A systematic guide to crafting compelling writing that engages, informs, and persuades
The Scientific Writing Simplified™️ course is for you if you’ve felt the frustration of wrestling with words while wrangling the writing process, and if you’re ready to:
Persuade reviewers to support your work by publishing your paper or funding your proposal.
Impress readers with clear, concise, and compelling writing that is informative and engaging.
Master the craft of writing well so that you can effectively and efficiently express your ideas.
Overcome the time-consuming and mentally draining challenges of not knowing how to express your ideas well.
Meet word and page limits without sacrificing important details from your paper or proposal.
Get control of your writing so it no longer controls you (or your valuable time and energy).
In the Scientific Writing Simplified™️ course, we give you the principles and systems you need to transform your writing from complex to compelling—and the confidence to communicate your research and ideas well.
Compelling writing connects with readers and persuades them to fund, publish, and cite your work.
Before the course, I never thought I could be telling a story through science. I used to find it pretty challenging to understand the core message and even more challenging to stick to it through every paragraph of the Introduction and Discussion sections of my manuscript.
The course has helped me dissect every piece of content that I write from the paragraph level right down to the word level. I now think in layers, first focusing on ensuring that each paragraph aligns with the core message, then look at individual sentences to identify the different elements in each sentence, and finally, the word choice.
While the course offers numerous valuable tips and tricks for becoming an excellent writer, I believe its greatest strength lies in its practicality. You can immediately start applying any one of these techniques and observe significant improvements in your writing.
I have never seen any course so comprehensive. Given my limited financial resources, I did put in a lot of thought before committing. But now I am certainly very happy I went ahead. I can confidently say that this course has been one of the best investments I have made in my medical writing career.
– Vinay Sridhar, CMPP, ELS, Freelance Medical Writer, Mumbai, India
By the End, You'll Be Able to:
Communicate your ideas more effectively
Express your ideas in a clear, compelling way
Teach and inform readers without confusion
Craft stories that engage and persuade readers
Write concisely to meet word and page limits
Make your work more accessible, fundable, and citable
“This course exceeded my expectations. I had taken some other writing courses before and thought that I knew the basics, but I learned so much more than I imagined was possible.
This course opened my eyes on what it means to write well and respect the reader. I would highly recommend it to anyone who communicates through writing.”
– Inga Saknite, PhD, Adjoint Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
“As a writer, I needed insights into the writing process to deliver impactful and concise work. The Scientific Writing Masterclass helped me to bridge that gap. Throughout the past 12 weeks, I have learned insightful and practical ways to write and expand on core ideas. This program paves the way to confidence in writing, not just for those in research but all writers. I now write confidently and use a systematic writing approach to create pieces that impact a reader's informed decision-making. The Scientific Writing Masterclass delivers valuable information with easy usage in a reasonable time frame.”
– Lola Ravid, RN, Freelance Medical Writer, Nomadic Pluma
“Writing is hard. Effectively engaging readers requires clear, concise communication. Writers, including myself, sometimes struggle to navigate the path between scientific accuracy, brevity, and storytelling. Luckily, the Scientific Writing Masterclass offers writers a compass and Crystal provides a roadmap with a structured process that elevates your writing to the next level. The course is practical and informative: I loved the live sessions, interacting and learning with my peers. The checklists and practical examples add a valuable resource. Crystal transformed the writing process from an amorphous entity into an accessible framework – I’m delighted I chose this course!”
– Rhona Fraser, BVMS, Freelance Medical Writer, Medical Writing Solutions
“Before taking the course, I had difficulty getting started with my writing projects. I didn’t have a good plan of attack for getting them done.
The course helped me learn how to structure my writing sessions and set specific goals. This included things like the best order to write sections of the manuscript and how to connect ideas so the story flowed in a logical and compelling way. I enjoyed all the content videos and felt the concepts were clearly explained and easy to understand.
My favorite parts were the checklists and tip sheets! I found that when I was stuck, using the checklist reminded me of items I needed to explain and helped me get back on track.”
– Juliet Spencer, PhD, Director of the School of Sciences, Texas Woman's University
What’s inside?
