Medical Writing Tips

• Educate yourself: At a minimum, sign up for a free class online (eg, “Writing in the Sciences” on OpenEdX). For a little more work, try the “Essential Skills” self-study workshop series offered by the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and earn a certificate once you’ve completed the exams. If you want an even deeper education, AMWA has compiled a list of universities that offer a program or degree in science writing.
  
  
• Engage with other medical writers: Consider becoming a member of a professional organization, such as AMWA, Editorial Freelancers Association, Council of Science Editors, or Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society. These organizations offer in-person conferences as well as email and online forums that are actively used by many resourceful medical writers. In addition, the professional organizations offer many resources that are accessible only to members.
  
  
• Compile a reference library: A medical dictionary, a style guide, and a statistics book are the basics that should be at hand. Keep in mind that your client may dictate a particular writing style that differs from a professional style guide. (see Resources document above for specific suggestions).
  
  
• Arm yourself with the necessary tools: It’s difficult to do any job correctly without the proper equipment. At a minimum, invest in a good computer (two screens are always helpful), and get familiar with word processing software, reference manager software, and pdf document software.
  
  
• Read a lot: Reading helps develop your knowledge base and your writing and editing skills. The list below is just a sample of blogs and websites that I enjoy reading. I encourage you to seek out general interest science news, field-specific science journals, and books that interest you.