A point that deliberately ignored or should I say carefully avoided has been the famous ‘good written and spoken English’. After the boom created about medical writing there have been many students in hopes of becoming a medical writer dreaming of earning the lucrative pay packages as described by the promoters.

Dreams and ambitions define the individual. They depict what is the capability and strength of the person to drive his goals and the risks and efforts he can put in to achieve them. The world has proved us that many a time. There is nothing impossible. Only, our efforts and plans have not been adequate to meet the goal point. Never mind. Awareness is the first step towards success. So let us peak within ourselves what lies inside us.

India has earned itself the outsourcing business because of the ability of its population to give technical support, intelligence and immense man power. And to garnish it all, the English speaking crowd that is easier to work with for daily business communications.

We all know for ourselves that there are many among us for whom proficiency in English scores less than the others. Is it a shameful comment? Well, I do not believe so. Since, there are people who are best at English but are pitifully illiterate in concern to their mother tongue.

It may sound very negative and dreadful to read on now but that is not my point. Ok, let me come to it without wasting any time. Let us turn this thing around. Is it so important to write in English only? What are we trying to become? A writer or an English writer. And if specifically we focus on medical writing, then are medical and health writing aimed only for the English speaking crowd.

Get the point? Have we ever thought of it the other way? I have been so eager to write on some topics for the people who speak my mother tongue but alas! I do not know to read and write effectively. Shameful isn’t it? And may be even if I start writing in that language which I am not very comfortable with, it will not bring my thoughts in the best light.

Many may defend that it is medical writing in English that pays. But my dear friends, is it not possible that only the best stay back. Then what do we do? Why go into rough seas when smoother routes exist?

It should now be clear that we are best able to put our opinions to the crowd in a language we are at ease and have an unshakable hold. And even if you are not excellent but mighty good at it, once you recognize the opportunity, plans will be made to work in that direction. Develop your own style, chose your topic and lash it out with your stylus.

So sit with yourself and speak within what you expect out of yourself. The answer’s within!

Medical writing within clinical research is more than an easy job. We know that as a medical writer we are expected to write medical and health related articles and give a clear cut explanation to the readers. Now, how do we expect ourselves to be good at it if do not know much in depth about it? Personally I realized this when I had a class on pharmacology in the past week. My professor was trying to instill the fun and excitement that lies within PK beneath the boring and intensely serious and technical mask.

Seriously, to understand the magic and complex equations and relations that a drug undergoes in a body has only now come into light within me. No wonder, I had started getting tied and felt as if it is not this, then what I want to do. But there god has shown me light and has guided me ahead.

But now, the assignment I took up now is with a new enthusiasm and challenge to understand the drug entirely and then share this understanding with those in need.

Pharmacokinetics is like a drama where many actors play a role but what we see is actually the combined play although we may be able to make out their individualities.

Don’t worry. No more of pharmacokinetic detailing here (although the bug has bitten me and will pass it on to you too in future). The point I want to deliver is that we as writers (artists) must give fair attention to laying a strong platform of science on which we can play the best role.

Once we have worked out the qualities needed i.e. assessed ourselves for their presence, we can go on acquiring knowledge to build on to excel in quality writing. So we must understand this field of medical writing is one of blend of art and science. If you are born with the art, then the quest with science is so huge that you will never run out of article topics. And moreover, have we not talked of passion and a deep enthusiasm and fire that make us write. That same emotional set up will provoke you to put more technicalities into your article.

Go ahead, explore and prove yourself!

Medical writing has become such a popular career choice, but unfortunately without complete information. Job postings state the requirement of good communication skills including English proficiency. Researching, writing and editing remain a usual statement among the job responsibilities. Passion for writing is universal. Let us move on to find out whether who would be suitable.

Do you write diary?

In case you do, it is most likely that you are born writer. Apart from the fact that those who do take up writing diaries are most comfortable penning down their emotions and opinions and have a deep felt understanding about what they write sometimes due to the fact that they cannot be openly talked to people who may not consider that.

It is noted that those have a passion for writing often are good with vocabulary and formation of sentences. Thus they would make a good writer. Why only medical writing. Are not there writers for each and every area of life in the society? And if there is something that has not been written about, then you might as well be a pioneer at that bringing all your passion and liking for that.

Can you be medical writer?

I assume that you would have read the previous article on the topic before this one. If not, first we will start from there.

We have already countered this question earlier. But now, since we have had some understanding of it and have taken the initial self-examinations and are stable, we can move on to much serious areas.

See… there’s nothing great about writing. Now, after a long time, I understand what a passion for writing supposed to mean. Honestly, many have generated an interested in the medical writing without the understanding. This may lead to disappointments. It is more of field like singing, acting, performing. There are people who have developed and acquired the skills and mastered the art but then there would have serious wild determination backstage. Otherwise, it is usually individuals who have discovered the skills needed within themselves and have chosen that as career.

Are we being targeted?
Confused and frustrated, you might ask in anger, why was I tempted to do this then at all? It’s not your fault. The entry and increasing opportunity for clinical research in India has created these occurrences. The incoming of outsourced business has provoked people to bring in all clinical research activities to be available in India and hence the enormous marketing for medical writing training programs. Now, since it is a well-paying field, one is humanly attracted to it. There is no harm in that. But then, it requires immense effort from our side to stand tall in such a circumstance. Remember, that we do not want to come in, be there for some time and then vanish away.

In a way, many of us are carefully targeted. The benefit is unfortunately disproportionate. With the advent of clinical trial industry moving into India rather quickly post the amendment of schedule Y, the outsourcing industry has been fully loaded with trials. But there was need for trained professional in the sectors of CR. Medical writing is also one main sector but needs comparatively less manpower. Nevertheless we needed them. Now, it was known that there is no hard and fast rule that MW be a medical graduate. But the response was enormous with the term MW seeding many hopes among those who were interested and awed by the medical term.