Module 1: Welcome
Prepare to transform your writing
You’ll learn:
Why successful researchers need to do good science and communicate that science well
The three key elements of good scientific and medical writing
Our three guiding principles for crafting writing that engages, informs, and persuades readers
Module 2: Find Your Story
Distill the details of your story
You'll learn:
The power of storytelling in science
How the structures of papers and proposals are designed to help you tell a story
The principles that underlie a memorable story, including how to find the one core idea that drives everything in your paper or proposal
Module 3: Shape Your Act 1
Engage your readers and spark their curiosity
You'll learn:
How to engage your readers in your story by building on what they already know
How to frame the need for the work and guide readers to your research question
A handy formula to help you spark your readers' curiosity and excitement to entice them to keep reading your story.
Module 4: Build Your Act 2
Create momentum and keep readers engaged
You'll learn:
How to create momentum that keeps readers engaged in your story
How to organize your data to tell a logical story—and when to omit data that does not support that story
Tips to help you guide readers through the story and ensure your methods and results are clear and credible
Module 5: Ace Your Act 3
Satisfy curiosity and advance the field
You'll learn:
How to satisfy your reader's curiosity in your paper or leave them with a powerful cliffhanger that motivates them to fund your proposal
What details to include in your paper’s discussion
How to end your story with a compelling detail that gets readers just as excited about your work as you
Module 6: Arrange Your Paragraphs
Organize your paragraphs to tell mini-stories
You'll learn:
How to use common story structures to organize your paragraphs—and the sentences within them—to support your story
How to arrange information in your paper or proposal to connect ideas
How to structure paragraphs to build or make arguments that persuade readers
Module 7: Structure Your Sentences
Craft strong sentences with a compelling framework
You'll learn:
A framework to help you craft clear, concise, and compelling sentences
Where to place key information in sentences to build on what readers know, enhance their understanding, and emphasize important information
How your sentence length influences how your readers feel about your writing—and you
Module 8: Manage Your Flow
Connect your ideas to guide your reader
You'll learn:
How to overcome one of the biggest problems in poor scientific and medical writing
How to connect your ideas and build on what readers know
How to create flow that smoothly guides readers through your story
Module 9: Energize Your Writing
Show action to create clear, compelling writing
You'll learn:
The power of using strong verbs to create a compelling tone in your story
How certain words and phrases add energy and confidence to your writing
When to use—and when to avoid—passive voice in your writing
Module 10: Choose Your Words
Select words that boost clarity for readers
You'll learn:
How to choose words that boost clarity in your writing
What qualifies as jargon and what to do when you find it in your writing
When to disregard advice from your English teacher by using similar terms in your writing
Module 11: Cut Your Clutter
Condense your text for concise writing
You'll learn:
How to condense your text for concise writing that meets those dreaded page, word, and character limits
How to cut unnecessary content, remove redundancy, and whittle wordiness
Our tiny tricks to take advantage of every space you can in your writing
Module 12: Hone Your Craft
Practice your skills to polish your writing
You’ll learn:
Tips for how to practice your new skills to continue refining your writing
A three-step process that will help you write more efficiently
Our systematic process for editing—and how to make the system your own as you keep honing your writing skills
Live Office Hours (3 months)
Get support and accountability
This course was designed to be completed in 12 weeks (although you’ll have access to the materials for your full enrollment period). During the first 12 weeks of your enrollment, you will have the opportunity to meet virtually with the instructor and your classmates to get support, accountability, and more opportunities to apply what you learn.
Wait, There’s More!
You’ll also get access to The Grove community!
During your enrollment, you’ll get access to The Grove community of researchers and other professional writers. In the community, you can connect with your peers to get support, stay accountable, ask for advice, exchange ideas, celebrate wins, and share your expertise. You can also attend a variety of virtual events, including:
Monthly Group Coaching
Get mentorship, expert reviews of your writing, guidance on specific topics, and insight into systems that will help you improve your writing and productivity.
Monthly Writing Journal Club
Explore the strengths and weaknesses of the writing in manuscripts, grant proposals, and other documents in this spin on the classic journal club.
Monthly Mastermind Calls
Join members in your career path for a monthly live conversation, Q&A, and collective brainstorming around tackling writing challenges.
Pop-up Events
Gather with your fellow members for workshops, challenges, writing accelerators, guest speakers, and so much more.
"Since I was little, I have struggled to simplify my writing. In first-grade English, I was marked down for run-on sentences. Even now, I tend to write long sentences with complex phrasing because that is how my brain works. The biggest struggle I face as a freelancer is editing my thoughts after writing them down on paper. This is a daunting part of the writing process for me.
