76 episodes
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast Emma Hitt Nichols, PhD
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- Education
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4.9 • 33 Ratings
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Emma Hitt Nichols talks to freelance medical writers about their work
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Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 10: Being a Lifelong Learner
Learning a little bit of something each day is a bit like dollar-cost averaging in the field of investing: keep doing them consistently over time, and you will end up becoming very rich in both marketable skills and savings. It’s also always been my belief that the best investment you can possibly make—better than any mutual fund or stock market return—is in developing your own skills. Nobody can take them away from you. In this episode I talk about some of the things that are useful to learn as a freelance medical writer.
Here are the 10 traits of successful freelance medical writers:
Focused on what the client and reader wants and needs Follows directions Follows formatting Responsive Well versed in AMA style and rules of editing Organized and mindful of time Cheerful/forgiving/flexible Professional with clients on calls LinkedIn presence Lifelong learner Access “LinkedIn for Medical Writers” here.
Download the free AMA Style cheat sheet here
Download the free AMA style reference list here
Find out more information about how to get into freelance medical writing at 6weekcourse.com
Does your company need medical writing assistance? Visit Nascentmc.com
Join VisualMedComms here. Learn how to make your medical and scientific communications visually appealing and benefit from incorporating a new set of in-demand skills. Find out more about joining the membership below. -
Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 9: Having a LinkedIn Presence
This week’s episode covers freelance medical writer success trait number 9, which is having a strong LinkedIn presence. I interviewed Dr. Kalpana Shankar a few months ago on this topic, and I think our conversation really covers most of what I would have to say (and includes several value bombs from Dr. Shankar), so I am reposting that here, along with a short intro on the topic.
If you are a freelance medical writer and are interested in getting more clients, LinkedIn is definitely the place to be. You can have a fully built profile within a day. If you need a little guidance on that, check out my “LinkedIn for Medical Writers” course.
Here are the 10 traits of successful freelance medical writers:
Focused on what the client and reader wants and needs Follows directions Follows formatting Responsive Well versed in AMA style and rules of editing Organized and mindful of time Cheerful/forgiving/flexible Professional with clients on calls LinkedIn presence Lifelong learner Access “LinkedIn for Medical Writers” here.
Download the free AMA Style cheat sheet here
Download the free AMA style reference list here
Find out more information about how to get into freelance medical writing at 6weekcourse.com
Does your company need medical writing assistance? Visit Nascentmc.com
Join VisualMedComms here -
Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 8: Being Professional on Client Calls
In this episode, I talk about the many things we have to remember to pull off a successful video conference call with a client, including what to wear, how to set up the video, and other minutiae involved in a professional client call.
This is trait number 8 of the 10 traits of successful freelance medical writers.
Focused on what the client and reader wants and needs Follows directions Follows formatting Responsive Well versed in AMA style and rules of editing Organized and mindful of time Cheerful/forgiving/flexible Professional with clients on calls LinkedIn presence Lifelong learner Download the free AMA Style cheat sheet here
Download the free AMA style reference list here
Course EDITING FOR MEDICAL WRITERS (Learn AMA Style https://learnamastyle.com/) Find out more information about how to get into freelance medical writing at 6weekcourse.com Does your company need medical writing assistance? visit Nascentmc.com VisualMedComms is a new membership where you can learn how to make your medical and scientific communications visually appealing and benefit from incorporating a new set of in-demand skills to offer your clients. visualmedcomms.com -
Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 7: Being Cheerful, Forgiving and Flexible
This week I am talking about being cheerful, forgiving, and flexible--freelance medical writer success trait number 7. How far do you have to go in this regard? Is the customer or client always right? When should you cut ties with a client?
Here are the top 10 traits of successful medical writers as I see them:
Focused on what the client and reader wants and needs Follows directions Follows formatting Responsive Well versed in AMA style and rules of editing. Organized and mindful of time. Cheerful/forgiving/flexible Professional with clients on calls LinkedIn presence. Lifelong learner You can listen to that overview episode here
Download the free AMA Style cheat sheet here
Download the free AMA style reference list here
Course EDITING FOR MEDICAL WRITERS (Learn AMA Style https://learnamastyle.com/) Find out more information about how to get into freelance medical writing at 6weekcourse.com Does your company need medical writing assistance? visit Nascentmc.com VisualMedComms is a new membership where you can learn how to make your medical and scientific communications visually appealing and benefit from incorporating a new set of in-demand skills to offer your clients. visualmedcomms.com -
Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 6: Organized and Mindful of Time
So this week I have a touch of Covid (thankfully, the seemingly milder Omicron variety). And YES I got 2 vaccinations and a booster! Anyway, I don’t want you having to listen to my croaky voice, except for in the intro sections!
