February 20, 2009 | Vol. 2 No. 5 Published by Biotech Ink, LLC | |
Greetings! |
As you know, we still face economic uncertainty on a daily basis. For this reason, the job market and available career paths are in flux more than they been in recent memory. The medical writing career path is no exception to this situation.
On a weekly basis, I speak with several writers and other professionals who tell me they are thinking of moving into freelance medical writing. Some already have the medical or science background and vocabulary required for this profession. Others have been staff medical writers. Most want the autonomy and reduced commute of working in their own home office. And pretty much everybody is looking for increased financial stability.
Although a career in medical writing offers some or all of these advantages, there are some down sides as well. The ones that come to mind are the greater challenge of managing cash flow and the need to market one's services.
This week's issue of the Biotech Ink Insider features a useful article about breaking into freelance medical writing by medical writer Cyndy Kryder. I hope this article will be helpful to you in making that huge decision.
Warmest regards,
Susan
Susan E Caldwell, PhD
Medical Writer Consultant and President
Biotech Ink, LLC -- the Contract Writing OrganizationSM
969-G Edgewater Blvd., No. 303
Foster City, CA 94404
Tel: 650-286-9300 (office) or 415-335-4239 (Skype free internet phone)
Fax: 650-286-9301
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Breaking into Freelance Medical Writing
by Cyndy Kryder, MS, CCC-Sp |
When I speak at freelance medical writing seminars, I can always count on someone who is just getting started in the business to come up to me and ask, "Now what should I do?"
I'm delighted to give up-and-coming freelance medical writers a little personal advice. And my first tip always is to join the American Medical Writers Association, AMWA for short. I know when you're just starting out, annual dues to a professional organization might not be in your budget. But the value you'll get from an AMWA membership will outweigh its cost. Besides, you've got to spend money to make money, and membership in AMWA is an investment in your future success.
AMWA and its regional chapters sponsor workshops where you can learn different aspects of medical writing. These workshops, and the annual national conference, aren't just for newbies, though. You'd be surprised by what even an experienced writer or editor can learn in a basic AMWA workshop! Plus, when you attend regional AMWA meetings, you'll meet other medical writers as well as prospective clients. This face-to-face networking will go a long way in getting freelance work. And you'll get a feel for the writing needs and the competition in your geographic area.
As for the next step, anyone considering freelance medical writing needs to decide what type of medical writing to pursue, and whether to be an employee or a freelance. In my opinion, medical writing can be divided into 3 broad categories: Regulatory, promotional, and educational.
Regulatory writing is highly scientific and involves creating documents that are often submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration. Promotional writing is any writing created for the purpose of selling or promoting a drug, intervention, or medical device. Educational writing includes any materials created for the purpose of educating health care professionals or the general public. This includes writing content for continuing medical education programs, as well as creating patient-education brochures.
Once you decide what type of medical writing you want to do and how you want to work, the next step is to identify the companies that employ writers or purchase that type of writing. They include pharmaceutical companies, CROs (contract research organizations), medical education companies, medical communications companies, and medical advertising agencies. Of course, you could also decide you want to write for a medical journal or a hospital, or even start a health column in your local newspaper. There are lots of avenues to explore.
For anyone who decides to become a freelance, one final suggestion is to begin a targeted promotional campaign to reach prospective clients. An easy way to do this is to join an online social network for professionals, such as LinkedIn. LinkedIn is just one such network, others exist. Use it as a tool to enable future clients to get to know you. Create a profile, seek out contacts, and join groups in your industry. Once you've become a group member, start discussions and respond to discussions that are already ongoing. Prove to group members that you have valuable information to contribute.
I can't stress enough the value of networking, especially virtual networking. But it takes a lot of time, and you need to be consistent in your approach. Make sure everything you put out there looks professional and portrays you in a positive manner. That means inserting a real photo rather than an avatar, using proper grammar and punctuation rather than "text-speak," and responding to contacts in a timely manner. Once you start your virtual networking, keep at it. You'll soon find that it pays off.
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Cyndy Kryder, MS, CCC-Sp has been a freelance medical writer for more than 16 years. As one-half of the Accidental Medical Writer writing team, she offers advice and writing tips for aspiring medical writers at The Accidental Medical Writer web site.
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Open Medical Writing Staff and Contract Jobs
The jobs listed in the Biotech Ink Insider come to us mostly by word-of-mouth and direct contact with hiring managers and recruiters. If no new jobs are communicated to us in a given week, the newsletter will not be published that week. |
Senior-Level Clinical Scientist (Medical Writer) Santa Clara, CA |
CLINICAL SCIENTIST/WITH A STRONG MEDICAL WRITING BACKGROUND (SR. LEVEL)
JOB DETAILS
Type of Job: Contract, 15 to 18 months Location: Santa Clara, CA Must be onsite initially. Can usually work remotely after being there for a bit.
DESCRIPTION OF JOB DUTIES
Participate in writing clinical study reports; participate in the development of study protocols, protocol amendments, clinical strategies, SOP, etc.; support trial implementation; prepare internal and external presentations; interact with various study support groups, provide scientific input, and assist in project deliverables.
SPECIAL SKILLS NEEDED
A minimum of three years experience in medical affairs or equivalent experience within pharmaceutical or medical device settings; strong interpersonal skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills; good planning and organizational skills; excellent problem solving ability; medical or clinical experience preferred; post-marketing experience preferred; proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
REASON FOR REQUEST
To produce quality deliverables and meet current study timelines for on ongoing post-market studies.
REQUIRED TECHNOLOGIES
MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint
CONTACT
Barnet Balonick Technical Recruiter Synectics Inc. 181 West Madison Street Chicago, IL 60602 Tel: 312-629-1020 | |
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DISCLAIMER: Biotech Ink, LLC, and the Biotech Ink Insider provide the Insider jobs list on an "as-submitted basis," and neither assumes responsibility for, nor guarantees the quality or accuracy of, any listing or response. All listings are provided as a free service and courtesy to subscribers and users, and users assume all risk in using the information in the Insider.
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