Testimonials
Hear why our members and alumni love Scientific Writing Simplified and the Redwood Ink Academy
“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
“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
I struggled with organizing the writing process and structuring my manuscript logically. Simplifying complex concepts into clear, jargon-free language at an 8th-grade reading level was especially challenging without losing accuracy or depth.
The course provided clear, practical rules for writing and structuring manuscripts, making the process more manageable. It also taught techniques to improve the flow of ideas, ensuring clarity and readability while maintaining scientific rigor.
The course offered an in-depth exploration of the art of writing, going beyond surface-level tips and truly focusing on mastering the craft—something rare in similar programs.
– Paras Karmacharya, MD, MS, Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Before I started Scientific Writing Simplified, I was unknowing about many of the mechanics involved in writing a good science/medical story. Crystal’s step by step, module by module approach is an excellent way to learn about what good science writing looks like and sounds like.The coursework provides a logical, systematic, and straight forward path to writing a better story. I also appreciated Crystal’s emphasis on the reader and how important it is to keep the reader always engaged and how to do just that.
I enjoyed several things about the course:
• Modules were easy to navigate, not overly long, clear, and concise
• Abundant resources, tip sheets, glossaries, and checklists
• Exercises in each module, very helpful
• Practice with journal article editing to improve readability and accessibility
• Periodic meetups/discussion with the community via Zoom
• Crystal’s love of words!
I highly recommend Crystal Herron’s Scientific Writing Simplified to anyone who wants to write a better science/medical story!
– Mary Anne Loafman, MS, BSMT, Freelance Medical Writer, Hematologic Medical Communications
“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
Most people think they write well, and I was one of those people. But it’s not until you take a course like Crystal’s that you understand how much better your writing can be. Crystal’s Scientific Writing Simplified course really does simplify important writing concepts. Rather than cover grammar and punctuation, the course focuses on how to reach your audience and hold their attention until the end. And these concepts are universal: anyone can apply them to any writing. Once you join the course, you also join the community, which supports you in applying these skills through exercises and feedback. Writers at all stages of their career should strongly consider taking this course.
– Michele W. Sequeira, MS, MBA, MWC, Senior Public Relations Specialist and Editorial Manager, The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer 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
"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
"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
“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
“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
“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
“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
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"Thank you so much for your help! The writing class was so beneficial for improving the quality of my writing in every detail. Every lesson was extremely practical, so I immediately applied the skills to my paper. Also, Crystal's thoughtful comments helped to make my manuscript much easier and smoother. I greatly appreciate it."
– PhD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
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“I want to thank Crystal for her skill and clarity in teaching. She helped me appreciate and deeply explore the art of writing—from crafting the plot to understanding the impact of even the smallest word. Now, it's my turn to put myself to the test.
I highly recommend this course to anyone involved in scientific writing!”
–Simona Di Terlizzi
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“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. The world would be a better place if everyone took this course.”
–PhD, Vanderbilt University
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"No matter how well you think you write, you will still learn much that is new. Writing is one of those subjects that one can always learn more about, especially when the teacher has given so much thought to the subject.”
– PhD, A Flock of Scientists, LLC
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“Exceptional content. Very clear, easy-to-follow, and exciting. Made me want to learn more, watch the next video, and get back to work on my own manuscript.”
– PhD, Vanderbilt University
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"The course that Crystal provides is clear, concise and infinitely readable. I've taken the course and thoroughly recommend it. I still refer to the course material and find hidden gems that I previously missed."
– MBA, Freelance Medical Writer
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“The Scientific Writing Masterclass has made me rethink how I write. It has been eye-opening.”
– RN, Freelance Medical Writer
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“The course provided actionable strategies to improve writing and made it immediately applicable to your current writing.”
– DPT, Freelance Medical Writer
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"You will learn a lot, and Crystal teaches you in a very fun and accessible way with new tools to write better grants, articles, emails, etc."
– PhD, Texas Woman’s University
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“I really enjoyed the format of the course and especially enjoyed meeting new colleagues. Hearing other people's stories in the live session was helpful. I hope to grow these connections.”
– MPH, Project Manager
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“Very enjoyable course, well worth the time and money investment.”
– PhD, Scientist
Ready to join us?
Scientific Writing Simplified—a systematic framework comprising 8 modules of self-paced video lessons
Supportive member-only community
Monthly Writing Feedback Lab (recorded)
Monthly Writing Journal Club (recorded)
Monthly live mastermind sessions
Group coaching with our team (recorded)
Event library
Resource library
Weekly skill builders
Accountability programs
Bonus: Downloadable course workbook
Bonus: Expert insights sessions (recorded)
12-month access
Pay in Full
(Save 16%)
$799
Quarterly Payment Plan
$239 x 4
Want to learn more?
If you’re on the fence, check out our free masterclass on how to transform your scientific and medical writing to maximize your impact. You’ll discover:
The top 3 challenges that get in the way of clear, compelling writing.
The surprising truths about writing for experts in your field.
The #1 thing holding you back from maximizing your impact.
A simple framework that will help you transform your writing.