Tips for Freelance Medical Writers
1. Get Qualified. Both your scientific background and writing skills need to be up to par in order to be a freelance medical writer. You will need at least a bachelor’s degree in science, though you may want to consider getting a master’s or Ph.D., depending on your field. Read books on grammar and take writing courses to improve your writing. It’s also important to have good writers review your writing.
2. Gain Experience. Many medical writers work for a few years in a related industry such as a medical communications agency or pharmaceuticals to gain practical marketing experience and expertise in the field before going freelance. You will understand important skills like branding, messaging, and publication planning and learn how to communicate with different stakeholders.
3. Know What You’re Getting Into. Freelance writing is a dream for many people, but you should know what to expect before you start. Since most freelance writers work from home, you must be disciplined about your work. Try to keep the same hours each day. Work in a specific room where you won’t be distracted. Don’t spend the whole day in your pajamas. And be prepared for fluctuations in work – sometimes you may be very busy, but there may also be times when you don’t have as much work.
4. Decide on a Field. Your background may help you easily decide what types of medical fields to write for. If you’re not sure, you should research different types of medical writing jobs on job search sites like monster.com. This will help you get an idea of the various positions available in order to decide which ones interest you.
5. Market Yourself. Create a professional website for yourself – you may even consider hiring a web designer to make one for you. Put writing samples on the site, even material that hasn’t been published. You might also want to set up a professional social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn to further market your services.
6. Find Clients. The best way to find potential clients is to contact them yourself. You should shoot for 50 e-mails or phone calls a day. This may sound like a lot, but you will probably only receive one new client for every fifty attempts you make. You should also check online job boards, Craigslist, and specific freelance sites frequently. After a few weeks, your client base will start to grow.
7. Do Your Best – If you want to keep your clients’ business, you need to write excellent material. Just one mistake can cost you a job. Even if you have to spend extra time on your first assignments, this will make a good impression that will likely lead to repeat business. In the long run, you won’t have to do as much marketing because you will establish working relationships with your clients. If you’re really good, they might even recommend you to their peers in the medical field.
Lindsey Webber is a School Counselor for high school students. She has been practicing for 9 years. Lindsey also owns the site Masters in Counseling.
