“Everything you Need to Know to Start Your Freelance Medical Writing Business”

Next start dates for 6-week course:

August 19, 2013

Current course April 22, 2013

LOG-IN

Each 6-week course includes the following:

What topics will be covered?

Week 1: Writing skills

5 Mistakes Medical Writers Should Avoid

Medical Writing Style

A Checklist for Pieces you Really Care About

Ten Things You Should Do Before Launching Your Medical Writing Practice

Week 2: Setting up your freelance business

Rules of website design for the freelance medical writer–everything you need to know to set up your website

Potential medical writing markets

How to get your first freelance medical writing clients

When to (and when not to) network and help others

Freelance integrity–meeting deadlines, plagiarism, and other issues

Equipment and software you’ll need

“I honestly don’t think the course could have better met my needs.”
Amy Dear, PhD,
6-week Course Participant, January 2011

Week 3: Writing the medical news

Scope of medical news writing

How to write the medical news

Interviewing tips and techniques for news writers

How to get medical news writing work

Week 4: Writing CME

Scope of CME work

Understanding “fair balance”

Writing effective CME, learning objectives, and questions

Getting the ghoul out of “ghostwriting”

“The design of the course was perfect for me in that I could work at my own pace, whilst having access to Emma to answer any questions, as well as receiving feedback on my work.”
Katie Bell
6-week Course Participant, January 2011

Week 5: Writing feature articles

Scope of feature article writing

How to write feature articles

Interviewing tips and techniques for feature articles

Week 6: Running a freelance business

Negotiating and collecting your pay

Positioning yourself as a freelance writer

Contracts 101 for freelance medical writers

Organizational tips for freelance medical writers

When to break up with a client

Freelance customer service (keeping your clients happy and what to do when they are not)

Self care for the busy freelancer

Who should take this course?

Only people with the following qualifications, although please ask if you have an advanced degree in a science that may be relevant and is not listed here:

A PhD in a science (or within a year of obtaining that degree)

An MD or other professional medical degree

A PharmD

A nursing or allied health professional degree (RN, PA etc.)

The ideal candidate will not only have a science/medical background but they will also perceive themselves to have some innate writing ability and a service-oriented personality (required for successful freelancing). Plus they are ready and willing to start up their own business soon. The “ideal” candidate is a native English speaker, about to finish their graduate school PhD training in a science or recently earned some type of advanced science degree, and is looking to go straight into freelance medical writing.

I do not believe it is ethical for me to take someone’s money if, for whatever reason, I do not feel that they will succeed in this challenging profession or that I am the person to help them. Consequently, not everyone who applies is accepted. Apologies in advance.

“Emma’s course has made a huge difference for me. I’ve moved from postdoc to owning my business and my life!”
Kathy Boltz, PhD,
6-week Course Participant, January 2011

What is the course like?

The course is structured so that it can fit around your schedule, but in order to get the most out of the course, you will probably want to be able to dedicate at least 10 hours a week, and preferably 20 hours per week, to reading, learning, and working on projects. There are no online meeting times or schedules to deal with. The time requirements are completely flexible. That said, if you are in the very last stretch of finishing up your PhD, or you have a demanding full time job where you can’t even check emails during the day, or you have major family demands, you might want to postpone taking the course until you have more time available.

How much does the course cost?

The 6-week course costs $1695. If selected, you will receive support and information to transition into an interesting, high-paying, work-at-home career as a freelance medical writer. You will also be given paid projects with my company to get experience and receive my direct feedback on your work. This really is a unique opportunity; clients are constantly asking me for referrals for writers. I will refer you if I can, and I may also ask you to work with my company as a subcontractor after the 6 weeks is up.

What types of projects will I be able to work on?

If I accept you into the course, then I am reasonably confident that you have what it takes to work on at least smaller writing projects (eg, news pieces) and can follow directions, work with a template, etc. IF that goes well (and surprisingly it doesn’t always), and you make yourself available, then you will have the opportunity to work on larger projects such as needs assessments, slide sets, and whatever else comes up.

If I see right away that medical writing is clearly not for you, we will have a chat, and I may refund your money.

After the 6 weeks is up, IF your work is of high quality, and you are reliable, and I feel so inclined in terms of my business needs, then you will be added to the list of subcontractors that I use regularly. At that time you would be under no obligation to keep working with me, but I have several people who have gone through the course, and continue work on projects for me as they continue to develop their own client base.

How to apply:

To get started, please make sure you are qualified as described in the section above “Who should take this class?” Then, please email me at least a 500-word piece of writing describing your background, why you want to get into freelance medical writing, and anything else that may be relevant.

For obvious reasons, please make it your own best writing, edited only by you. I will get back to you, usually within 24 hours, about whether or not I think the course would be a good match for you. I may also assign a short writing test.

How to pay:

If you are accepted, payment by check or credit card is due by the start date of the course once you receive a payment request (usually sent about a week before the start date). If extenuating circumstances arise during the 6 weeks, I can be flexible about when you complete the course.

Any questions? Please email me.

FAQs:

What if I just want you to answer a few questions without me having to sign up for the course?

To get your questions answered I would highly recommend the AMWA and NASW listservs. To join the AMWA listservs you must be an AMWA member, but the NASW listservs are open to non-members and free. If you pose a question on these listservs you will get a number of helpful responses to any question you may have.

Can I take this course if I want to be a staff medical writer rather than a freelancer?

This 6-week course is directed towards highly qualified individuals who want to run their own freelance medical writing business. Materials are written from that perspective. You are welcome to apply, but some of the materials might not be relevant.

Can I take this class if I am already a working freelance medical writer?

If you have been working as a freelance medical writer for more than a few months, this class may not be for you, although send me an email and we can discuss it. The course is specifically geared towards people who are starting up though.

Why do you not teach regulatory writing?

Medical writing is a little “dry”, but to me, regulatory writing (eg, INDs, NDAs, Package Inserts) is BONE dry, so I don’t enjoy it, and I don’t do it. Also, since regulatory writing is proprietary, it is usually done by employees of a company not freelancers. I do provide info on how to find out more about regulatory writing in Week 2 “Potential medical writing markets,” but that is the extent of the coverage of regulatory writing in this 6-week course. You can visit the RAPS site for more info on regulatory writing.

Additional questions? Please contact me by email.