Barbara Gastel—Medical Editing: A Guide to Learning the Craft and Building Your Career

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Cover of the book Medical Editing: A Guide to Learning the Craft and Building Your Career by Barbara Gastel showing a teal background with “Medical Editing” in large white print surrounding a white page with the subtitle and author’s name. An image of a stethoscope — Medical Editing

MEDICAL EDITING:
A GUIDE TO LEARNING THE CRAFT
AND BUILDING YOUR CAREER
Barbara Gastel
University of Chicago Press, December 4, 2025
Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing
Hardcover: $115.00, Paperback: $25.00. eBook: $24.99
Hardcover ISBN: 9780226824451
Paperback ISBN: 9780226844923
eBook ISBN: 9780226844916

Gastel reports:

Like much of my writing, this book emerged from my teaching. In the late 1990s, I developed a science editing course for the Texas A&M University science journalism graduate program, which I direct. I’ve taught and continually updated the course ever since. Since 2017, I’ve also taught a medical editing course in the University of Chicago Certificate Program in Medical Writing and Editing.

Portrait photo of Barbara Gastel — Barbara Gastel

By about 2015, it had occurred to me that a book on science editing might suit the Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing series, published by the University of Chicago Press. I floated the idea with editors from the Press when I saw them at conference exhibits. I started a proposal in 2017, but I didn’t finish it.

In late 2019, instructors in the University of Chicago program learned that the Press was seeking more authors for the series. I expressed interest and was connected with legendary acquisitions editor Mary Laur. We had a wonderful long conversation in 2020. Mary encouraged me to propose a book on medical editing. This time, I finished the proposal.

The process that followed included peer review of the proposal, a longer-than-expected writing process—due in part to time-sapping administrative disruptions at the university—and peer review of the manuscript. The manuscript benefited from the feedback from peer reviewers and the guidance of Mary Laur and her associate Andrea Blatz at the Press.

The University of Chicago Press has been wonderful in transforming the manuscript into a book. Editing a book on editing can prove awkward, but the Press lined up a copyeditor with an apt touch, and I think we both appreciated each other. I’m also very pleased with the book design. The marketing team has been terrific.

So, a quarter-century-plus after I started teaching science editing, my guidebook on medical editing is being published. As in much else, I believe in taking the long view. And I’m coming full circle: The research, thinking, and writing that went into the book are enhancing my teaching.

Contact Info:

Barbara Gastel, b-gastel@tamu.edu
- Gastel’s Texas A&M University webpage: https://vibs.tamu.edu/person/377/Gastel Barbara
- LinkedIn: Barbara Gastel
Book: Medical Editing: A Guide to Learning the Craft and Building Your Career
Publicist: Carrie Olivia Adams, 773-702-7700, coa@uchicago.edu

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Banner image adapted from original photo by Barbara Gastel.

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Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Visit www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines for information on submitting your report.

Publication of NASW author reports in Advance Copy does not constitute NASW's endorsement of any publication or the ideas, values, or material contained within or espoused by authors or their books. We hope this column stimulates productive discussions on important topics now and in the future as both science and societies progress. We welcome your discussion in the comments section below.