Back in the fall of 2008 when Travis and I first decided to emulate Yoni Freedhoff and start our very own science blog, we had no idea what we were doing. I recall writing my first post while sitting in our shared office at Queen’s University, agonizing over the tone of the writing. I spent the better part of an afternoon on that first post, and if you were to go back and read it today (please don’t – even I’m too embarrassed to read it) you might be surprised that it took that long to write something that uninspired.
We had countless questions, and few resources from which to draw answers.
Should we write only about research papers? Should we get our own url? Should we use Google’s Blogger platform or the more complicated WordPress that all the serious bloggers were using? Will anyone know how to spell or be able to readily remember the name Obesity Panacea? Can we ever be good enough to end up on a blog network with some of the bloggers we idolized?
The best we could do is plow forward, learning from each mistake, while keeping an eye on fellow bloggers who were also figuring it all out on the go. It was a very exciting time for us, as it was for many researchers/science writers/physicians who started to try their hand at scientific knowledge translation through blogging. We attended conferences about science blogging (Science Online) where we shared the tricks and tactics that we had devised. What would have been immensely helpful for all of us during those early days was a general guide to the art of science blogging – even a rough road map would have saved us many hours and headaches.
Well, I’m happy to report that such a resource has finally become available. For all the readers of Obesity Panacea who have thought about starting their very own blog but simply didn’t know where to begin or where to find answers to the many questions surrounding the practice, fret no more.
Science Blogging: The Essential Guide has just been published.
The book was the brainchild of 3 top-tier science bloggers (and the book’s editors): Christie Wilcox, Bethany Brookshire, and Jason G. Goldman. The guide contains 26 concise and actionable chapters written by some of the best science bloggers in the world that answer the most common questions regarding science blogging. While it is a wonderful resource for those just starting out, it is equally valuable for more seasoned bloggers. Travis and I couldn’t be more honoured to have been invited to participate in this book, contributing a chapter focusing on blogging at a scientific conference (Chapter 21, in case you’re wondering).
Here is the publisher’s blurb on the book:
Here is the essential how-to guide for communicating scientific research and discoveries online, ideal for journalists, researchers, and public information officers looking to reach a wide lay audience. Drawing on the cumulative experience of twenty-seven of the greatest minds in scientific communication, this invaluable handbook targets the specific questions and concerns of the scientific community, offering help in a wide range of digital areas, including blogging, creating podcasts, tweeting, and more. With step-by-step guidance and one-stop expertise, this is the book every scientist, science writer, and practitioner needs to approach the Wild West of the Web with knowledge and confidence.
You can order a copy at Amazon and check out the book’s official Facebook page for additional info.
Our sincere thanks to Christie, Bethany, and Jason for inviting us to collaborate on this wonderful project and most importantly for their perseverance in ensuring the publication of the finished product. Thanks also to Yale University Press for supporting the effort.
Peter
(c) Obesity Panacea – Read entire story here.