WRITING ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP (WAG)

Need to improve your writing? Want to speed up a writing project? 

Get individualized feedback from professional editors and science writers. 

Rolling enrollment—sign up and we’ll work with you to find a time that works for you.

 

Ideal for grad students, postdocs, faculty, and anyone needing help with:

  • Shaping a scientific manuscript for journal submission (including reformatting for resubmission to a different journal)

  • Writing/rewriting a grant proposal (e.g., for a foundation)

  • Writing a dissertation chapter (within academic editing guidelines)

Each of the four 90-min sessions will include:

  • Guest speaker presentation and demo of a safe, ethical writing or editing tool (10 min)

  • Time for co-working and networking with cohort

  • Real-time feedback from experienced writers/editors (1:1 or in small groups)

Guest speakers will cover topics such as AI-assisted software for editing scientific text (that doesn’t save your text for training LLMs), plain language principles, and how to make text such as specific aims more concise. 

Dates & times—we can change if the majority of the cohort can’t make the suggested times below:

Enrollment open for COHORT 4: Start date Tuesday, Oct 7 9:30-11 a.m. Pacific/12:30-2 p.m. Eastern—you can attend four sessions anytime October 7, 2025, to December 16, 2025, for the discounted pricing.

Cost for 4 sessions (individual sessions available for alumni):

$200 ($50 per session) Cohort 4 special offer (full-price $240) for fully employed professionals (university, biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry, etc.)

$160 ($40 per session) for undergrad or grad students/postdocs/freelancers (journalists, writers, editors)

We understand that these are uncertain times for journalists, academics, and researchers. We want to provide a writing community and a supportive place for you to focus on your writing.

We will work with your schedule to arrange for a makeup if you miss a session. Neurodivergent brains welcome.

PURCHASE HERE (NON-STUDENT)
PURCHASE HERE (GRAD STUDENT)

Organizers

 

Ellen Kuwana, MS

Ellen is an award-winning science writer and editor. For 20 years, she was part of research teams on federally funded biomedical projects at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Ellen has written and edited >500 articles and dozens of federal grant proposals totaling more than $89 billion. 

She is a nationally recognized expert in science communications and gives talks on AI tools; plain language; and manuscripts and grants. She organizes several offerings for the National Association of Science Writers and moderated their 2023 conference plenary, AI and the Media. She is past president of NW Science Writers Association. She can invite guest speakers from many groups she’s part of, depending on specific interests (e.g., tips for neurodiverse writers).

Over the past 2 years, Ellen has coached and mentored >50 writers. She runs her own freelance business, Kuwana Consulting LLC.

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Georgina (Gina) To’a Salazar, PhD

Gina is a skilled science communicator and founder of Redwood Scientific Communications, LLC. With a background in chemical and biomedical engineering, she has a strong foundation in translating complex scientific concepts for diverse audiences. Gina has extensive experience in writing and editing peer-reviewed manuscripts, grant proposals, and technical documents, as well as crafting engaging science content for public and professional audiences. Her career includes academic research roles in the U.S., Singapore, and Japan, where she honed her ability to bridge cultural and scientific contexts. A dedicated advocate for underrepresented voices, she has been a member of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) writing team since 2016. Gina draws on her Samoan and Mexican American heritage to bring unique perspectives to her work. Her mission is to help clients communicate science clearly, concisely, and effectively.

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Liz Haswell, PhD

Liz is a distinguished scientist, writer, and communicator with a career spanning academia and professional science communication. With over 15 years as a research lab leader at Washington University in St. Louis, she secured funding from HHMI, NSF, NASA, and the NIH, and authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications in cell and developmental biology, mechanobiology, and plant sciences. An accomplished communicator, Liz gave approximately 100 invited talks, served as Deputy Editor for Science Advances, and co-hosted the award-winning Taproot Podcast. She is recognized for her expertise in mentoring and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She now runs a scientific editing and writing business, The Sustainable Professor.

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