QUESTION
of the Week!
"I'm a former medical transcriptionist (13 years' experience) with a B.A. in English; however, for the past six years, I have worked in Internet Marketing and Web development. While I have significant freelance writing experience, I have very little medical writing experience. I just filled out my applciation for the M.S. in Biomedical Writing at USP; however, I'm nervous about switching careers. Any advice?"
Most of us become nervous when we're about to embark on something new, so your nervousness is certainly understandable. You've applied to a great program that will give you a strong foundation in medical writing. Plus your experience as a medical transcriptionist, your degree in English, and even your background in internet marketing and web development, will all serve you well in your new career. Our advice: embrace your nervousness, but don't let it paralyze you. If you've read our first book, The Accidental Medical Writer, you know that neither of us had medical writing experience when we began. That didn't prevent us from building successful careers in the industry, and it shouldn't keep you from moving forward with your dream. Early in our careers, we both found mentors who offered advice and gave us opportunities. Finding your own mentor might be something you want to consider. Meanwhile, we will continue to be a "virtual" mentor to you through our books and this website, including the latest book in our series, Nude Mice And Other Medical Writing Terms You Need To Know. Good luck!
--Cyndy and BrianEveryone who’s ever been successful has had a mentor, and we’re no exception. In fact, over our careers we’ve had (and still have) many mentors—counseling us in different areas and providing differences of opinion so we can make informed, and hopefully better, decisions.
Over the years, we’ve counseled many current and want-to-be freelance medical writers. We speak to them at conferences and workshops where we present, and sometimes even communicate with them directly via phone and email. But unfortunately, we can’t reach many people that way. At least not as many people as we would like, because so many people have questions about how to become, or become better, freelance medical writers.
That’s why we created The Accidental Medical Writer series of books and this website, so we can reach more people who are in search of information and answers. Please don’t think that we know everything, or even most things, because we certainly don’t. And don’t take our thoughts and opinions as gospel, because thoughts and opinions are like relatives—everyone has them, and some of them can be pretty flakey.
The advice we give is our own, and it is based on our own personal and professional experiences. It does not reflect the opinions of any organizations to which we belong, and it is not going to be right for everyone.
Provided you don’t have uncontrolled hypertension, take everything we say with a grain or two of salt. Our opinions and advice are based on nearly 40 years of combined experience as freelance medical writers, but they are opinions and advice nonetheless.