Science Writers Sought
ORIGINAL WEBSITE SOLICITATION:
SCIENTISTS! Wendy needs 10 excellent science essays, on par with the
writing of Carl Sagan or Stephen J. Gould. Do you have what it takes to
describe cutting-edge research to a smart layperson? Yes you do! Can you
use extra cash? Yes you can! For more information, please read THIS PAGE.
SCIENTISTS!
SCIENTISTS! I seek science essays on topics involving human evolution, the
genome, cell biology, cool new RNA discoveries, etc. Does your writing
rival the quality of Carl Sagan and Stephen J. Gould? Do you have what it
takes to describe cutting-edge research to a smart layperson? Want to make
extra money while waiting for your experiments to run?
Email an outline (required) and sample paragraph to
Wendy's cheerful team of college students, and you will be contacted in
about ten days. Preference will be given to actual research scientists,
and to fluent English writers. Articles should be written for an
intelligent general audience, and delve deeply into the topic.
Why Science Essays? Each chapter in each Darwin Awards book begins with an essay
about some cool scientific topic. A new book is coming out, and I've been
away from the lab for many years, so I need your help! Target date for the
first draft is March 1, 2008. The final draft is due on April 30. Final
length is only 1,000 words--but a lot must be packed into those words;
therefore, start with extra, and condense! I am not looking for writing
that is reminiscent of a college text. Too shallow, and too common!
Suggest a topic! Suggestions must take the form of an
outilne (required! this step is like yanking teeth) and a sample
paragraph. If I like the idea, I'll pay you to write a first draft. If I
like the draft, I'll pay you more to polish it for publication.I hope
you will consider taking a shot at writing an essay on a hot science area
with which you are familiar. Educate me!
Good luck!
Wendy
write_for_me@darwinawards.com
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EXAMPLES
Shirley S. could write a great science essay!
Shirley related a fascinating story about actin & myosin, the proteins responsible for movement. Since these molecules are ubiquitous in living organisms, they are particularly well-suited to show evolutionary changes. Recent studies of molecular differences across species shows evolutionary morphing. Her descriptions were exciting, and involved cutting-edge research. "Shirley could write a great science essay!"
Lisa L. could write a great science essay!
Lisa says vaccinations don't need to reach 100% of the population, to be effective. She gave an example of polio, which is so hard to transmit that only 10-20% of the pouplation needs to be vaccinated to prevent an epidemic. "Is that why flu vaccines target only the elderly?" "No, that's a different reason, they are at higher risk of serious complications." She finished by implicating the "Microsoft monoculture" in the spread of viruses. She is a mathematician, and can explain the math behind the facts. "Lisa could write a great science essay!"
Could you write a great science essay?
Endogenous Retroviruses and
Evolution by Stephen Darksyde
Love Bites by Annaliese Beery
Here is a link to all the science essays in Book 4.
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