How To Turn out to be A Medical Author And Make $100,000 Every 12 months

Seeking to be taught find out how to change into a medical author? Right here’s how you will discover freelance medical writing jobs and earn a living from home.

Immediately, I’ve an incredible interview about find out how to change into a medical author with Austin Ulrich.

Austin began his freelance medical writing enterprise in 2019 and grew it on the facet for over 3 years. He finally give up his job as a pharmacist and now works full-time as a medical author.

He at the moment earns round $200,000 annually as a contract medical author.

Austin can be a blogger. On his weblog austinulrich.com, he writes about creating freedom and time by incomes and retaining extra revenue. 

Immediately’s interview solutions questions resembling:

• What’s medical writing?
• What’s a contract medical author?
• Who hires medical writers?
• How a lot are you able to earn as a medical author?
• Do I would like a medical diploma to change into a medical author?

Immediately’s interview will provide help to get began and maybe even introduce you to a brand new approach to make cash from house.

Associated content material on find out how to change into a medical author:

How To Turn out to be A Medical Author

1. Please give us a little bit background on your self and what led you to change into a medical author.

Should you had instructed me 5 years in the past that I’d be operating my very own enterprise as an expert author, I by no means would have believed you. I used to be busy ending up pharmacy faculty and specializing in what would come subsequent for me – 2 years of residency and a lifelong profession as a pharmacist. 

However by a collection of life occasions and experiences, I acquired into freelance medical writing and final yr made about double the revenue I’d make working as a full-time pharmacist.

I had no concept that medical writing existed till early 2019 once I was wanting up methods to earn more money on-line. I attempted a number of various things, from on-line tutoring to transcription companies and even educating piano classes, however nothing caught.

However once I discovered about medical writing, I knew that it was one thing I might go for and have an excellent probability of success. I’ve at all times been form of a grammar nerd, and as I look again, I’ve gotten quite a lot of suggestions all through my years of college that my writing was fairly good.

After studying lots in regards to the occupation, I arrange a easy web site (screenshot under) and launched my freelance medical writing enterprise, Ulrich Medical Writing, LLC in July 2019.

Subsequent got here the onerous half – discovering purchasers and constructing a gradual stream of revenue. And I used to be the first breadwinner for our household of 4 (on the time, now it’s 6 – spouse + 4 children!), so I couldn’t take as a lot danger as if I had been going solo. It needed to be constructed steadily over time.

It took a number of years to construct up my facet hustle (with many 60+ hour weeks) till I had a strong historical past of constant revenue.

I give up my job as a pharmacist in Could 2022 and have been a full-time freelance medical author ever since.

Medical writing has allowed me to increase my entrepreneurial ventures, and I’ve not too long ago been engaged on my weblog the place I write about what’s new in medical writing, like AI tools for medical writing, and different ideas for aspiring medical writers.

2. What do you want about being a medical author? How has it modified your life?

My favourite a part of being a medical author is seeing how the ultimate deliverable comes collectively. I like the feel and appear of a high-quality piece that I’ve put hours into, and that exceeds expectations for my purchasers.

I additionally love the freelance a part of medical writing, because it permits me to have full management over my schedule, which tasks I take or flip down, and the way a lot I cost. It’s additionally an enormous bonus that my work is 100% distant, so I can work wherever I’ve my laptop computer and an web connection.

As I look again over the previous couple of years of rising my medical writing enterprise, I understand how important my pharmacy background has been. Early on, having the PharmD (Physician of Pharmacy) credential was an vital advertising and marketing instrument, demonstrating my worth to potential purchasers. 

So despite the fact that I’m not a practising pharmacist, I preserve my licenses and credentials as a result of I’ve appreciated how that a part of my life performs a task in being a medical author.

Immediately I’ve extra time with my household, extra flexibility with my schedule, and the next revenue than I initially anticipated to earn throughout my pharmacist profession.

It wasn’t straightforward, nevertheless it’s been value it. 

3. What’s medical writing? What’s a contract medical author?

That’s most likely the most typical query I get today. After I inform individuals I’m a medical author, they form of give me a clean stare after which ask, “what’s medical writing?”

Despite the fact that most individuals haven’t heard of it earlier than, you’d be shocked how typically in your each day life you encounter one thing a medical author has created.

