About You
We recognize that you’re not really here to learn about us. You’re more interested in how we can serve you—and so are we!
Of course, we do have a history we’re proud of and a driving philosophy that we’re passionate about. If you want those details, scroll down a bit. But we’d much rather you experience our values and mission than simply read them on a stodgy page about us.
We anticipate that you’re here to level up your writing. We know that whether you’re an established researcher, early career researcher, or researcher-in-training, you need to write well. Your success depends on it.
The key to being a successful researcher is to do great science and communicate that science well. That combination leads to proposals that get funded and manuscripts that get published and cited.
Good writing strengthens great science.
Bad writing buries great science.
If you’re tired of battling burnout, wrestling with words, or wrangling the writing process, we can help you. We offer professional editing, training, and coaching services to help you master the craft of scientific and medical writing.
Our Clients
Our clients include clinical and biomedical researchers in academia and industry who are at all stages of their career, from graduate students to renowned investigators.
We are trusted by members of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine, as well as two Nobel Prize winners.
We have helped researchers secure funding from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and private foundations.
We have also helped researchers publish in prestigious journals, such as Nature, Cell, Science Translational Medicine, JAMA, and the New England Journal of Medicine.
Your success is our success.
About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to equip researchers with the principles, resources, and systems they need to write compelling manuscripts, grants, and research-related documents in the health sciences.
Our Central Values
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We know that many authors write without carefully thinking about the language they use. We believe in the power of conscious writing—bringing awareness, intention, and mindfulness to the craft. With conscious writing, we can challenge ourselves to think more critically about concepts and how we communicate and connect with readers.
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We know that you may be an accomplished researcher, but you may not have strong writing skills. And few institutions offer adequate support and training in writing. We strive to showcase your expertise and teach you skills that will enhance your writing. And we infuse our feedback with kindness, mindfulness, and encouragement.
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We care a lot about people and value their diverse qualities, perspectives, and experiences. And we cultivate a culture of inclusion and belonging by infusing everything we do with connection, compassion, and support. We also believe that our clients are our partners, and we work with them (not for them) to help them overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.
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We know that researchers face the pressures of publishing and securing funding. But we believe that meaningful work and true impact goes beyond the idea of “just get it out” and “just get it submitted.” We strive to help researchers make the greatest impact by writing in a way that connects with readers and influences their thoughts, emotions, and actions.
Our Writing Philosophy
Our writing philosophy is guided be three key principles:
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When given the choice, we often take the path of least resistance. Yet, we see authors create more resistance for readers by forcing them to weed through complex language to understand their ideas. We pull the weeds from your writing by simplifying the language so that readers can easily understand your ideas and thinking. We believe that simple is not simplistic—simple is smart.
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We know that integrity is vital for building and maintaining trust in science and medicine. This integrity is rooted in honesty, responsibility, objectivity, transparency, professionalism, and ethical behaviors. We believe that you can convey these characteristics with clear language that accurately and appropriately reflects your work and thinking.
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We challenge the traditional approach of using complex language that gives the illusion of impressing readers. Instead, we encourage a modern style of writing that focuses on using storytelling and simplicity to engage, inform, and persuade readers. We believe that the most powerful way to impress readers is to enlighten them—and get them just as excited about your work as you.
"The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always."
- John Steinbeck
Our Name
Although our name, Redwood Ink, was inspired by the beautiful redwood trees near our headquarters, our name has a much deeper meaning.
The redwood tree is a symbol of strength and impact—features that we help you emanate in your scientific and medical writing.
Also, when a live redwood is knocked over, its limbs can grow into a new row of trees that can create a greater impact. When you get knocked over by rejection, we help you cultivate your writing so you can create a more impactful manuscript or grant.
Our name also honors the history of editing. Traditionally, editors wrote marks in red ink because they were more visible among black text. To honor this tradition, we used "red ink" in our name.