How to Get Started as a Medical Writer

An earlier version of this article originally appeared on Doximity.com, where I was an Op-Med Fellow from 2022-2023.

Side gigs are a hot topic for physicians. Some people do it for the extra cash, others want to stretch and learn something new. Some doctors are looking to pivot from clinical medicine entirely and may use a side gig like writing to test the waters.

As a medical writer since 2009 and an author of four books aimed at a lay audience, I have learned a lot about the process, including how to make connections and what it takes to get published in the popular press. But before going any further, let me be clear: Unless you are a celebrity with a powerful platform, you probably aren’t going to get rich off of medical writing. Not even a little.

That’s not meant to discourage you. Writing is a fantastic way to clarify your position, share information, and get in front of a larger audience than you might otherwise find. It’s also a terrific way to deepen your own knowledge base.

Writing can open doors to other opportunities that you may never have considered. And it will introduce you to a world of people, including publishers and other writers, that can expand and challenge your point of view.

In this article, I’ll share my own journey as a medical writer, including my pitfalls and successes. I also offer suggestions that may make your own process easier and more rewarding.

One caveat: When I talk about medical writing here, I am referring to my experience of writing health-focused books and articles for the general public. There are other forms of medical writing, including working within the pharmaceutical industry, working on continuing education, and creating regulatory documents for governmental organizations, that follow a very different set of rules and standards. In some cases, these companies may offer full-time employment.

Like many physicians, I have written for medical journals and presented at innumerable conferences and grand rounds. As a woman in cardiology since the early 1990s, I was enough of an oddity that I was often tapped to give talks and presentations to both professional and lay groups on women and heart disease.

Being comfortable with putting words on paper, and learning to present information in a cohesive, conversational way was an important foundation for my first book, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Heart Health, published in 2009. I’ll be honest. This was not a quick or easy process. It took me several years, carving out 30 minutes here and there to work on my project, but the knowledge I accumulated made me a better physician and communicator.

My book began as a way to address my patients’ questions about diet, supplements, exercise, stress, and other issues that impact cardiovascular health. I realized that fellowship prepared me very well to take care of critically ill patients, and to competently manage preventive care, but I had a very shallow understanding of the impact of diet and lifestyle, and I knew virtually nothing about supplements. These were the questions that my patients kept bringing to me, and I wasn’t comfortable simply addressing their concerns superficially. At the time, the Adkins diet (a precursor to the Paleo and Keto diets) was resurging, so writing critically was a great way to delve into the medical research.

Like most physicians, I depend strongly on evidence-based care. Writing the book was a fantastic way to educate myself, and to become an expert in an area that was crucial not only to cardiovascular health, but to health and well-being in general.

However, it was not a money-making enterprise. The book was published by an independent publisher that required that I pay up front for the services, which included an editor. The publisher also offered marketing services, which I naively bought into. Though I was happy with the book and reviews, and my patients and practice loved it, I never made back the money that I put into it.

Two years later, I decided to take a shot at getting a contract with a traditional publishing house. This time, I received an advance, and the book, Best Practices for a Healthy Heart: How to Stop Heart Disease Before or After it Starts, was published in 2011. That was also the time that my practice was acquired by a large healthcare organization.

I learned belatedly that due to the strict bylaws of the organization, I could not effectively publicize or promote my work. That was important because most publishers rely on (and may even contractually require) their authors to market their books through multiple platforms.

Nevertheless, having now created a body of work as a medical writer, in 2014 I was asked to co-author The DASH Diet for Dummies with two well-known dietitians who were happy to do promotional work. That book is now in its second edition and sells dozens of copies per week.

Had I never sat down and started writing, my financial bottom line would probably not be much different, but writing has given me so many other interesting opportunities.

Writing made me a better educator for patients and trainees, teaching me to communicate more concisely and clearly. It brought many people into my practice, which benefited me, my partners, and my organization.

I’ve written and presented for a number of organizations and websites, receiving modest but still meaningful compensation for my work. I am recognized as an expert in my field. And writing has given me a platform and a way to connect with people from all over the world.

So, how can you get started as a medical writer?

I recommend starting small, testing the waters, to discover if writing is something that feels right to you. From there, you can always move up. Here are some practical ideas to spark your imagination:

Create a brief series of handouts for your patients.

For example, perhaps you’re frustrated with the lack of educational resources that you can offer your patients. You have an idea of creating a handout, but you don’t know where to start or how to get it done. Maybe you think someone else would do a better job, and you don’t want to look amateurish, so you just let it slide. Meanwhile, you’re spending extra time trying to get your ideas across to patients in the limited minutes you have in the office schedule.

It’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed when tackling a writing project for the first time. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be complicated or detailed. A few salient bullet points may be all you need. Start by setting aside a little time to make a simple outline and work from there. You’ll provide something of real value to your patients, and you’ll ultimately create more time to focus on patient care.

Start a blog.

You don’t have to write a book to get your ideas out there. Simply choose a topic you’re interested in, tell a brief story around it, and provide information that you know your patients, family, or friends want to know. Write as if you’re having a conversation, and then stop after a few hundred words.

There are all sorts of options for free or low-cost websites on the internet. It’s great to be consistent, but don’t beat yourself up if you can’t do this regularly. Once a month is a good way to start.

Reach out to a wider audience.

Once you’ve written a few pieces and have your bearings, consider reaching out to your local newspaper to share one of your posts or offer your services. You can also offer your expertise to services like Connectively, where journalists are often looking for quotes.

Consider writing brief pieces to post on LinkedIn under your own account. This can be especially useful if you are able to discuss new research or health conditions that appeal to a broad audience.

Consumer health magazines or online resources may also be interested in your work. Check their websites for submission details. I found my current writing gig with GoodRx.com on a physician job board, and have been writing for them consistently since 2021. I love working with the editors and improving my work. And it’s great to be able to share my knowledge and insight with a wide public audience.

Consider an e-book.

Self-publishing is a much bigger industry than it was just a few years ago. The downside is that you will need to pay for an editor to review and help you refine your work. Or you can enlist a colleague or trusted friend to proof-read and make suggestions.

Find a publisher.

Writing a book is not for the faint of heart. The hours you put into it may never be compensated. But there is nothing like the feeling of your own book in your hands. If you are really intent on working with a traditional publisher, you will need a literary agent. Resources such as Publisher’s Marketplace and Writer’s Digest can help you drill down your options.

Conclusion

You probably won’t get rich as a medical writer, and you may not even make minimum wage when all is said and done. But you will enrich your experience as a physician, become a better communicator, and create opportunities you may not have even considered. Writing can be a path to lifelong learning, and patients and other physicians will appreciate your expertise. Not to mention, you’ll meet a wide range of people whose paths you may not ever have crossed otherwise.

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