Behavioral Scientist is hosting a series of writing workshops focused on writing and communicating behavioral science. Sessions will be led by members of the Behavioral Scientist’s editorial team, with special guest behavioral scientists and science writers sharing their expertise and wisdom. There will be three sessions in the first series and each session will be 60 minutes long.
Dates: Wednesdays — May 25, June 1, and June 8
Duration: 1 hour
Platform: Crowdcast
Learn more at https://behavioralscientist.org/behavioral-scientist-writing-workshops-spring-summer-2022/
Session Schedule
Session 1: Clarity and Cohesion with Cameron French, Plus a Q&A with Leidy Klotz, author of Subtract
Date: Wednesday, May 25
Time: 9:00am San Francisco | 12:00pm New York | 5:00pm London | 6:00pm Berlin
We want our writing to be clear and cohesive. But advice to “make your writing clearer” doesn’t help much. What does clearer mean? What makes a piece of writing feel cohesive? In the first half of the session, Behavioral Scientist Editor Cameron French will demystify these concepts and provide practical ways to identify and improve clarity and cohesion in your writing.
In the second half of the session, editor-in-chief Evan Nesterak will lead a Q&A with behavioral scientist and author Leidy Klotz (Subtract, 2021). They’ll cover Leidy’s writing process, insights on book publishing, and how “subtraction” factors into his writing.
Session 2: Aligning Ideas with Outlets led by Evan Nesterak, Plus the Art of Pitching with Dave Nussbaum
Date: Wednesday, June 1
Time: 9:00am San Francisco | 12:00pm New York | 5:00pm London | 6:00pm Berlin
You’ve got an idea for an article, now what? This session is geared toward helping you identify and align what you hope to write with where you might publish it. In the first half, Behavioral Scientist Editor-in-Chief Evan Nesterak will share a set of questions you can ask yourself before you pitch or draft the piece. You’ll learn how getting specific about your idea and who you’re trying to reach can take a lot of the guesswork out of the pitching and writing process.
Second, Dave Nussbaum, founder of Psychogeist Media, and pitch crafter extraordinaire, will share his experience helping authors pitch to different outlets, from science-specific like Behavioral Scientist to general audience like The New York Times and The Atlantic.
Session 3: Hooks, Intros, and Flow with Cameron French, Plus Elizabeth Weingarten on Improving Organizational Communication
Date: Wednesday, June 8
Time: 9:00am San Francisco | 12:00pm New York | 5:00pm London | 6:00pm Berlin
You’ve got an idea that you really care about. How can you make a reader care too? How can you convey the interest or urgency that you feel about your idea early on, before a reader decides to stop? Editor Cameron French will share practical tips on how to begin a piece of writing. You’ll learn ways that you can improve your introductions, so readers don’t feel like you’re making them “take their medicine” but do think to themselves “tell me more.”
In the second half, Elizabeth Weingarten will share lessons from her experience communicating science in an organizational setting. What do you need to keep in mind as your organization writes for a popular audience? For clients? For funders and other stakeholders? Elizabeth, the head of behavioral insights at Torch, has held roles at ideas42, New America, and The Atlantic. She was managing editor at Behavioral Scientist for four years, before transitioning to a senior advisor position. In these diverse roles, Elizabeth has honed her capacity to understand different audiences and craft writing that reaches them effectively.