Crystal's masterclass in scientific writing provided actionable strategies to improve the clarity and conciseness of my writing. She even suggested Microsoft Word tips that have made writing my routine deliverables faster and more streamlined.
My key takeaways from the class were as follows:
Clear writing means clear thinking.
Scientific writing doesn't have to be jargon soup. You are trying to share what you know, not impress other people with big words and complex sentences.
Treat everything you write as if it were a story and you are the storyteller. This method makes your writing so much more enjoyable to read.
Communication is a critical life skill required for success. If you want to be understood and supported, make it easy for others to comprehend what you are trying to say.
My favorite part of the course was actually participating in office hours. You never knew where the conversation was going to go or what insights people would share. I would highly recommend Crystal's course to improve your writing (and ultimately your thinking) process!"
– Maria Arini Lopez, PT, DPT, CSCS, CIMT, CMTPT, Freelance Medical Writer and Owner, Inspire Medical Communications, LLC
“I took this course to gain more confidence in my writing. I learned many things in the class that continue to make my writing clear and concise. Crystal's expertise and facilitation style made the live sessions engaging. The class's content allowed me to edit a draft of a manuscript systematically. The course content and additional resources provided to us were excellent. After taking this class, I am confident in my writing and editing abilities.”
– Rachel John, PhD, MPH, LICSW, Assistant Professor, Rutgers School of Social Work
“The course helped me to become aware of a number of things that I think I did unconsciously. By making these aspects of writing conscious, I now can be more systematic in addressing them in my writing.”
– Jeffry Ricker, PhD, Freelance Medical Writer, A Flock of Scientists, LLC
“It's an amazing, eye-opening class for us non-native speakers of English. It helps greatly to show you how efficient and succinct you can become as a writer.”
– Mosleh Alkhatatbeh, Graduate Student, Texas Woman's University
“Thank you for your time and teaching us new tools and introducing us to fundamental concepts to be better at writing scientific documents. I really enjoyed this course. I learned a lot in these last 12 weeks! I will apply everything I have learned in this course in my future writing, you can count on it!”
– Lionel Faure, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Texas Woman’s University
Not sure if Scientific Writing Simplified™️ is right for you?
Here are a few recommendations to help you choose.
This course is right for you if…
You want to learn to craft clear, concise, and compelling writing that engages, informs, and persuades readers.
You’re an ambitious graduate student or postdoc who wants to learn to write well from the start and prevent the writing challenges that many researchers face.
You’re an early career researcher who wants to learn writing principles that will support your career and ensure your work is not rejected for being too clear.
You’re an established researcher who wants to learn principles and systems that will help you write better, faster, and easier so that you can advance your career.
You’re a medical and scientific communicator who wants to hone your skills and learn principles, perspectives, and tools that will expand your writing tool belt.
But not if…
You’re looking for “rules” for writing. Writing is about principles and knowing when and how to use them.
This course will teach you writing principles and give you tools to help you get control of your writing.
You’re looking to learn all the fundamentals of writing in English, such as spelling and grammar.
This course will teach you the basic principles you need to craft clear, concise, and compelling writing.
You’re looking to passively consume information.
This course is designed for you to take action and apply the skills you learn. Only through deliberate practice will you develop your skills and become a better writer.
Still on the fence?
We suspect you might be thinking that you can just read books, consume articles, and watch free videos to learn everything you need to know about writing. And you can.
Many researchers and professional writers—including us—have built successful careers through this trial and error.
But if you’re here, you’ve probably realized that this approach consumes time and only gives you pieces of the puzzle.
That’s why we created the Scientific Writing Simplified™️ course. We designed this course to give you the puzzle pieces and show you how to put them together. And the puzzle pieces have been hand-picked after a decade of curating the best guidance on scientific and medical writing.
And if you focus on mastering the skills you learn in the course, you’ll spend less time sifting through information and more time working toward:
Crafting compelling papers that get published and cited
Composing persuasive proposals that get funded
Refining your writing with guiding principles and efficient systems
Writing concisely to meet word, page, and character limits with ease
And most importantly…
Advancing your research and career.
Risk-Free Guarantee
We believe that this course will help you learn to write well, and we back that belief with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If you participate for up to 14 days and no longer think the course is right for you, send us an email at courses@redwoodink.com. We’ll ask why the course didn’t work for you so we can get better, but you’ll get a full refund. Simple as that!
