And no, we know what you’re thinking. It’s ❌NOT *language*.
⏰In fact, the greatest hurdle to getting into medical writing is TIME.
If you’ve decided that you want to become a medical writer, your first thought should be to approach your new career like you would with any other role.
When you first start out as a doctor, pharmacist, or scientist, you’re not going to go straight to the top.
It’ll take you time to gather the relevant experiences which allow you to progress both professionally and financially.
The same goes for medical writing.
Many people believe that just because you have a natural ability to write, you’re automatically granted the credibility of a medical writer.
In fact, that’s wrong. Medical writing encompasses so much more than writing!
The one thing that can help you adapt to everything the industry throws your way? TIME.
Instead, you should focus on giving yourself time to mould your writing abilities to tailor to all the industry asks of you, and understanding exactly how time affects all aspects of your work.
Here’s how you can do so in just 5 simple steps:
1) Give yourself the time to learn
And yes, that may mean sacrificing your time after work to learn a new lucrative skill.
2) Take your time when writing a piece (unless you have silly deadlines)
Don’t just write an article and call it quits. Take a short break and go back to it with a fresh set of eyes and amend if needed.
3) Appreciate that it takes time to get a response from a client
People you work with will always be busy and have a lot on their plate, so learn to understand that not hearing back within one day of emailing somebody is indeed normal!
4) Learn how to manage your time well so that you do not get overwhelmed
Use some sort of productivity manager, such as Asana, practice self-discipline or simply keep track of what you need to do by writing a list and checking it off in order of priority.
5) Apply the Power of One rule when things get too much
Ask yourself “what’s the most important thing I need to do to help facilitate my writing process?” Once determined, give yourself the time to complete that one task that’s been sitting there bugging you!
Both Virginia and Hassan are here to help throughout all stages of your medical writing journey. We even have courses that help guide you to establishing a good work-balance routine! Drop either of us a message and we’ll be right there to help!