I want to be a medical writer...

[TZ]

I see someone actually posted about being a technical/medical writer also. I have actually found job positions as medical writers, but they all want "previous experience". Well I have no problems with the required scientific background-over 10 years as a lab tech (work equivalent of a Masters) but don't have any professional writing experience. I am however a good writer and am great at writing understandable desciptions of scientific/medical topics for general consumption..in fact I have gotten high praise on it. I have some technical writing from my jobs in writing /editing SOP's but that doesn't satisfy. I however, blog and post alot about scientific topics on various message boards. Can I put this on my resume as writing "experience"? And how would I do that? Some of my friends who have encouraged me say its hard to find people who are both scientifically literate and good writers and that most science writers are journalists who know a little about science and that a science person with journalistic skills should be in high demand. But so far, no call backs on my resume (I don't have any of my blog material mentioned) Any advice? This is something I would really love to do....

[Orrex]

1. Here's a sampling of my famously boundless wisdom

I however, blog and post alot about scientific topics on various message boards. Can I put this on my resume as writing "experience"?

I would have to guess that, sadly, unless you're blogging at a level sufficient to be famous for it (at least among members of the profession for which you hope to write), then blogging and message board-posting won't do much for your resume. Unless the message boards/blogs are famously discriminating in their choice of whom to admit and whom to reject, then the targets of your resume have no way to determine whether you're posting gems or junk, and they probably won't bother visiting the site to find out for themselves.

I'd have to agree that good writers who are scientifically literate are in short supply. While in college, some of the most amazingly bad stuff I read was written by men and women far smarter than I am but who were unable to pen a coherent sentence to save their respective lives.

Perhaps a place to start is to submit articles to recognized science journals or academic publications. You won't make a ton of money outright, but every article published in such a forum is another addition to your portfolio...

[petgoat]

2. The blogging is experience--and a source of clips.

I'd attach printouts of some of your best work, and
a list of sites and links to your work.

The quality of your writing speaks for itself.

Another way to add credentials to your resume would
be a list of writing and editing courses and seminars
you've attended, and editing skills tests you've taken.

Publishing pieces in newspapers and magazines would
get credits.

You also might consider volunteering with activist groups
that can use your science writing skills--GreenPeace,
global warming, water quality, alternative energy,
hemp, marijuana, ground zero first responders, could
all use your skills. That would get you credits and
clips.

Writing works of advocacy that you circulate as
self-published pamphlets can also be a way of getting
satisfaction and experience.

Another approach would be to contact people who already
have jobs as medical writers, and ask if you can take
them to lunch so you can pick their brains about how
to break in.

Two fields for entry-level science writing would be
the insurance industry and law firms. Lawyers value
good writing, and scientific issues are often central
to lawsuits involving medical claims, defective product
cases, construction claims, and patent disputes. You
might market yourself to law firms not as an employee
but as a consultant. The summarizing of pre-trial
deposition testimony involving scientific issues is
a good way to get credits--it doesn't usually pay
much but it can be fascinating.

You're doing the right thing: if you want to write,
write. If you make yourself visible in a lot of places,
people will be asking you to write and edit. Keep at
it, and some employer will surely give you a try.

[TZ]

3. Thank you for the advice...

I recently wrote a piece for here about vaccines that a friend suggested I work on getting it made into an info pamphlet. But that particular piece is definitely getting attached to my resume once its perfected. I am very proud of it. I really want to do writing for the general public anyway!:)