Medical writing is the method of creating scientific or medical paperwork and supplies that talk data to healthcare professionals, researchers, sufferers, and most of the people. It’s a broad definition, and medical writers can work in quite a lot of totally different areas.

Anytime you learn medical data on-line, it was possible created by a medical author and certain reviewed by a healthcare skilled. 

Medical writing additionally consists of creating supplies like scientific and medical journal articles which are revealed in peer-reviewed journals, healthcare skilled schooling slide decks and paperwork, and regulatory paperwork for pharmaceutical corporations.

A contract medical author is somebody who affords medical writing companies to corporations on a contract foundation. Many corporations, resembling healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical corporations, and medical communications companies, have on-staff writers that deal with most of their content material.

However when somebody has a undertaking that exceeds the bandwidth of their employees writers, that’s the place freelancers are available. Freelance medical writing is just like basic freelance writing, nevertheless it’s extra specialised.

Many corporations additionally work with freelance medical writers repeatedly as a result of it really works effectively with the ebb and circulate of their content material course of.

4. Who hires medical writers?

Any firm that produces written supplies possible hires medical writers.

In keeping with the American Medical Writers Affiliation (AMWA), there are a lot of forms of corporations that rent medical writers, together with contract analysis organizations, medical schooling corporations, authorities companies, and extra.

I’ve personally labored with a number of forms of corporations on this record. Many of those corporations are interconnected within the internet of medical data, so the deliverables I’ve created for my direct purchasers additionally cross by to peer-reviewed medical journals, pharmaceutical corporations, {and professional} affiliation supplies.

5. How a lot do you earn as a medical author? What number of hours do you spend every week on medical writing?

Employed medical writers and freelance medical writers are inclined to have barely totally different revenue ranges.

In keeping with a 2019 medical writer salary survey carried out by AMWA, employed medical writers make a median gross annual revenue of $107,000, with a variety of $79,000-$112,000. And freelance medical writers make a median gross annual revenue of $151,000, with a variety of $77,000 to $203,000.

While you begin working as a medical author, you’ll are inclined to earn extra on the decrease finish of the vary (and when you work fewer hours). The extra expertise you get, your wage is more likely to improve after a number of years towards the upper finish of the vary.

The very first undertaking I secured as a contract medical author was a $4,000 undertaking creating 8 slide decks for a medical convention, and I ended up making about $75 per hour. Since then I’ve gotten higher at estimating how lengthy sure tasks will take. I’m additionally extra environment friendly in how I work, in order that helps elevate my “efficient hourly charge” as effectively.

I spend about 30-35 hours per week on medical writing on common. As a result of nature of freelancing, some weeks are 40+ hours and a few weeks are lower than 30 hours.

I’ve discovered that the easiest way to earn an excellent “efficient hourly charge” as a contract medical author is to cost by the undertaking. So whereas I’ve an thought of an hourly charge that I’d prefer to make, I at all times cost by the undertaking as a result of it leads to higher incentives for me and the consumer. 

Charging by the hour incentivizes the author to spend as a lot time as they will to create the deliverable to allow them to invoice the utmost quantity. With undertaking charges, the author is incentivized to spend much less time, however nonetheless create a high quality product because it’s their title on the road. In the long run, the consumer has a high-quality deliverable sooner.

6. Can anybody change into a medical author? What professions would this be an excellent match for? What {qualifications} do it’s essential be a medical author?

There aren’t any set necessities to change into a medical author, so technically anybody can change into a medical author. That stated, you’ll have to persuade potential employers or purchasers to rent you.

You probably have a background as a medical or medical analysis skilled, this generally is a large benefit to stepping into medical writing. You’ll possible have already got the technical data wanted to grasp medical data – you’d simply have to concentrate on honing your writing expertise.

There are lots of docs, pharmacists, nurses, and PhDs which are profitable medical writers.

On the opposite finish of the spectrum, many medical writers have a bachelor’s diploma in communications or journalism and so they be taught the medical half by programs or certifications.

7. How can an individual discover their first medical writing job? How can an individual get into medical writing with no expertise?

