Trying to study find out how to develop into a medical author? Right here’s how you’ll find freelance medical writing jobs and do business from home.
At present, I’ve a terrific interview about find out how to develop into a medical author with Austin Ulrich.
Austin began his freelance medical writing enterprise in 2019 and grew it on the aspect for over 3 years. He finally give up his job as a pharmacist and now works full-time as a medical author.
He at the moment earns round $200,000 every year as a contract medical author.
Austin can be a blogger. On his weblog austinulrich.com, he writes about creating freedom and time by incomes and preserving extra earnings.
At present’s interview solutions questions equivalent to:
- What’s medical writing?
- What’s a contract medical author?
- Who hires medical writers?
- How a lot are you able to earn as a medical author?
- Do I want a medical diploma to develop into a medical author?
At present’s interview will assist you to get began and maybe even introduce you to a brand new option to earn cash from dwelling.
Associated content material on find out how to develop into a medical author:
How To Develop into A Medical Author
1. Please give us just a little background on your self and what led you to develop into a medical author.
When you had informed me 5 years in the past that I’d be operating my very own enterprise as an expert author, I by no means would have believed you. I used to be busy ending up pharmacy college and specializing in what would come subsequent for me – 2 years of residency and a lifelong profession as a pharmacist.
However by means of a collection of life occasions and experiences, I bought into freelance medical writing and final yr made about double the earnings I’d make working as a full-time pharmacist.
I had no concept that medical writing existed till early 2019 once I was trying up methods to make more cash on-line. I attempted a number of various things, from on-line tutoring to transcription providers and even instructing piano classes, however nothing caught.
However once I realized about medical writing, I knew that it was one thing I may go for and have likelihood of success. I’ve at all times been kind of a grammar nerd, and as I look again, I’ve gotten numerous suggestions all through my years of college that my writing was fairly good.
After studying so much in regards to the occupation, I arrange a easy web site (screenshot under) and launched my freelance medical writing enterprise, Ulrich Medical Writing, LLC in July 2019.
Subsequent got here the exhausting half – discovering shoppers and constructing a gradual stream of earnings. And I used to be the first breadwinner for our household of 4 (on the time, now it’s 6 – spouse + 4 youngsters!), so I couldn’t take as a lot danger as if I have been going solo. It needed to be constructed steadily over time.
It took a number of years to construct up my aspect hustle (with many 60+ hour weeks) till I had a strong historical past of constant earnings.
I give up my job as a pharmacist in Could 2022 and have been a full-time freelance medical author ever since.
Medical writing has allowed me to develop my entrepreneurial ventures, and I’ve not too long ago been engaged on my weblog the place I write about what’s new in medical writing, like AI tools for medical writing, and different ideas for aspiring medical writers.
2. What do you want about being a medical author? How has it modified your life?
My favourite a part of being a medical author is seeing how the ultimate deliverable comes collectively. I like the feel and appear of a high-quality piece that I’ve put hours into, and that exceeds expectations for my shoppers.
I additionally love the freelance a part of medical writing, because it permits me to have full management over my schedule, which tasks I take or flip down, and the way a lot I cost. It’s additionally an enormous bonus that my work is 100% distant, so I can work anyplace I’ve my laptop computer and an web connection.
As I look again over the previous couple of years of rising my medical writing enterprise, I understand how important my pharmacy background has been. Early on, having the PharmD (Physician of Pharmacy) credential was an vital advertising device, demonstrating my worth to potential shoppers.
So regardless that I’m not a training pharmacist, I keep my licenses and credentials as a result of I’ve appreciated how that a part of my life performs a task in being a medical author.
At present I’ve extra time with my household, extra flexibility with my schedule, and the next earnings than I initially anticipated to earn throughout my pharmacist profession.
It wasn’t simple, nevertheless it’s been price it.
3. What’s medical writing? What’s a contract medical author?
That’s most likely the most typical query I get today. Once I inform individuals I’m a medical author, they kind of give me a clean stare after which ask, “what’s medical writing?”
Although most individuals haven’t heard of it earlier than, you’d be stunned how typically in your day by day life you encounter one thing a medical author has created.
