This blog has been a little quiet over the last few days, but I was simply having too much fun at the Science Online '09 conference to find the time to sit down and blog. I got to meet some of my favorite bloggers, too many to mention them all here (I would undoubtedly forget some if I tried to make a list), but I was certainly glad to catch up with old friends and make some new ones.
I didn't go just to hang out with other science writers, though. The primary reason I was at the conference was to co-moderate two sessions. The first, on using the web to teach college science with Andrea Novicki, generated a lot of interesting ideas. (The notes from that session can be found on the conference wiki here.) The other session was on the web and the history of science, during which I was glad to have the company of GG and Scicurious as moderators. It is always fun to chat about the history and share anecdotes, and I was glad that some session attendees pushed us to explain how explaining the history of science could positively change the way we talk about science in general.
The other sessions I attended were informative and a lot of fun, but there were two in particular that got me thinking about this blog and my future (or not) as a science writer. The first was the session on publishing a pop-sci book. A lot of time was spent on motivations for writing a book and the session ended before we got to how to get an agent and similar topics, but it did introduce me to Tom Levenson.
Tom graciously gave me some tips and constructive criticism about my book after the session. As I stuttered and verbally flailed about, trying to come up with something short & sweet to describe what my book is actually all about, I realized that I was spending too much time describing what the book does rather than what it really is. Tom's advice also made me question whether the project I have been agonizing over is really meant to be a book (versus a series of essays, for example), and that's a good thing. I still think that I have written something unique that is best expressed in book format, but I definitely benefited from questioning what I have done so far.
Tom was also a moderator (along with Rebecca Skloot) at the "How to become a (paid) science journalist: advice for bloggers" session. Although everyone was expecting a little fur to fly given the recent kerfuffle over science journalism, no one threw any chairs and no one was assaulted with a tote bag.
The tips Tom and Rebecca gave were very helpful, and I was surprised to learn that editors, agents, etc. really do look at your blog when you write to them. I had previously been told that blogs don't matter and are irrelevant to "real" journalists, but when I heard otherwise I started thinking about how I present myself via Laelaps. Many times I put up posts that are rushed or only half-formed. They might not represent my writing at its best, and I certainly don't want someone who might think about hiring me or accepting a proposal from me to look at my blog and see nothing but a slew of cat pictures, rants, and rough-draft posts.
If I am really serious about becoming a science writer I need to act professionally. If a post needs another hour (or another day) to clean up, so be it. Better a late post than one that might cast doubt on my competence. If I had no intention of actually making some kind of a living as a science writer I would have no reason to care, but since I have aspirations to write articles, reviews, books, etc. I would do well to pay careful attention to what I present here. This blog is not going anywhere and I am not going to refrain from posting fun, frivolous stuff now and then, but I think it is in my best interest to "get serious" about my writing. If I have to make excuses about why a post is lackluster then I probably shouldn't be posting it in the first place!
After the session I wanted to run off and start shooting off proposals, but I reminded myself to slow down. I don't want to embarrass myself by proposing a bunch of half-baked ideas to editors and I don't want to be overwhelmed by deadlines if they say "Yes". I have a few ideas on where to start, but I want to tread carefully.
My ruminations on becoming a science writer aside, the conference really was great fun. It spurred an excellent exchange of ideas and I made some acquaintances that I hope to maintain on the web between now and the next conference. I also hope that the discussions that started in NC are shared on the web and continue to develop as the months go by. I am really looking forward to the germination of some of the ideas I saw seeded at this conference.
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I'm currently messing around with my internet presence with a similar set of concerns in mind.
What I'm working on is having my blog stay a blog -- with the occasional lame post being a continual risk -- and then having a separate site where more polished works go up. I figure a link to the second site would also count as a blog post so far as the readers go.
This stuff is tricky. "Every man his own publicity agent," eh?
"Many times I put up posts that are rushed or only half-formed. They might not represent my writing at its best, and I certainly don't want someone who might think about hiring me or accepting a proposal from me to look at my blog and see nothing but a slew of cat pictures, rants, and rough-draft posts."