The primary medical writing job is at all times the toughest. Should you’re trying to be employed as a medical author (assume W-2 worker), most job postings say that you simply want 3-5 years of expertise. In order that results in the conundrum, how do you get expertise when you can’t get a job?

My suggestion is to emphasise what expertise and expertise you do have. I had written a number of scientific articles and slide decks in pharmacy faculty and residency. So these had been my writing samples that demonstrated I might write effectively.

Should you don’t have any samples of your writing, create some! After studying extra about what sort(s) of medical writing you wish to do, decide a subject you’re thinking about and create a 2-3 web page article or 10-slide deck. Even these small samples reveal that you recognize what you’re speaking about and may put collectively high-quality supplies.

Getting began as a contract medical author with no expertise tends to be a bit tougher than with freelance writing in different fields, however when you get into medical writing, your incomes potential could be increased, at the same time as a newbie. 

8. Is there demand for medical writers?

Since I’ve gotten into medical writing, the necessity for medical writers has solely elevated. In keeping with AMWA, there was growing demand for medical writers in recent times.

I consider demand will proceed to rise as a result of there are at all times new medication being created that should be written about, and new analysis being executed within the medical area.

Medical writers play an vital function in speaking that data precisely.

It’s additionally value mentioning that medical modifying is a wholly separate, however associated, area of medical communications. Medical editors are typically extra targeted on checking paperwork for grammar and magnificence, and the work is much less inventive than writing the paperwork. 

However medical editors are additionally a key a part of the medical communications world, and also you’ll discover editors working for medical and scientific journals, healthcare organizations, and different corporations, ensuring written supplies are optimized and proper earlier than going out into the general public area.

9. Is it onerous to get a medical writing job?

As talked about above, it may be troublesome to get your first medical writing job. It’s going to most likely require some networking and speaking with potential employers or purchasers to get you a greater probability of getting employed. 

Merely filling out job functions with none “actual” medical writing expertise is probably not as efficient, as a result of your utility might get rejected routinely in the course of the screening course of.

When you’ve landed your first medical writing job or freelance gig, be sure you do an incredible job. That turns into your finest advertising and marketing instrument – in case your purchasers just like the work you do, you’ll by no means have a scarcity of alternatives.

10. What different ideas do you’ve got for somebody who needs to change into a medical author?

My #1 tip for anybody thinking about medical writing is to take a look at the AMWA.org web site. They’ve tons of sources for studying about medical writing and find out how to get began. 

Should you’re severe about medical writing and also you don’t have a lot expertise with the medical area or with writing, taking a medical writing certification course just like the Essential Skills Certificate Program from AMWA can assist you get the fundamental data and expertise it’s essential get began.

After I was first beginning as a medical author, I joined AMWA and located my first few purchasers by the job board on their web site. I additionally attended the annual medical writing convention and acquired to community with different established and aspiring medical writers.

You’ll additionally discover that many medical writers (myself included!) are greater than prepared to share ideas or speak about what works to get into medical writing. 

In the end, medical writing is a superb occupation that’s solely going to develop within the coming years. Writing isn’t for everybody, however when you have a knack for placing sentences collectively, you’re thinking about medical or scientific subjects, and also you’re prepared to place within the work, you could be profitable as a medical author!

How To Discover Medical Writing Jobs

I hope you loved right now’s interview on find out how to change into a medical author.

Medical writing implies that you can be writing on the subject of drugs or well being care, however you don’t should be a health care provider or have a Ph.D. to get began with some medical writing jobs. As an alternative, some medical writers have a bachelor’s diploma in communications or journalism, after which they be taught the medical half by programs or certifications that they take. For instance, you might resolve to take some life sciences, chemistry, or biology programs to be able to get began.

As a medical author, you might be working for a lot of totally different sorts of purchasers, resembling pharmaceutical corporations, medical system corporations, medical faculties, tutorial establishments, on-line publishers, biotechnology corporations, medical professionals, scientists, and a lot extra. You could be writing promoting or advertising and marketing supplies, abstracts, weblog posts, instructional supplies, manuscripts, journal articles, and extra.

The typical wage or revenue of a contract medical author can differ, however you might be able to earn between round $75,000 to over $200,000 per yr.

Do you wish to discover ways to change into a medical author with the intention to discover medical writing jobs?