Great article entitled How to Become a Competent Medical Writer by Dr. Suhasini Sharma, published in Perspectives in Clinical Research.

Before you read that, check out our new Complete Medical Writing Training System here: http://www.medicalwritingtraining.com/complete-medical-writing-training-system/

Now, here's the article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3149406/

Jonathan

What Kind of Medical Writing Should I Do?........... I was Skyping with a scientist the other day who wanted to get into medical writing. She was interested in one of our medical writing courses, and she wanted to know which medical writing course she might start with.


We talked for awhile. She had an undergraduate and graduate background in science, was working for a pharmaceutical company preparing specific reports, and wanted to stretch out more broadly into earning money as a medical writer, or getting a medical writing job. Consumer health writing was of interest, but she wanted something more technical.

We discussed our Science Journal Writing Course, our medical writing course called Regulatory Writing in the U.S., and lastly, our CME Training for Medical Writers. With discussion, she decided to start with Regulatory Writing, as this was closest to what she was currently doing. When she is done with that, she'll move on to CME Training for Medical Writers, because she is interested in working with physicians. A brief conversation really helped with her direction, and she was very appreciative.

We help medical writers get trained, get work, get jobs, with our various services. It can be a puzzling decision to make, but we can help you too. You can enjoy a free video webinar on "Career Opportunities in Medical Communication," get a listing of our courses, and even a discount on your first purchase.

Check it out: www.medicalwritingtraining.com

JM

We're all about helping medical writers develop their businesses and careers.

With all the social media available these days, it's my thought that if you're not present in some way with a profile, comments, and content, displaying who you are and what you think, that you are at significant disadvantage in getting found online for business and career prospects.

Have a full profile on our Medical Writing Network, with a picture, is a good thing. Doing the same on Linked In is also important.

I know many medical writers tend to be on the introverted side. That introvert gift is what makes you a great medical writer... the ability to think, research, organize, and write.

The good news is that being social in social media plays on your given and developed talents. It's almost ALL writing.

How well can people find YOU on the Internet?

Thoughts?

Jonathan Marx is Senior Vice President of InQuill Medical Communications and an expert in medical writing, medical writing training, medical marketing, and CME.

www.inquill.com - CME medical writing and accreditation.
www.medicalwritingtraining.com - Online, affordable medical writing training
http://medicalwriting.ning.com - Network of 2000 medical writers.

Five steps to getting published with your medical writing.

Here are five first steps to getting published with your medical writing.

Your first best step is to do homework and research on what magazines, periodicals, societies already publish in your area of interest or specialty.    

Second, identify those who are most likely to take content from you based on what they already publish. Go WITH the flow of these publications.

Third, read the last 4-5 issues and see what the magazines are focusing on.  

Fourth, get the contact information and editorial guidelines for the relevant publications. Make a list for yourself, so that you can get in touch with them.    

Fifth, after doing your research, make contact with the publication to discuss what you have to offer in the way of writing based on what THEY want or what direction THEY are going in. Forget what you are researching. You have to go in THEIR direction.

With careful research, you will hopefully choose publications that are a good match for you and are interested in what YOU are already researching and writing. If there is no match, you have to find another publication, or you have to change what you are doing to make a good match.

Jonathan Marx is Senior Vice President of InQuill Medical Communications and an expert in medical writing, medical writing training, medical marketing, and CME.

www.inquill.com - CME medical writing and accreditation.
www.medicalwritingtraining.com - Online, affordable medical writing training
http://medicalwriting.ning.com - Network of 2000 medical writers.

Getting your first job in medical writing.

A lot of people ask me how to get a FIRST job in medical writing.

I often hear two questions.

The first question is: "I want a job, but they tell me that I need experience. And they won't give me a job, because they want experience. So, how am I supposed to get experience if they won't give me a job?"

The second question is: "If I take a Medical Writing Training.com course, how long will it take me to get a job? Can I get a job right away?"

Allow me to share the answers I share with such inquiries.

First, there's no simple formula of "Do this, and you'll get a job." Getting a start as a medical writer, even if you are an MD PhD with years of work experience, takes consistent and never-ending work.

But there are three efforts you can put forward which do work consistently over time. They are easy to remember, and take some work to do.

First: Get Trained. Pick your writing specialty and get trained in that specialty. You need to know the basics, the formats, the protocols, to be able to compete with other candidates.

Second: Get Experience. Write articles for your own portfolio, so you can offer writing samples when asked. Work for free or reduced cost to get started. Take a low level position to get into a company, and then move up. You CAN build your own experience. I've heard such great stories from people just like you who don't wait for a job, but start building their experience and creating their own opportunities.

Third: Get Known. You have to get your profile out there. Build a complete profile with work and education history and photo on the Medical Writing Network. You really need a photo... the photo helps create connection. Participate in social media discussions anywhere. Develop an email list and send emails. Become familiar to people so that you are top of mind when they have a need. Make an impression online. So many recruiters and employers search online first, so be there when they search.

Remember these three imperatives for starting out in medical writing:

Get trained.

Get experience.

Get known.

They take some work on your part. With time, these efforts pay off!!

Jonathan Marx is Senior Vice President of InQuill Medical Communications and an expert in medical writing, medical writing training, medical marketing, and CME.

www.inquill.com - CME medical writing and accreditation.

www.medicalwritingtraining.com - Online, affordable medical writing training

http://medicalwriting.ning.com - Network of 2000 medical writers.