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April 17, 2009 | Vol. 2 No. 11 Published by Biotech Ink, LLC | |
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Freelance Medical Writing: Do You Have the Right Stuff?
by Susan E Caldwell |
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Each week, I receive several calls and emails from people who are thinking of moving from a "permanent" job (is there such a thing?) into the world of freelance medical writing.
These inquiries often come from folks who've been in staff positions for a long time. Some consider moving into freelance medical writing because they expect to be laid off anyway-it's an opportunity to change their career path. Others are unhappy with their job in a related field, such as medicine or journalism, and want to apply their job skills to medical writing. And most are drawn to the freelance lifestyle.
Whatever the motivation, it's a huge decision. It's about being independent.
What does it mean to be a freelance medical writer? For this discussion, the term includes medical writer entrepreneurs in all business structures, whether sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or LLC. A freelance medical writer does medical writing (of any type) independently, choosing their own clients, projects, marketing methods, accounting system, fee structure, hours, office, supplies, and equipment.
There are many issues to consider when thinking of going freelance. Among them are (1) whether your social and business networks contract if you work from home, (2) how you configure your office, (3) whether you're qualified, (4) what you'll do to minimize down time between projects, and (5) whether you can earn a living doing freelance writing.
In this article, the focus is not on these issues. Rather, the focus is on your character and personality and whether you have the right traits to succeed as a freelance medical writer.
It's true that freelance writing offers a lifestyle with wonderful freedom, flexibility, and autonomy. If you're a mom or dad, you can take off to pick up your child at school or go to their soccer games and still get your work done. You don't have a boss breathing down your neck day after day. Your daily commute is likely to last 30 seconds, rather than 30 minutes.
But being your own boss also means you must make, execute, and live with the decisions that will determine whether you succeed or fail.
Think about it. You are responsible for your office configuration, the hours you keep, the clients you accept, how you interact with your clients, and how you handle cash flow. You decide how to market your services, when and what to charge your clients, and how to define the name, address, and legal structure of your business. And importantly, you define by your decisions the type(s) of medical writing you'll practice: marketing/commercial, continuing medical education, manuscripts, and/or regulatory.
Are you thinking of becoming a freelance medical writer? If so, answer this question with stark honesty: do you have the initiative, knowledge, and self-discipline to make and execute the decisions that will make your business successful? To be successful, you must make the key decisions and then carry them out, with or without the help of others. If you can honestly say you're able to make and carry out these decisions, then you may be ready to freelance.
If the idea of developing your client base and marketing your services makes you cringe, though, you should probably think twice before taking the plunge into freelance medical writing. If you need to blame others for your mistakes, rather than facing the consequences and learning from them, freelance medical writing is probably not for you.
It's hard to objectively answer whether you're ready for the independence and responsibility that freelance medical writing offers, because you want the freedom and flexible lifestyle so much you can taste it. But be honest with yourself. Do the hard look in the mirror, and be prepared to live with the truth. The answer you get may save you months or years of tough times and regrets.
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About the Author
Susan Caldwell is a scientist-turned-medical writer, and has worked in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries for over 20 years. As a medical writer, she managed medical writing groups at four companies before becomig an independent writer in 2005. Her specialty is regulatory writing, including such documents as eCTDs, clinical study protocols, and preclinical and clinical study reports. She is president and medical writer consultant at Biotech Ink, LLC, and is editor and publisher of the Biotech Ink Insider.
Susan E Caldwell, PhD
Biotech Ink, LLC -- the Contract Writing OrganizationSM
969-G Edgewater Blvd., No. 303
Foster City, CA 94404
Tel: 650.286.9300
Fax: 650.286.9301
Email: caldwell@biotechink.com
Web: www.biotechink.com or www.biotechinkinsider.com |
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Open Jobs and Gigs for Writers |
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. See also our disclaimer at the bottom of the newsletter.
If you're a writer or editor and are getting calls about staff or contract positions you aren't interested in, please forward that job information to Susan Caldwell at caldwell@biotechink.com. We'd be delighted to publish such positions in the next issue of the Insider. | |
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Promotional Medical Writer
South San Francisco, CA |
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Permanent, full time position with excellent benefits package
This is a great position for a PowerPoint guru/ medical writer who enjoys interacting with marketing teams and producing material for educational (not CME) and promotional purposes. The client will also look at candidates with relevant experience who do not have a formal biomedical education General Purpose/Summary of Job: To produce high quality educational materials for the pharmaceutical industry and other educational bodies to enhance understanding of the product/disease area, thus helping clients fulfill marketing objectives. Primary Duties and Responsibilities: · Carefully take, and correctly interpret and implement briefs from the client or other company staff . · Research, write, edit and proof copy to the highest standard (scientific and grammatical) for a full range of educational materials for various audiences. Including development of oral presentations, print items, and multimedia. · Manage/co-ordinate materials through design/production to print-ready stage, according to the company procedures. · Check proofs and printer's proofs (text, layout, color, specification) and sign-off for print/production. · Accurate/precise interpretation and incorporation of client/author corrections. · Liaise with client, opinion leaders/speakers and company staff to ensure full and documented approval. · Provide direction for the development of creative designs. · Develop and implement production schedules. · Provide on-site support to meet client/company requirements, e.g., on-site writing/editing/production, faculty support, A/V, data gathering, general assistance. · Assist clients to disseminate marketing messages in the most appropriate format. · Contribute to the development of new business and proposals wherever possible (existing and new clients). Job Qualifications: · Educated to degree level or above in a biomedical discipline (Masters preferred). · Excellent scientific writing style and ability to adapt to target audience. · Attention to detail - style/consistency, grammar, syntax, scientific accuracy, layout, etc. · Good knowledge of a number of therapeutic areas, medical products and the pharmaceutical industry. · Excellent project/time management and organizational skills. · Creativity. · Excellent inter-personal/communication skills, including client/opinion leader contact skills. · IT skills (including WP, database searching, graphics packages, Internet, etc.). · Good understanding and implementation of company operating procedures. · Knowledge of print/production procedures. · Budgetary awareness. · Familiar with code of practice guidelines for medical copy/copyright issues. · Familiar with drug development regulatory guidelines/issues. Contact:Kate Eastaway Claddagh Resources Office:(678) 405 5203 Cell:(678) 614 3160 http://www.linkedin.com/in/keastaway | |
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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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