"Danish is my first language, English my second, and Italian my third. I live and work in Italy and often edit English texts written by native Italian speakers. This mix of languages has introduced some bad habits in my writing, and I needed some tools to structure my writing and editing processes. I had already taken Crystal’s Lay Summary Fundamentals course and knew that she has a talent for teaching clearly and effectively, so I decided to enroll in the Scientific Writing Masterclass. Crystal explains all aspects of writing, from storytelling to sentence structure and flow. Templates and checklists are provided to help with the editing process.
The Scientific Writing Masterclass not only taught me how to write better but also how to edit other people's writing. I highly recommend the masterclass to anyone who wants to improve their scientific writing and editing skills.”
– Lisa Mathiasen, PhD, Scientific Communication Manager, Estor
FAQs
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This course includes 12 self-paced modules of pre-recorded video lessons and other resources. Each module includes a series of short videos totaling about 45 minutes.
The course has been designed to be completed in 12 weeks, but you can complete the course as fast or as slow as you like. To support you in completing the course in 12 weeks, we offer live Office Hours every other week for the first 12 weeks of your enrollment.
The course also includes exercises and assignments for you to take action and practice the skills you learn with a draft of your own writing. With this approach, all the practicing you do will help you craft a polished writing project that you can submit to an agency or program.
The course also includes exclusive access to The Grove community of researchers and other professional writers. In the community, you can connect with your peers to attend virtual events, get support, ask for advice, exchange ideas, celebrate wins, and share your expertise.
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We know that you might like self-paced courses. But we also know that you might like the idea of self-paced courses, but you need some accountability.
We compromised by creating a hybrid course. The course lessons are pre-recorded videos that you can watch on your own schedule and as many times as you want. Then you can get live support through Office Hours and within The Grove community to help you stay accountable, implement what you learn, and accomplish your writing goals.
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We offer both live and recorded events to support accountability, learning, and connection.
Live Office Hours are not recorded to give members accountability to complete the modules and attend these sessions. These sessions are held every 2 weeks on Mondays at 11 am Pacific Time.
Writing Journal Clubs and group coaching sessions are recorded and available to all course participants for 12 months after the date the event took place. These sessions are most often held between 10 am and 12 pm Pacific Time.
Live mastermind sessions may include sensitive discussions and are not recorded. These sessions are held on a rotating schedule on Wednesdays at 11 am Pacific Time. (Your group's calls will always be at the same time on the same day of the month so you can plan accordingly.)
Guest speaker events are recorded unless not permitted by the speaker (advanced notice will be given). These recordings will be available for 12 months after the date the event took place.
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You will have access for 12 months after the date you enroll. If you want to continue to access the course and community after the first 12 months, you can extend your access on an annual or quarterly basis.
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Many organizations encourage their faculty, staff, and trainees to continue their education. And some grant or startup funds can be used for professional development.
If you need help figuring out how to ask your mentor or institution for support, check out this in-depth guide (pitch templates included).
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We do! If you’d like to enroll a group of six or more participants, please contact us at courses@redwoodink.com for our bulk pricing.
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Send them to courses@redwoodink.com. We’ll get back to you ASAP.
Who is the instructor?
Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS
Crystal is an editor, educator, and coach who helps scientists and clinicians communicate with clear, concise, and compelling writing. Her distinctive style transforms conventional complex language into modern writing that engages, informs, and persuades readers.
Crystal is an international speaker and educator. She leads webinars, workshops, and courses to empower researchers with the principles, resources, and systems to write clearly and efficiently.
Crystal is a BELS-certified Editor in the Life Sciences. She has more than a decade of experience as an editor and nearly two decades of experience as an educator. Before pursuing her passion for words, she completed her PhD in biomedical science and collaborated on diverse projects in clinical research.
For more professional details about Crystal, visit her profile on LinkedIn.
What will you get?
12 modules with self-paced video lessons and 200+ examples to help you learn
Exclusive access to The Grove community
Downloadable templates, checklists, and cheat sheets
3 months of live Office Hours
Monthly live group coaching (+ recordings*)
Monthly live Writing Journal Club (+ recordings*)
Monthly live mastermind sessions
Pop-up events (guest presentations, writing accelerators, and more)
All course updates during your enrollment
12-month access
Our risk-free guarantee
*These event recordings will be available to all course participants for 12 months after the date the event took place.
Ready to join Scientific Writing Simplified™️?
The course is closed right now.
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You’ll also get the Interlude newsletter, which includes only the best tips, tools, and resources on scientific and medical writing.