and rendered these tips on the mechanics of science writing (and
writing in general). These general rules and pieces of advice
work
for me. They won't work for everyone. But I suppose no
advice ever does:
When thinking of a topic, choose
science. In my unbiased opinion, choose science, and you
will have something important to write about. Richard Dawkins,
preeminent science writer confirms my thought, "(Science writing is...)
not
just important but fascinating. Not just fascinating but open-ended:
you’ll never run out of subjects...."
Avoid obscurity. In
offering tips for a science writing contest, Dawkins offers his wisdom:
If
science seems difficult, or difficult to explain, it is only because
the real world is difficult. A skilled science writer can pull
out the pruning shears, cut through the difficult stuff, and leave you
with an explanation that is thorough, clear, and concise.
Read your stuff aloud.
Sometimes it is embarrassing. Sometimes you'll sound like a
toddler babbling incoherent sentences. But that's what we're
trying to avoid. Tune your ear to the cadences and rhythms of
your
syllables and words, and learn to conduct your own symphony.
Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly,
for they are "special treats" (Dawkins). I am not sure why,
but essays sound better with fewer adjectives and adverbs. So
(festively) break out the editing pen, (unabashedly) cut them out, and
(appreciatively) see what happens.
Avoid cliches and overused phrases.
In a course about science writing at St. Olaf, Paul Zorn hammered this
into my head. It's difficult to eliminate cliches, but take it
one step
at a time. When at first you don't succeed, try try again. But
keep at it, for when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
After approximately two billion uses, phrases tend to lose their
meaning. But if you can find an inventive way to use a cliche, go
for the gold. What do you have to lose?
Write about home and about place (Mansur
15). Click here to see more
thoughts about writing about place.
Substitute more detail for less. Notice the little
things. Pay attention to
them, and look at them with a martian's eye. Then write them
down. Remember that it is possible to add too much detail, but
difficult.
The passive voice is not to be encouraged.
If you don't get it, please consult me.
Find a good editor. After
finding one, don't shy away from that thing that used to be your essay,
now disguised as red construction paper.
2. Do the place-based scientific
writing
about
environmental issues
3. Distribute the resulting
scientific
writing pieces in a
print source available to the general public
Some people write
only for themselves. This is a valid function of writing, but it
is neither the purpose of science writing nor the purpose of this
project. Information distribution, in the form of publication,
promotes a greater
understanding of science, place, the science of place, and the
democratic process. And nothing bad can come of that.
One of the most
challenging aspects of my project has been the distribution of my
articles
for publication. After my science writing class one day, I talked
with Professor Zorn, a
distinguished mathematics
writer and editor, about effective distribution of materials.
Standing in the mathematics department, we contemplated whether it
would be better to distribute my articles to an interested audience
(like the readers of a specialized newletter), or to a broader audience
(like that of a newspaper). After some
deliberation, we decided an interested audience might be best.
That's when I started consulting with the Cannon
River Watershed Partnership (CRWP), and agreed to submit my
articles to their newletter The
Watershed Watcher. Unfortunately, my articles will not be
in print form before May 30, 2004 when I graduate. If you're not
a member of CRWP already, become one, and hopefully you will see one or
more of my articles in The Watershed
Watcher.
4. Wonder about science, about
writing,
about the Cannon
River Region, and inspire others to do the same
My inspiration to write science articles stems from curiosity and wonderment. My goal is to promote the same type of wonder, to get people talking about scientific issues, and to possibly spur action. It's ambitious and maybe somewhat foolish, but that works for me.
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my Method...