Latest Update on the #writeforscience Project

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Latest Update on the #writeforscience Project

Today, I sent out a message to those who have contacted us at the #writeforscience email address, which is write4science @ gmail.com. If you would like to join the fun, email us.

Here’s the email that I sent:

Just wanted to give you an update on the #writeforscience project. This is where things stand for now. Everything is subject to change.

For the record, I do not withhold the specific topic out of my own personal desire to torture you. I want to be sure that we have settled on something that will lead to an interesting final product.

This week, we’ve held talks to determine the best means of publication. Suggestions range from strictly print to E-book with multimedia. I’ve identified multiple ways of publishing and have concluded that I will likely have to invest some of my own funds to make this happen. If you have suggestions for publication strategies, email me.

There continues to be tremendous interest. Last night, I received a phone call from a science writing heavy-weight interested in the project. He helped me flush out some ideas, as well, and left open the possibility that he might contribute.

Many of you have expressed concern about the “time commitment.” Trust me. I am equally concerned about time management. I hope you will be pleased to know that my intention is not to have a 2 year long writing process. In fact, my goal is to treat this like a #madwriting sprint. We will model this writing project on the 48 hour magazine: http://gizmodo.com/5530008/48-hours-1000s-of-contributors-1-magazine and the 48 hour film project: http://www.48hourfilm.com/ Of course, it will take longer than 48 hours. I’m thinking of 336 hours. To give you an idea of the time line that I’m working on, I expect us to begin actual pen to paper writing mid-summer.

We will also need cover art. And, as contributors, you will decide if you’d like to integrate artwork into your contribution. It must be original, therefore, we will need science artists.

Finally, we will also need editors. I expect to receive a number of disjointed contributions that will require a team of editors who are willing to read and write in order to create a cohesive final product. If you’d like to be an editor, email me.

Sticking with past efforts to stimulate your creative juices, I suggest you watch the video at this link (ignore the context). Note the message: http://www.thelinusgroup.com/
After watching that video, read this article at NOVA: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/risky-science.html
These two pieces will give you insight into the subject about which we will be writing.

Share you thoughts.

Thanks again for taking this ride with me.