Medical writing is the method of creating scientific or medical paperwork and supplies that talk data to healthcare professionals, researchers, sufferers, and most of the people. It’s a broad definition, and medical writers can work in a wide range of completely different areas.
Anytime you learn medical data on-line, it was possible created by a medical author and certain reviewed by a healthcare skilled.
Medical writing additionally contains creating supplies like scientific and medical journal articles which are printed in peer-reviewed journals, healthcare skilled training slide decks and paperwork, and regulatory paperwork for pharmaceutical firms.
A contract medical author is somebody who affords medical writing providers to firms on a contract foundation. Many firms, equivalent to healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical firms, and medical communications companies, have on-staff writers that deal with most of their content material.
However when somebody has a venture that exceeds the bandwidth of their employees writers, that’s the place freelancers are available. Freelance medical writing is much like common freelance writing, nevertheless it’s extra specialised.
Many firms additionally work with freelance medical writers repeatedly as a result of it really works effectively with the ebb and move of their content material course of.
4. Who hires medical writers?
Any firm that produces written supplies possible hires medical writers.
In response to the American Medical Writers Affiliation (AMWA), there are various varieties of firms that rent medical writers, together with contract analysis organizations, medical training firms, authorities companies, and extra.
I’ve personally labored with a number of varieties of firms on this checklist. Many of those firms are interconnected within the net of medical data, so the deliverables I’ve created for my direct shoppers additionally go by means of to peer-reviewed medical journals, pharmaceutical firms, {and professional} affiliation supplies.
5. How a lot do you earn as a medical author? What number of hours do you spend every week on medical writing?
Employed medical writers and freelance medical writers are inclined to have barely completely different earnings ranges.
In response to a 2019 medical writer salary survey carried out by AMWA, employed medical writers make a median gross annual earnings of $107,000, with a spread of $79,000-$112,000. And freelance medical writers make a median gross annual earnings of $151,000, with a spread of $77,000 to $203,000.
Whenever you begin working as a medical author, you’ll are inclined to earn extra on the decrease finish of the vary (and in case you work fewer hours). The extra expertise you get, your wage is prone to improve after a number of years towards the upper finish of the vary.
The very first venture I secured as a contract medical author was a $4,000 venture creating 8 slide decks for a medical convention, and I ended up making about $75 per hour. Since then I’ve gotten higher at estimating how lengthy sure tasks will take. I’m additionally extra environment friendly in how I work, in order that helps elevate my “efficient hourly charge” as effectively.
I spend about 30-35 hours per week on medical writing on common. As a result of nature of freelancing, some weeks are 40+ hours and a few weeks are lower than 30 hours.
I’ve discovered that one of the simplest ways to earn “efficient hourly charge” as a contract medical author is to cost by the venture. So whereas I’ve an concept of an hourly charge that I’d prefer to make, I at all times cost by the venture as a result of it leads to higher incentives for me and the shopper.
Charging by the hour incentivizes the author to spend as a lot time as they’ll to create the deliverable to allow them to invoice the utmost quantity. With venture charges, the author is incentivized to spend much less time, however nonetheless create a top quality product because it’s their identify on the road. In the long run, the shopper has a high-quality deliverable sooner.
6. Can anybody develop into a medical author? What professions would this be match for? What {qualifications} do it’s essential to be a medical author?
There are not any set necessities to develop into a medical author, so technically anybody can develop into a medical author. That stated, you’ll have to persuade potential employers or shoppers to rent you.
When you’ve got a background as a medical or medical analysis skilled, this generally is a large benefit to moving into medical writing. You’ll possible have already got the technical information wanted to know medical data – you’d simply have to give attention to honing your writing expertise.
There are various medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and PhDs which are profitable medical writers.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, many medical writers have a bachelor’s diploma in communications or journalism and so they study the medical half by means of programs or certifications.
7. How can an individual discover their first medical writing job? How can an individual get into medical writing with no expertise?
The primary medical writing job is at all times the toughest. When you’re seeking to be employed as a medical author (assume W-2 worker), most job postings say that you simply want 3-5 years of expertise. In order that results in the conundrum, how do you get expertise in case you can’t get a job?
