You're in the right place.
Whether you're a researcher chasing a grant deadline, a clinician working on your first manuscript, or a medical communicator helping others tell their science story, you came here because writing matters to you. And because writing well isn't easy.
That's something we understand deeply. Scientific and medical writing require precision without rigidity, clarity without oversimplification, and a narrative thread that holds together under the scrutiny of readers. Most of us were never formally taught how to write — we learned by a lot of trial and error.
After 15+ years of working with scientists, clinicians, and communicators at every career stage, we know that writing is a skill, not a talent. It can be learned, practiced, and improved — with the right guidance and the right support.
If you’re tired of wrestling with words, wrangling the writing process, or simply ready to communicate your work with more clarity and confidence, you’re exactly who we’re here for.
We offer specialized editing, training, and coaching for scientists, clinicians, and medical communicators who want to communicate with clarity, credibility, and confidence.
MEET OUR FOUNDER
Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS(D), CMPP
Talking about myself doesn't come naturally to me. But talking about writing? That I can do all day.
I'm someone who gets genuinely excited about finding the best word, who happily disappears down a thesaurus rabbit hole, and who — strange as it sounds — actually enjoys the challenge of cutting text down to meet a word limit.
Like many of you, I didn't get adequate writing training in graduate school. Most programs don't offer it — yet scientists and clinicians are expected to produce compelling manuscripts and competitive grant proposals. That gap between expectation and preparation is real, and it costs people time, energy, and opportunity.
Closing that gap is what I'm here for.
In 2017, I launched Redwood Ink with a simple goal: to help scientists, clinicians, and medical communicators write with the clarity and confidence their work deserves. My PhD gives me the scientific fluency to engage with your content at the level it requires. My ELS(D) — the highest certification offered by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences — reflects a rigorous standard of editorial expertise. And my CMPP certification means I understand the ethical and strategic dimensions of medical communication, not just the mechanics of prose.
Over the years, I've had the joy and honor of working with thousands of brilliant researchers, clinicians, and communicators — helping them write well, communicate clearly, and see their work published, funded, and recognized.
For more professional details about Crystal, visit her profile on LinkedIn.
Official bios
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Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS(D), CMPP, is a scientific editor, writing educator, and communication strategist who helps scientists, clinicians, and medical communicators share their work with clarity, credibility, and confidence. In 2017, she founded Redwood Ink to give health science professionals the specialized editing, training, and coaching they need to communicate their work effectively.
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Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS(D), CMPP, is a scientific editor, writing educator, and communication strategist who helps scientists, clinicians, and medical communicators share their work with clarity, credibility, and confidence. In 2017, she founded Redwood Ink to give health science professionals the specialized editing, training, and coaching they need to communicate their work effectively.
Crystal brings more than 15 years of editorial experience and 25 years of teaching to every project. She has a PhD in biomedical science and a background in clinical research that gives her the scientific fluency to engage with complex content. Her ELS(D) reflects the highest standard of certification offered by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, and her CMPP certification reflects a deep understanding of the ethical and strategic dimensions of medical communication.
She is also an international speaker and educator who leads webinars, workshops, and courses for researchers and health science professionals who want to write more clearly, revise more efficiently, and produce work they're proud of.
When she's not editing or teaching, Crystal can be found baking, trail running, or exploring the outdoors with her dog. She values giving back to the community and volunteers with several national and local organizations, including the American Medical Writers Association and the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences.
ABOUT US
Our mission & values
Our mission is to equip researchers with the principles, resources, and systems they need to write compelling manuscripts, grants, and research-related documents in the health sciences.
Encourage awareness and intention
We know that many authors write without carefully thinking about the language they use. We believe in the power of intentional writing — bringing awareness, intention, and mindfulness to the craft. With intentional writing, we can challenge ourselves to think more critically about concepts and how we communicate and connect with readers.
Cultivate compassion and collaboration
We care a lot about people and value their diverse qualities, perspectives, and experiences. We cultivate a culture of inclusion and belonging by prioritizing connection, compassion, and support. We also believe that our clients are our partners, and we work with them (not for them) to help them overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.
Foster learning and service
We know that you may be an accomplished researcher, but you may not have strong writing skills. And few institutions offer adequate support and training in writing. We strive to showcase your expertise and teach you skills that will enhance your writing. And we infuse our feedback with kindness, mindfulness, and encouragement.
Promote connection and impact
We know that researchers face the pressures of publishing and securing funding. But we believe that meaningful work and true impact goes beyond the idea of “just get it out” and “just get it submitted.” We strive to help researchers make the greatest impact by writing in a way that connects with readers and influences their thoughts, emotions, and actions.
Our writing philosophy
Make the reader’s job easy
When given the choice, we often take the path of least resistance. Yet, we see authors create more resistance for readers by forcing them to weed through complex language to understand their ideas. We pull the weeds from your writing by simplifying the language so that readers can easily understand your ideas and thinking. We believe that simple is not simplistic—simple is smart.
Maintain accuracy and integrity
We know that integrity is vital for building and maintaining trust in science and medicine. This integrity is rooted in honesty, responsibility, objectivity, transparency, professionalism, and ethical behaviors. We believe that you can convey these characteristics with clear language that accurately and appropriately reflects your work and thinking.
Strive to enlighten readers
We challenge the traditional approach of using complex language that gives the illusion of impressing readers. Instead, we encourage a modern style of writing that focuses on using storytelling and simplicity to engage, inform, and persuade readers. We believe that the most powerful way to impress readers is to enlighten them—and get them just as excited about your work as you.
Our name
Although our name, Redwood Ink, was inspired by the beautiful redwood trees near our headquarters, our name has a much deeper meaning.
The redwood tree is a symbol of strength and impact—features that we help you emanate in your scientific and medical writing.
Also, when a live redwood is knocked over, its limbs can grow into a new row of trees that can create a greater impact. When you get knocked over by rejection, we help you cultivate your writing so you can create a more impactful manuscript or grant.
Our name also honors the history of editing. Traditionally, editors wrote marks in red ink because they were more visible among black text. To honor this tradition, we used "red ink" in our name.
"The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always."
–John Steinbeck