How did a (mostly) contented grad student running geophysical convection simulations wind up as a gatekeeper between science and the public? In this talk I'll try to give a sense of what motivates science writers and editors, what exactly it is that we do, how we are navigating the turbulence in the publishing industry, and what it all means for the broader scientific community. I'll naturally focus on Scientific American, but I'll comment on broader trends and offer thoughts and tips of use not just for writing a magazine article, but for any other writing or communications project you take on.