I did a 3-part series on productivity a while back and thought I would repost the series as a single episode here as it pertains to success trait number 6, which is “organized and mindful of time.”
In the first of this 3-part series, I describe productivity hacks that everyone can use. In the second of this 3-part series, I talk about medical-writer specific productivity hacks. In the third of this 3-part series, I talk about delegating, the key to being uberproductive and having enough free time.
Here are the top 10 traits of successful medical writers as I see them:
Focused on what the client and reader wants and needs Follows directions Follows formatting Responsive Well versed in AMA style and rules of editing. Organized and mindful of time. Cheerful/forgiving/flexible Professional with clients on calls LinkedIn presence. Lifelong learner You can listen to that overview episode here
Download the free AMA Style cheat sheet here
Download the free AMA style reference list here
Course EDITING FOR MEDICAL WRITERS (Learn AMA Style https://learnamastyle.com/) Find out more information about how to get into freelance medical writing at 6weekcourse.com Does your company need medical writing assistance? visit Nascentmc.com VisualMedComms is a new membership where you can learn how to make your medical and scientific communications visually appealing and benefit from incorporating a new set of in-demand skills to offer your clients. visualmedcomms.com -
Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 5: Being well versed in the AMA Manual of Style and rules of writing and editing
Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 5: Being well versed in the AMA Manual of Style and rules of writing and editing
In this week’s episode, I talk about the success trait number 5, and that is being well versed in the AMA Manual of Style and the rules of writing and editing.
Qualities like having a science background, being detail oriented and having the ability to sit quietly at a computer are a given and not included in the 10 traits. Here are the top 10 traits as I see them:
Focused on what the client and reader wants and needs Follows directions Follows formatting Responsive Well versed in AMA style and rules of editing. Organized and mindful of time. Cheerful/forgiving/flexible Professional with clients on calls LinkedIn presence. Lifelong learner From today's episode: If you would like an advance review copy of Nick Nichols' (aka dear hubby) new legal thriller All We Hold Dear coming out March 1, 2022, please email nicknwrites@gmail.com and we will send you a copy.
Here are some books I recommend:
On Writing by Stephen King Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott On Writing Well by William Zinsser The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White How to Write Bestselling Fiction by Dean Koontz War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield And my book Freelance Medical Writing Emma Hitt Nichols, PhD Download the AMA Style cheat sheet here
Download the AMA style reference list here
Course EDITING FOR MEDICAL WRITERS (Learn AMA Style https://learnamastyle.com/) Find out more information about how to get into freelance medical writing at 6weekcourse.com Does your company need medical writing assistance? visit Nascentmc.com VisualMedComms is a new membership where you can learn how to make your medical and scientific communications visually appealing and benefit from incorporating a new set of in-demand skills to offer your clients. visualmedcomms.com
Customer Reviews
Truly informative and helpful!
What a valuable resource for aspiring medical writers like myself! I had great expectations when I heard that Emma Hitt Nichols had a podcast series, and she does not disappoint! Just like her gold-standard 6-Week Course, this series is packed with practical advice and tips for people who are just starting to figure out the field of medical writing. For anyone interested in becoming a medical writer but lost as to how to get started… Do yourself a huge favor by listening to this podcast and signing up for the 6-Week Course!
Outdated advice
There are a lot of positive reviews here. Unfortunately, that is because this podcaster openly solicits positive reviews in exchange for help. The fundamental problem with this podcaster is that she is not an active freelancer. Consequently, a lot of her advice is outdated and even misguided. The 6-week course is also not worth your money. There are too many people on the channel and, contrary to promises, the work does not pay well at all. You can make more on UpWork! Seek input someone from an active freelancer if you want more relevant advice.
Invaluable for new and seasoned medical writers
Emma Hitt Nichols' 6-week course for medical writers was worth every penny. I was interested in transitioning from clinical work to medical writing but did not know where to start. The course is an efficient recipe of information from her business that instantly led to paid medical writing projects.
The "Medical Writers Speak" podcast touches on important information not initially evident to both new and experienced medical writers. The episodes are entertaining, easy to follow, and a great source of information. Whether considering a career in medical writing or desiring business expansion, these information sources are invaluable.