The Writing Workshop
You can apply for our next writing workshop, to be held June 14th and 15th, 2024, here. Applications are due on April 12th (extended deadline).
This two-day writing workshop, funded by The John Templeton Foundation, is for natural scientists, social scientists, and philosophers looking to communicate their ideas to the public via articles and essays in major media outlets. The workshop is designed to benefit scholars with a range of experience writing for popular audiences.
Led by The New York Times editor James Ryerson, who has two decades of experience working with and editing academics, the workshop will focus on:
how to conceptually frame scholarly work for a wider audience;
how to structure the writing of such pieces;
and how to most effectively “pitch” editors at magazines and newspapers.
In a small collaborative setting (approximately 12 participants), attendees will listen to short lectures, engage in discussion, and work on writing and editing exercises, both in groups and directly with Ryerson.
Attendees will bring with them one draft of a piece (approx. 800-1200 words) they might hope to publish.
The workshop will be conducted with the assistance of two scientists, David DeSteno and Lisa Feldman Barrett, who have extensive experience writing about their research in books and articles for the public. During the workshop, Dr. Barrett & Dr. DeSteno will provide insights from their experiences as scholars writing for the general public.
Attendees will leave the workshop with an improved understanding of the editorial process and better skills for popular writing, as well as one piece ready for submission to a major media outlet.
After the workshop, participants will have access to an alumni community supported by Joseph Fridman, including support in ideating, pitching, and editing pieces, working in other forms of media like podcasts, and networking and educational opportunities with writers and editors.
We will host 15 workshops between 2021-2026. Our next workshops will take place at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts in October 2023, March 2024, and June 2024.
All attendees will receive a $2,000 honorarium to cover workshop expenses (travel & lodging, etc.)
Applications will consist of a portfolio of:
Three short descriptions of pieces the applicant might like to write (no more than a paragraph each). Successful applicants typically submit proposals addressing what the Templeton Foundation describes as “Science & The Big Questions” or similar topics (as opposed to, say, narrower issues of domestic politics or public policy).
A brief writing sample, which can be a stand alone piece or a passage from a longer work, and of an academic or popular nature (no longer than 1,500 words)
A CV
Applicants will be selected based on each portfolio’s potential to interest non-scholarly readers. Applicants should already have received or at least defended their PhD or other terminal doctorate by the time of the workshop.
To indicate your interest in learning about future workshops, and other resources and opportunities, please sign up here.
Applications are due by April 12th (extended deadline) for our next workshop on June 14th and 15th, 2024. Materials can be submitted here.
For questions, please contact Joseph Fridman, jdf256@cornell.edu.
Applicants may also be interested in listening to the Line Edit podcast or watching the Line Edit video series, supported by the Templeton Foundation, produced by Joseph Fridman, and hosted by James Ryerson.