How to be a Freelance Science Writer

Freelance Science Writer

Freelance Science Writer has always been a good job option for people from Science backgrounds with a flair for penning down stuff. It is a freelance option that has garnered much attention in the recent past. The culture of freelance work and the scope of its reach have increased it is a more viable and comfortable option to a run-of-the-mill desk job. Science writing is in no way a recent development, however, the number of websites that have sprung up, testify that there is much scope in freelance sports writing. Science must be recorded and people need to be made aware of Science.

People take up freelancing for a heap of reasons. Extra income, work from home, be able to take on multiple tasks, independence; the list continues. Whatever your preferences, you can be assured it is a good career option.

Freelance Science Writer Jobs Duty

A freelance science writer creates edits, proofread, and helps publish scientific reports in print or online. Your duties as a sportswriter would revolve around content, including editorials, sports magazines, advertising and trade publications, newspapers and, increasingly, online forums such as blogs and online magazines. Let us have an in-depth look at some of the duties that will fall under your purview, as a science writer:

  • Create content based on principles regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology
  • Maintain the quality of content and a record of files and work revisions
  • Edit, standardize or rephrase material prepared by others or fellow writers
  • Confer with other teams like the design and style teams to understand the best way to approach an article
  • A review published content and revise scope, format, and content if needed
  • Be able to translate business needs and objectives in quality-driven and attractive copy

Skills

Freelance science writer must possess the skills of their cousins who work in the media, or novelists. The crucial difference is that they are also in-tune with the science and continue to keep abreast of developments in the field. There are many skills that you will be needed to master if you wish to become a science writer. Some include:

  • Content writing skills
  • Research skills
  • Content development
  • Content Management
  • Acceptance
  • Balance
  • Clarity
  • Consistency
  • Team player
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Unbiased presentation (this is quite important as you may not get to present a point of view you agree to)

Many websites, forums, and instructional videos offer resources so that you can hone and perfect the inner science writer in you. Some of the websites where you can pick up skills associated with sportswriters. Coursera, John Hopkins University, Stanford Online, The Guardian and Abacus Bates offer both free and paid-for resources, and in some cases certifications for science writing, where you can learn without having to move from your seat.

Being Successful As A Freelance Science Writer

Science writing can pay you handsome money with recognition. It is a lucrative profession, where people like you who love Science and writing, get to combine hobby into a profession, come up with quality copies, and earn some money from the comfort of your couch. With experience, the ‘some’ money in question, rapidly evolves into handsome money.

More often than not, talent is not a determinant of success in any sphere. It is possibly truer for writers, with the freelance market insisting that talent combined with the relevant experience attracts generous prospective employers.

Hence, to be successful initially, you could:

  • Offer to do projects for minimum fees, sometimes for free
  • Bid the lowest for a project on freelancer portals
  • Get good testimonials for guest blogs, recommendations for work
  • Start a blog, backlink it to more visible blogs
  • Create a website, or at the very least, a web page
  • Advertise your services on social media platforms
  • Understand the product or service intimately
  • Be able to simplify overly complex language

Science Writer Salary

Most of the revenue generated by you depends solely on your ability to market your services and your credibility with previous employees.

Usually, freelance portals offer various kinds of payment models. In the fixed-price model, the price is usually pre-determined. The hourly model is the most popular and employers usually pay a predetermined sum per hour. Finally, in the project-budget based model, you often need to auction for such projects. Usually, a fixed price model may range from $20- $200 and upwards, while you have to pitch for hourly projects, and budget payments, which usually range from $5- $35 an hour, with average payments at $21 per hour.

Finding Work

Finding work as a  freelance science writer is quite easy. However, it may require efforts on your part. Quite a lot of effort, in fact, network with other writers and editors to build a responsive network. In the past decade, many portals exist where you can apply for jobs all over the world and offer proposals for international projects.

The most advisable course of action is to take the extra pain, go the extra mile, at the start of your career, at the least. It is important to remember that you are entering a market, as a freshman and thus, you must be willing to put extra effort.

Websites like Odesk, Elance, Guru, and Peopleperhour offer many jobs to freelance sports writers globally.

Freelancing has opened up the way we view work: and the trend only continues to rise. All you writing enthusiasts, you wordsmiths who wish to carve a niche in this booming field, do not just think about pressing those keys to do it.