Thinking of Myself as a Scientist? Really?

I used to think that I would make a great scientist, mostly because I love data and peer-reviewed research. I have spreadsheets for just about everything. It’s odd to consider that I am moving in that direction today.

Now, I knew that my career as a freelance writer was coming to an end. The moment people started using generative AI for text in bulk back in 2023, I saw the first nail go into the coffin. Pivoting in such a manner from a freelancer to an anthropologist is a bit jarring, in the grand scheme of things.

I don’t mean that I don’t think I am capable of making the move. It’s just that I’ve viewed myself as a writer for so long that it’s really weird to see myself as anything else.

Writing Skills to Support Science?

The great thing about transitioning from writer to anthropologist is that a lot of the processes I used as a freelancer actually translate well to science. Well, at least the ideas, anyway. The exact procedures will differ, but a lot of the mindset remains the same.

For instance, as a writer, I am bringing these skills into my scientific career:

Researching Topics

I’ve always been a stickler about citing credible sources. I never share half-assed information or facts that are not supported by data from unknown individuals. In other words, Bob’s Blog may not be a credible source compared to NIH or National Geographic.

You also have to be careful of anecdotal “evidence.” A lot of folks will say things that are factually incorrect to fit their narrative, which then makes them more money. Anecdotal experiences are helpful, but don’t mean much if you’re not providing details that someone can then copy for themselves.

That’s the glorious thing about peer-reviewed research. If more than one person can come to the same conclusion, then the individual and information become credible.

I used to look for blogs and websites that share the same information through separate studies or experience. That’s because a lot of blogs will link to a single outlet for information. If that outlet has a reputation for skewed data, then all of those blogs are sharing something that may not be factually accurate.

Corroboration provides a more solid base for advancing a hypothesis, whether it’s something related to building a WordPress blog or studying the culture of Ancient Egypt.

My Own Case Studies

When I create a case study for one of my other blogs, I write about the entire process. That way, anyone can follow my lead and test the hypothesis themselves. And I plan to do more for WriterSanctuary in terms of blogging and marketing.

What kickstarted the case studies was the fact that some bloggers were claiming things that I questioned were true. And the best way to verify those claims was to conduct similar, unbiased research on my own.

In reality, I don’t have the funds to duplicate every claim I come across in terms of blogging or health and fitness. However, I’ll test out whatever I can with what funding I might have on hand.

I guess a part of me always loved experimentation. If we change X, how does it affect Y? So, a lot of my case studies focus more on trying to streamline things like blogging and diet plans. Nonetheless, I try to take a scientific approach to every case study. That’s because I love data and want to be able to defend my arguments with actual facts.

Writing Essays, Papers, and Books?

Obviously, anything centered around papers, essays, and books is going to be part of my growth as a scientist. I’m first and foremost a writer, after all. And I’m looking forward to a slew of both fiction and non-fiction works derived from my backgrounds in writing and anthropology.

While the writing for anthropological studies will be incredibly niche, the creative stuff might have a larger audience. Do I plan on making a million dollars from science-related books? Well, I’d probably have a better chance winning the lottery while snowboarding down Mt. Everest, avoiding laser blasts from an alien ship.

Still, you never know. A book or two might wind up on someone’s shelf or maybe even used as a textbook in some class somewhere. In truth, you never know who is going to pick up your book. So, it’s always best to put in maximum effort to make it the best you possibly can.

Perhaps I’ll write a few anthropology books and sell them directly from this site. Who knows what the future will bring?

Love to Learn

One thing that made me such a success while using content mills is my love of learning. I could write for any industry because I enjoy learning new things and exploring the world through topical research.

As a result, I wrote about everything from animals to travel, helped thousands of clients, and made a lot of money. I am flexible and diverse, and, most importantly, I’m not afraid to learn something that I thought of as gospel in the past.

In other words, I’m not afraid to have my beliefs and knowledge shaken by learning a contrary point of view. I mean, that’s how we learn and grow, right? It does you no good to isolate yourself from something that may change your point of view or knowledge.

Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you’ll know tomorrow. ~ Agent K, Men in Black

One of the driving forces of science is constant evolution. What we think today may be vastly different tomorrow, and that’s OK. We are now better for learning more.

Looking Forward to Exploring Anthropology

I’m not a scientist yet, but I’m looking forward to exploring what that means to me. Yes, I love writing, and miss making a living wage by writing about various topics for clients. But I am also loving anthropology.

Now, do I think that someday down the road, I’ll be on the top of a truck punching Nazis after discovering the Ark of the Covenant? No. It would be a fun adventure, but I know the difference between reality and Hollywood.

What I am looking forward to is understanding the world we live in better while appreciating those who came before us. And in a lot of ways, I’m quite envious of those who existed 20,000 years ago. I’ll write more about that at a later date, but the gist of it is comparing the stresses of today in the United States versus what it was like pre-Clovis. I think when it comes to basic survival, we have it much harder today.

At any rate, it’s interesting to think of myself as an actual scientist. Well, not quite yet, anyway. However, I’m looking forward to all of the goodness of going to college and am getting more excited with each passing week.

Got a Long Way to Go…

Although it’s fun to think of myself as a scientist, I have a long way to go before I’m comfortable with that title. After all, I’m less than halfway through my first bachelor’s degree. Going full-time in the fall and spring will help with some of that, but I still have a lot of work ahead of me.

But is it really work when you absolutely enjoy what you’re doing? For a lot of folks, that would be a resounding “no.” It’s like with writing; I don’t view writing in any form as actual work. Even if I had a day off, I’d rather be hammering out a blog post or a new story. Well, unless I had a tee time set up. That’s a different animal altogether.

In any case, I’m looking forward to a more AI-proof future studying archaeological anthropology. It’ll be a while until AI is capable of digging up bodies and collecting artifacts. All it can do is regurgitate what others have written, which is comical when you think about it.

AI is going to pull information from scientists and pseudoscientists alike. It’ll be interesting to see what “facts” it hallucinates. The sad part is how many people are going to put faith in what the bot vomits onto the screen as fact.