Tips for Pleasing Your Client as a New Freelancer
Release Date: 05/13/2021
Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 10: Being a Lifelong Learner
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
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...
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Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 9: Having a LinkedIn Presence
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
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...
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Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 8: Being Professional on Client Calls
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
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...
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Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 7: Being Cheerful, Forgiving and Flexible
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
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. ...
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Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 6: Organized and Mindful of Time
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
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...
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Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 5: Being well versed in the AMA Manual of Style and rules of writing and editing
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
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...
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Goal-Setting Strategies for 2022
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
Because it’s almost a brand new year, in this week’s podcast episode, I’m talking about goals, specifically, the 5 steps of setting them and then actually pulling them off, which of course, is the hard part! Next week, I’ll resume the ongoing series about the top ten traits of successful freelance medical writers. We’re on trait number 5, "Well versed in AMA style and rules of editing." For the overview of the top ten traits, please listen If you’re in healthcare or science and interested in transitioning into freelance medical writing, check out . Does your company need medical...
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Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 4: Being Responsive
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
In this week’s episode, I talk about number 4 of the top ten traits of successful freelance medical writers: being responsive. For the overview of the top ten traits, please listen If you’re in healthcare or science and interested in transitioning into freelance medical writing, check out . Does your company need medical writing assistance? visit VisualMedComms is an upcoming site launching soon 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...
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The Importance of Following Directions in Medical Writing
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
In this week’s episode, I talk about number 2 and 3 of the top ten traits of successful freelance medical writers: following directions and following formatting. I combined these because they are somewhat related. For the overview of the top ten traits, please listen If you’re in healthcare or science and interested in transitioning into freelance medical writing, check out . Does your company need medical writing assistance? visit VisualMedComms is an upcoming site launching soon where you can learn how to make your medical and scientific communications visually appealing and...
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Meeting Clients' Expectations In Medical Writing
MedicalWritersSpeak's podcast
In this week’s episode, I talk about the first of the top ten traits of successful freelance medical writers, and that is being focused on what the client wants and needs so as to meet their expectations. For the overview of the top ten traits of which this is one, please listen to last week's episode If you’re in healthcare or science and interested in transitioning into freelance medical writing, check out . Does your company need medical writing assistance? visit VisualMedComms is an upcoming site launching soon where you can learn how to make your medical and scientific...
info_outlineIn this episode, I cover tips for interacting with clients as a new freelance medical writer or any kind of freelancer for that matter.
Get the skills and feedback to make sure there is a reasonable chance that you will do a good job.
Really try to make new projects your best work. Expect to get a lower hourly rate for this first project. If you are writing in a specific genre, such as a needs assessment, review the client’s guidelines extra carefully and Google “how to write …..” and follow along with the generally accepted best practice.
Don’t turn things in with spelling errors.
Know that your client is not here to be “remedial.”
When you take on a new project, look at the files immediately.
It’s better to turn in something a day late than something that is not high quality.
Know that just because it is a “first draft,” it still should be in great shape.
Most clients should be coming back to you for repeat business. If not, find out why not. It’s usually the quality of your work. Client is not obligated to tell you.
Check out the 6-Week Course, everything you need to know to start your freelance medical writing business, at 6weekcourse.com, where you can access free content on medical writing.
Also go to learnamastyle.com if you're interested in medical editing. The course is currently available and the next group will start May 29th, 2021.