On the other hand, this may be something where you can say: look, here is my writing at its best (insert specific favourite posts), but please look at my blog as a whole - this is the sort of thing I can turn out in 5 minutes when I'm also studying, working my other jobs etc etc so if you need someone to provide a comment piece on a new development quickly and in an informative and interesting manner.
There are always potential positives in this sort of situation if you spin them right.
sorry - that should've said "so if you need someone to provide a comment piece on a new development quickly and in an informative and interesting manner, I'm ideal for the job."
I want it to be a TV series. . . .
I managed to miss all the sessions on Sunday, as I overslept and then spent the rest of the time talking with the ninth graders from the Science online: middle/high school perspective session. Such eagerness and curiosity! Such unbridled enthusiasm! Whether they knew it or not, they managed to make me feel old indeed.
I think I've actually hit writer's block now when it comes to my blog. So, yeah, I want to blog but, I don't know what to post sometimes.
Although I very much enjoy reading formal essays and other more detailed pieces, what really attracted me to blogging was the natural, informal and spontaneous language used by most authors. In this way, blogs seem more akin to a casual discussion as opposed to journalistic reporting.
If better prepared essays are your goal, great â I look forward to reading them - but please throw in informal snippets every once in a while as well.
Tai; I agree that what I have to compromise and do the best I can given my schedule, but I don't think editors/agents/etc. want to have excuses from me. I know if someone sent me an e-mail saying "Look at my blog, I think it's good, but it's not my best work" I would wonder why that person was referring me to it.
Johnny; I still want to write an in "informal" tone and keep my posts accessible, but I do want to make sure that I polish things up a little bit before I post them. Different bloggers have different styles, and at the moment my general goals can best be met by being careful about how I write. In order to show people who may be looking at this blog that I can write essays and feature articles I'm going to have to practice at doing so.
And yes, apparently in every picture of me from the conference I have my hands in my pockets. I can't say why.
I really wish you the best, Brian, when writing on this blog. In fact, reading this post has made me consider my own writing.
Actually, I think anyone who would say something like that just doesn't know what a blog is. They aren't meant to be polished to the standards of a magazine essay. All bloggers use a mishmash of news stories, commentary, featured articles and funny web humor to keep readers interested in their sites. Even the "best" ones.
No, a potential employer is going want to look at one thing when you refer them to your blog: how many readers do you have? Because really, that's the true measure of any blog. Have far have you taken this interest? Is your blog just a collection emo diary entries that no one glances at? Or have you managed to develop a dedicated readership? Considering you are a member of the rather elite ScienceBlogs community, I'd say you're doing better than most. You've been up for awards, for Christ's sake.
Look, I know you want to get serious with your writing, but I think blogging is one area you can safely call "very strong." Don't be so afraid employers won't "get" casual writing. You're bringing something to the table. Even if they don't fully get it, they'll want to.
I think H.H. just made my point much better than I did. The stuff that is "not your best work" has you riding high on NBN with a shedload of readers. Also if, for example, one of those dinosaur press releases which hits every newspaper woprldwide breaks a lot of editors are going to want a story on it now as oppposed to a polished story on it later (which may be why a lot of them either a)publish the press release or b) get everything wrong). Your blog tends to do neither so although it may not be as polished as you'd like the fact you can turn out this level of content so regularly should be attractive to people even if every sentence isn't spun gold.
This gives me some interesting food for thought, Laelaps. And yeah, you have your hands in your pockets ALL the time! gg, too!! I felt left out...
mr laelaps...
i'm sorry i never got the chance to check-in with you at the conference and let you know that i hope you continue your writing here on this blog... i saw you in the front row at my session (once i started the intro) and almost stopped in mid-sentence to say, "hey mr laelaps, keep writing that blog!"...
anyway, just wanted to share the thought...
Rick; Thanks! I'm sorry I didn't get to catch up with you, either. I saw you as I was leaving but I didn't want to interrupt your conversation. I enjoyed your talk, though. I'm sorry blogging has made things so complicated for you, and the session definitely made me think about my relationship between my job and my writing. Keep up the excellent work, both on the web and in the field!