Skilling Up & Starting Out
/With few exceptions, a writer’s worth is tied to his or her ability to express ideas clearly, convincingly, and consistently. As such, it is essential for aspiring freelance writers to take several, meaningful steps to develop their skills as professional communicators. Such a course of action, colloquially known as “skilling up” in business school circles these days, is particularly paramount for younger entrants in the field. Fairly or unfairly, clients may assume younger writers lack a wealth of transferable skills from previous careers and may hesitate to work with them. One of the best ways to dispel any initial doubt is by projecting confidence and competence. To get more of each quickly, consider taking a look at these following resources – some of these can almost certainly help you find your footing in medical writing:
1. CME Writer’s Marketplace, 2021 Edition
This annually updated e-booklet is an affordable resource ($9.99) that offers prospective writers a glimpse into the marketplace for written materials in continuing medical education (CME). I began my freelance medical writing career in this niche and continue working in it as recurring demand for deliverables is robust year-round. A quick read, this guide features several small articles on market size, project pricing, and client needs. This year’s edition also features a future blog post of mine on the value of writing a sample for your business. To purchase it, click here.
2. The American Medical Writers Association & Essential Skills Certificate
The American Medical Writers Association, or AMWA, is a leading professional organization for medical writers worldwide. Founded in 1940, AMWA represents over 4,000 members across 32 countries and offers new writers a multitude of educational resources. In my experience, a membership is most valuable when used as a means to network with other, more established colleagues in the field. Although many of these writers will most likely not have work for you to do immediately, they can review your samples and provide pointers on the finer aspects of running a freelance business. These soft skills, like contract negotiation and fee setting, are about as important as fulfilling projects themselves. Take the time to network with those willing to help you out and capitalize on workshops hosted by chapters of AMWA.
For those unable or unwilling to travel to physical conferences, AMWA offers its own Essential Skills Certificate. With a price of $975 for members and $1,275 for non-members, the print books and program represent a substantial investment when starting out. That said, these workbooks can help readers quickly patch any holes in mechanics and grant beginners a glimpse of what is needed of a medical writer. I cannot speak to the extent to which the credential can help new writers land entry-level roles, but I can say it is a nice certificate to have as a freelancer starting out. To take a look at a completed certificate, click here.
3. Freelance Medical Writing – Books 1-6: Make a 6-Figure Income & Work from Home Using Your Scientific/Medical Background
Despite the title being a bit of a mouthful, Dr. Emma Nichols’ books on freelance medical writing are terrific, comprehensive resources for beginners. Of particular use for those targeting CME writing is book 4, which focuses exclusively on the field and provides readers with a sample needs assessment to review. Before I began to better internalize the wishes of my clients, I referred to the checklist found in this chapter to ensure that no critical components were missing from any pieces that I wrote. For best results, I highly recommend pairing this book with a paid training program so that one can execute upon the advice compiled in these books. Dr. Nichols also offers a paid 6-week course covering the content from these books, but I believe that she largely restricts admission to the program to those holding advanced science degrees (i.e. PhD, MD, PharmD). Fortunately, other alternatives work just fine if you lack such credentials, and they fall on the more affordable side (<$1,000). Although I am of the opinion that these degrees are not a required prerequisite to thrive in the medical writing industry, I wholeheartedly agree that such training has value in the field. That said, certificate programs that are specifically tailored to medical writing are viable alternatives with less prohibitive costs.
4. Certificate Programs in Medical Writing
As the demand for medical writing rises, so too will the need for universities to supply these skills to the next generation of communicators. Fortunately, several institutions offer certificates in medical writing, which I believe are fantastic complements to those entering the field without the specialization that a science PhD can offer. After speaking with a handful of professionals working in the field, I have heard that there are two programs worth considering:
UC San Diego Extension School
University of Chicago – Graham School
Unfortunately, I can’t comment at greater length on the quality of these programs, but I think that enrolling represents a worthwhile investment for new writers that enjoy having structure starting out. You can view course offerings by clicking here and here. It’s important to note that the value of these programs extends beyond developing skills; degree programs can and should expand a student’s professional network. My first client was actually my graduate university, and I am cultivating a working relationship from an alum of my program. When looking for work, try looking locally - it’s often easier to win work from someone you’ve met than someone you don’t know at all.
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Have any other resources you find helpful for new medical writers? Let me know your thoughts, and I’ll be happy to amend my post with additional books, websites, or materials that can help beginners find success with scientific writing!