They often interview scientists and engineers by telephone or in person. They usually conduct their own on-line literature searches for background information. Editors often work closely with scientists, editing their manuscripts. They attend science and engineering conferences to meet with book authors and prospective authors. Staying abreast of what topics are of interest helps them develop ideas for new books.
Workdays are often much longer than eight hours and meeting deadlines can be stressful.
Some writers work for science magazines, major weekly magazines, and big city newspapers. Many large firms employ science writers. Science writers also work at universities, research institutes, government agencies, and professional societies. Those seeking to start a career as a self-employed writer should compile a track record of writing accomplishments while employed full time for a company or the media. They must be fast learners, capitalizing on their basic science education, to quickly master the basics of various technical fields and communicate effectively with scientists and engineers.