ABSTRACT
Science writing needs explanation and, alas, the occasional jargon word. That is why the New Journalists since the 1960s have been using literary techniques to make journalism more relatable. This chapter presents Crafting themes, Status symbols in science, Point of view, Comparing: Metaphors and similes, Literary devices and Comedy writing techniques. Metaphors are one of the most powerful literary devices to write about science, because they raise the audience’s attention, because they are suggestive and because they stimulate the audience’s imagination. Changing the point of view changes the audience’s emotional reaction to a story. What a change in perspective also means is a change of tone and theme. According to Lee Gutkind, narrative journalism teacher and editor-in-chief of Creative Nonfiction, scenes are the essential building blocks of literary journalism.
