Hey there, and welcome!
I’m Thomas Praisner, a professional freelance writer specializing in science and technical writing.
My goal is to make working with me as professional, transparent, and stress-free as possible. Read on to learn more about my approach to writing, what I bring to the table, and what drives my interest in the intersection of writing and science.
My writing philosophy
Writing is communication. To communicate effectively, content must be engaging and trustworthy—but writing surrounding complex or highly specialized topics must also be understandable. This can be difficult to achieve. It requires the writer to understand not only the complex subject matter and the intended audience, but also how to effectively communicate their message to the reader.
I believe that by relying on principles of prose style that support clarity and objectivity, any topic can be made accessible to any audience. I apply these principles in my writing to create engaging, accurate, and clear content on complex topics.
Still, clarity means different things to different people. Some readers thrive when all of a discrete topic’s details are packaged into one neat paragraph. Others need white space, headings, and examples to process as they read. Whether your audience prefers an academic style or a bite-sized summary of the latest development in nuclear energy, I tailor my writing style to your needs.
Science and technical writing must also be accurate. In my writing, I strive to deliver complete, well-considered content that understands the subject matter, your needs, and the needs of your audience. I won’t leave out or gloss over information just because I don’t understand it. I believe that asking questions and performing in-depth research is key to understanding a complex topic—which, in turn, is key to communicating that topic to the reader.
My freelance writing skillset and background
In my work, I combine the creativity, talent for storytelling, and critical eye of a writer with the analytical thinking, organization, and attention to detail of a researcher.
I’ve been writing professionally for years, both as a freelancer and as a research chemist. Before I started freelancing full-time, I read more patents, wrote more research reports, and prepared more presentations for project leads than I can count. But as much as I loved research, I knew I needed to write for a living. In freelance content and technical writing, I found the perfect job for me—a role that combines writing with science and research, presents problem-solving challenges, and teaches me something new every day.
As a freelancer, I write and edit in the areas of sustainability, science, and technology. I’ve written popular science articles on key sustainability topics, explainers on physical science topics like material surface charge, and written for and edited white papers on next-gen nuclear reactors and the safe handling of their unique waste.
In industry, I spent a year and a half as a research chemist, developing electroless plating solutions for cutting-edge 5G circuitry. My time in the lab honed my attention to detail, my curiosity, and my ability to explain complex information while highlighting key details.
In my years of formal education, I graduated with bachelor’s degrees in both Chemistry and English—and completing these programs simultaneously taught me how to never miss a deadline. My studies in Chemistry included three years as an undergraduate researcher across two labs, working on projects from organic synthesis to the qualification of novel inorganic catalysts. My studies in English ranged from courses in book publishing and advanced expository writing to a capstone course in prose style, where I chose to examine the style of modern research writing.
Thanks to my unique background, I’m adept at:
- Simplifying and explaining complex topics
- Achieving clarity and engagement
- Conducting extensive research
- Crafting cohesive content of any length
- Understanding the gritty technical details
- Working with clients from the marketing team to the lab bench
If I sound like the kind of writer you need, don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to meet and see if we’re a good fit.
My personal interests
Thankfully, I’m not just a writing machine—I also enjoy reading! As much as I love research papers and popular science articles, my favorite genres are fictional ones, in particular New Weird, science fiction, and urban fantasy. Game design fascinates me as well—I create deckbuilders and tabletop RPGs in my spare time, and occasionally write and edit for TTRPGs professionally. I unwind by practicing piano, learning French (someday I’ll reach C1), going for a run with my dog, and enjoying music from funk to folk.
Thomas Praisner—Freelance Writer 