My suggestion is to emphasise what expertise and expertise you do have. I had written a number of scientific articles and slide decks in pharmacy college and residency. So these have been my writing samples that demonstrated I may write effectively.
When you don’t have any samples of your writing, create some! After studying extra about what kind(s) of medical writing you need to do, decide a subject you’re considering and create a 2-3 web page article or 10-slide deck. Even these small samples show that you understand what you’re speaking about and might put collectively high-quality supplies.
Getting began as a contract medical author with no expertise tends to be a bit tougher than with freelance writing in different fields, however when you get into medical writing, your incomes potential could be larger, whilst a newbie.
8. Is there demand for medical writers?
Since I’ve gotten into medical writing, the necessity for medical writers has solely elevated. In response to AMWA, there was growing demand for medical writers lately.
I consider demand will proceed to rise as a result of there are at all times new medication being created that have to be written about, and new analysis being finished within the medical discipline.
Medical writers play an vital position in speaking that data precisely.
It’s additionally price mentioning that medical enhancing is a completely separate, however associated, discipline of medical communications. Medical editors are usually extra centered on checking paperwork for grammar and magnificence, and the work is much less artistic than writing the paperwork.
However medical editors are additionally a key a part of the medical communications world, and also you’ll discover editors working for medical and scientific journals, healthcare organizations, and different firms, ensuring written supplies are optimized and proper earlier than going out into the general public area.
9. Is it exhausting to get a medical writing job?
As talked about above, it may be troublesome to get your first medical writing job. It’ll most likely require some networking and speaking with potential employers or shoppers to get you a greater likelihood of getting employed.
Merely filling out job purposes with none “actual” medical writing expertise is probably not as efficient, as a result of your software might get rejected robotically in the course of the screening course of.
When you’ve landed your first medical writing job or freelance gig, be sure you do a terrific job. That turns into your greatest advertising device – in case your shoppers just like the work you do, you’ll by no means have a scarcity of alternatives.
10. What different ideas do you could have for somebody who desires to develop into a medical author?
My #1 tip for anybody considering medical writing is to take a look at the AMWA.org web site. They’ve tons of sources for studying about medical writing and find out how to get began.
When you’re severe about medical writing and also you don’t have a lot expertise with the medical discipline or with writing, taking a medical writing certification course just like the Essential Skills Certificate Program from AMWA can assist you get the fundamental information and expertise it’s essential to get began.
Once I was first beginning as a medical author, I joined AMWA and located my first few shoppers by means of the job board on their web site. I additionally attended the annual medical writing convention and bought to community with different established and aspiring medical writers.
You’ll additionally discover that many medical writers (myself included!) are greater than prepared to share ideas or speak about what works to get into medical writing.
In the end, medical writing is a good occupation that’s solely going to develop within the coming years. Writing isn’t for everybody, however in case you have a knack for placing sentences collectively, you’re considering medical or scientific matters, and also you’re prepared to place within the work, you could be profitable as a medical author!
How To Discover Medical Writing Jobs
I hope you loved at this time’s interview on find out how to develop into a medical author.
Medical writing signifies that you can be writing on the subject of medication or well being care, however you don’t have to be a physician or have a Ph.D. to get began with some medical writing jobs. As an alternative, some medical writers have a bachelor’s diploma in communications or journalism, after which they study the medical half by means of programs or certifications that they take. For instance, it’s possible you’ll resolve to take some life sciences, chemistry, or biology programs with a view to get began.
As a medical author, it’s possible you’ll be working for a lot of completely different sorts of shoppers, equivalent to pharmaceutical firms, medical system firms, medical colleges, tutorial establishments, on-line publishers, biotechnology firms, medical professionals, scientists, and a lot extra. Chances are you’ll be writing promoting or advertising supplies, abstracts, weblog posts, instructional supplies, manuscripts, journal articles, and extra.
The common wage or earnings of a contract medical author can range, however you might be able to earn between round $75,000 to over $200,000 per yr.
Do you need to learn to develop into a medical author with the intention to discover medical writing jobs?