Working as a freelance medical writer is a great nonclinical career for several reasons:

• You can start by working part-time.
• There is a lot of flexibility.
• The demand for writers continues to grow.
• A large cash investment is not required to start.

Before we jump into today’s interview, I want to thank listeners who have rated and review this podcast. It really means a lot to me.

And for those who have NOT: Please take a minute to go to iTunes or your smartphone podcast app and leave a short review. It helps other physicians find us.

I hope you’ve had a chance to listen to last week’s show. It featured Michelle Mudge-Riley, and her newly updated Physicians Helping Physicians Membership site. Go to vitalpe.net/episode055 or vitalpe.net/itunes to listen.

Find Freedom as a Freelance Medical Writer

My guest today, Dr. Emma Nichols, addresses all the topics listed above in today’s interview.

She has a doctorate in molecular biology. And, she’s a seasoned medical communications professional. She specializes in continuing medical education and news writing. Her company, Nascent Medical, provides expert medical writing services using a team of experienced MD- and PhD-level writers.

As she was building her company, she needed to vet and train capable writers. That led to developing a course to train freelance medical writers about the business. Dozens of physicians have launched their own writing careers based on Dr. Nichols' training.

I’ve personally spoken with several writers who have recommended her course. So, I thought she’d be an excellent guest for the podcast.

If you’ve considered a career in medical writing, Emma provided some great advice.

She described the benefits of a career as a freelance medical writer. And she outlined the personality traits that best fit such a career.

She suggested that writers start out by writing part-time to see how well they like it.

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Other Resources

Emma mentioned the American Medical Writers Association (aka “AMWA”). It's a good resource for physicians considering a writing career. It’s next big annual meeting – the 2018 Medical Writing & Communication Conference – is being held in Washington, DC, from November 1st through the 3rd.

She also suggested looking at the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society if you're interested in technical writing.

Finally, she also told us about a free webinar she’s hosting. It's called “Freelance Medical Writing — A Lucrative Work-From-Home Career Choice.”

You can join the webinar on Thursday, October 25th, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. It’s a very good way to learn how to become a freelance medical writer. She’ll be going into more details about some of the topics we covered today. And she'll discuss potential salary expectations. To sign up for the webinar, go to 6weekcourse.com.

If you'd like another perspective on medical writing, you should also listen to my interview with Mandy Armitage in Episode #22.

Thanks again for listening. I hope to see you next time on Physician NonClinical Careers.

As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.

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Disclaimer:

The opinions expressed here are mine and my guest’s. While the information provided on the podcast is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge, there is no express or implied guarantee that using the methods discussed here will lead to success in your career, life or business. 

The information presented on this blog and related podcast is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical, legal, tax, emotional or other types of advice. Always consult an attorney, accountant, career counsellor, or other professional before making any major decisions about your career. 

If you take action on any information provided on the blog or podcast, it is at your own risk. Always consult a professional, e.g., attorney, accountant, career counsellor, etc., before making any major decisions related to the subject matter of the blog and podcast.

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