The Scientist's Guide to Writing: Stephen B. Heard. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2016. ix + 306 pp. Price AU$44.99 (paperback, also in hardback and as an Ebook). ISBN 978-0-691-17022-0

Abstract

Not another book telling scientists how to write. That's what I said to myself when I heard about this book's impending release. Every writer needs to map their own writing journey and following a 'how to' guide does not work for everyone. But Heard's book is different. Unlike some 'how to write' texts, especially those aimed at scientists, Heard takes a functional approach and focuses on writing behaviours, habits and processes, rather than rules of syntax and punctuation. The Scientist's Guide to Writing assumes the reader has already learned how to use written language as a tool and places greater emphasis on using that tool to craft a body of professional work.