From agency to freelance medical writer: Derek's story

In this episode of the Medical Writing Uncut Podcast, Derek, a freelance medical writer, shares his journey from academia to freelancing, discussing the challenges and rewards of finding clients, the importance of diversifying services, and the impact of AI on the medical writing field. He emphasizes the need for medical writers to explore beyond traditional roles and offers insights on navigating the freelance landscape effectively. Follow Derek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekleske/ Takeaways - Derek transitioned from academia to freelance medical writing after falling out of love with academia. - Finding clients can be challenging, but recommendations, referrals and networking are key. - Medical writers should not pigeonhole themselves and can offer diverse services. - AI can be a useful tool in medical writing but should not be seen as a replacement. - Diversifying your client base is crucial to avoid financial instability. - Freelancing offers autonomy and flexibility that many writers appreciate. - Workshops and strategy planning can enhance a freelance writer's offerings. - It's important to reflect on personal strengths when expanding services. - Freelancers should be aware of the limitations of AI in their work. - Having savings before transitioning to freelance can ease the process and provide a safety net. Chapters 00:00 The Journey to Freelance Medical Writing 02:52 Finding Clients and Building a Medical Writing Portfolio 06:03 Expanding Services Beyond Traditional Medical Writing 09:12 Navigating the Freelance Medical Writing Landscape 11:57 The Role of AI in Medical Writing 14:53 Future Aspirations and Final Thoughts --- Thank you for watching :) Medical writing courses: https://writeclinic.thinkific.com/collections/courses Join International Medical Writers Association: https://writeclinic.thinkific.com/courses/international-medical-writers-association #MedicalWriting #MedicalWriter