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The biggest mistake in science communication is thinking that it is all about making things “simpler”.
But “simple” is not exactly an awe-inspiring word.
Making things “simple” is just step 1.
Here’s a deeper look into my process:
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1️⃣ Identify the Pieces
Linear stories are boring.
If you find yourself going through a list of features or a timeline of events…
You have a list, you don’t have a story.
most science and tech explainers fall into this trap
I almost always focus my stories on mechanisms, explainers, the “how it works”.
But, that is where I WANT the story to go, because my mission is to educate.
I see the educational part as a selfish desire.
I have to assume that most people are inherently disinterested in this subject.
In part 2, I make sure I earn that attention.
2️⃣ The storyblocks!
the storyblocks that make stories flow
Instead, I try to find what will make the story interesting
The problem (what’s broken)
The impact (why it matters)
The myths (what people get wrong)
all of these give readers context.
3️⃣ In practice
I recently covered a story on this research paper.
This story can be told like this:
“Naked mole rats have very long lifespans. This study found that it is due to four genetic edits in cGAS, a protein responsible for DNA repair but also downstream effects at the cellular level if DNA repair fails. “
But here is where storyblock thinking comes in:
what I want to is to explain cGAS, but cGAS means nothing to 90% of the popultion
1/ I write down a few of the key points
Long lifespan
lack of age-linked disorders
cGAS mechanism of action
four genetic edits that make them live longer (maybe?)
fruit-fly results (⬆️ lifespan by 25%)
some of the notes I first wrote down on this piece - you can see how I am thinking of every point with a few different angles.
2/ (MOST IMPORTANT PART) 🚨
How does each piece of information create enough friction, conflict or interest to keep someone listening to the main points!
Longevity - contrast it to what it would be like to be human (A human living for 500 years gives their lifespan context)
cGAS - becomes a “character”, a DNA repairman (or woman 👩🏼🏭) that tries to fix damage, but when it calls it quits it hits a punic button 🔔
genetic edits - what makes these four specifically so important?
3/ The final touches 🌶️
Pacing is one of the hidden details that can make a story extraordinary or flat.
At one of my Harvard journalism classes we were given this famous example to consider that summarises it perfectly:
Gary Provost has written a few book
You’ve got your story beats — the puzzle pieces, the tension, the reveal.
But structure is only half the craft. Next, we’ll stitch it together: pacing, rhythm, and visual sequencing.
Want to see how I assemble it?
👉 Reply “editing” if you want to take a look at the editing process.
Always learning,
Giota