But it is more harmful than helpful because in the meanwhile, when you do get an opportunity to work in it and then realize that you cannot do the best required and that this is not your area of interest, it’s too late. You have wasted time, energy, opportunities, and money in training yourself.

So before entering please analyze on these lines.

Many of us have been enthusiastically been preparing ourselves for a career in medical writing. Some of us are training themselves formally while seem to take it slow and steady on their own, preparing their portfolio and waiting for the chance.

But here comes the caution note. I had been very excited about medical writing. I used to spend the whole day concentrating on the papers on the references, hours on the reference sites on the internet. Make a couple of articles and newsletters.

But eventually in only a few months, I had been handed over a clinical trial to manage. Now with less time for writing, I was losing the touch and the continuity. The after – effects were painful. Now the reference bundle seemed like a set of old papers needing dusting and review. The pub med site looks as though it’s a huge library which now seems impossible.

It was appearing to me that this can’t go on like this. I had to take a call. I had to decide that if I wanted to continue in medical writing I had to keep up my interest and the long hours of commitment to the resources. Or simply quit which was hard because I had taken a deep interest in it and was losing out because I did not put in the efforts.

I have learnt my lesson. But what is it that you can learn from this is
• Can you write well?
• Whether do you really want to write?
• There’s more to MW than writing – staring into thousands of articles and reading them to understand what is of your use?
• Do you want to do this all your life? Of course – there is career growth – you may be editing the finals.

So if you have a positive answer to the above questions then go ahead. The Medical writing industry needs individuals like you!

After starting this blog site, I have often been under pressure to write and post something regularly. But not always do I have something great to write or share on the same topic. Forcibly, I would get down with my pen and paper and write a few words and get stuck. I would just not like my piece myself and how much ever I try to complete the article, it seemed impossible.

Haven’t we heard of the saying, ‘put your heart into and it is bound to be successful’? But the contrast is true too. If there is something you don’t like and you still do it under pressure and not your own then, take it from me it is not going to see the light of the day. And even if it does, then the magic is not going to be there. I do not like my article which was created in haste and waste, is without doubt going to be unappreciated and to an extent may spoil the image that was created until you wrote a few good articles.

But then you have to find opportunities and ways out of your problems, right? So I decided that I will write but not try to cram and fit it into the place but make a place for such desires. And if you are lucky, you would see that it actually fits into the area you dint want to enter. Am I talking about this article? Yes you are right. And I do not see anything wrong in doing this. To read is to invest time and intellectual effort. And you might as well ease the reader if not irritate him with ‘what help is this to me?’ query or give him a lead to walk and think ahead.

Well, that was how turned the stone on not writing into and article. And in the bargain I have only written one more article on writing. And it is never that you are forced to write on a particular topic. It is of your choice. Find out what interests you than all. Is it technical, educational, conversational, plain, flowery or is it inspirational? What is that you would start writing on when you find time? Take a walk within yourself for the answer. Even I would need it so that it helps us to start writing whenever we want, whenever one gets a pen and paper at hand and some time to jot down your thoughts.

I have had one piece of advice saying that I’m practicing medical writing and that I should not write on the net until I’m perfect with it. I want to announce that it is true that I am myself learning and whatever I have gathered about medical writing is on my blog through my office assignments. I do not claim that I am correct, I am open to corrections. At the most I have always written on things I am quite sure of. And moreover, I chose to write because there is not much information available anywhere. It is all in the heads of the experts. This must be more of a platform for receiving and spreading information for everybody to benefit.

Please remember this before you take any decisions on the basis of this blog.

All of us have one thing in common of the least. Medical writing. And of that too, it is the interest only that is prevalent among everyone if not the skill or experience. That is no way a concern at all according to me.

Now after we have understood the bare necessities of medical writing, we go on to find opportunities. How do we do that? Many of the aspirants have enrolled into the part-time courses for MW and have placement assistance. What about those who do not have such privilege? Not to worry. What we must do is first of all; prepare samples of your ability and skill of medical writing in whatever your interest is. If you think that you have an excellent persuasion skill then use it writing a couple of marketing articles. If you think no your interest lies in passing on authentic medical information to the audience or specifically the doctors or patients, prove it on paper. Show them that you have done relevant research on your article. Simultaneously, hunt for target customers, as in our case, it would be either communication agencies, pharma companies (if you are a medical or a life science graduate) or even website contents for related projects.

When you are with your portfolio of your best articles (remember every article can be the best if you have been interested in it) and also have your list of employers, walk down to them and show that you are interested along with the evidence. One more thing, actually it’s my secret but never mind, is to network vigorously. Have a couple of contacts who have seen your work and can help you with placement. I must tell you that it is not very easy but then it seems the most simple.

Understand from them what sort of work they do and is needed. Get to know them and communicate your interest and make an impact that they remember you if there is a chance.

As of now, this is the most I have got but hope to get more help and will pass it on to all.

One more thing, I have had one comment saying that I’m practicing medical writing and that I should not write on the net until I’m perfect with it. I want to announce that it is true that I am myself learning and whatever I have gathered about medical writing is on my blog through my office assignments. I do not claim that I am correct, I am open to corrections. At the most I have always written on things I am quite sure of. And moreover, I chose to write because there is not much information available anywhere. It is all in the heads of the experts.

Please understand this before you take any decisions on the basis of this blog.

We learn from others. For long we may never have heard of one particular thing but once aware, it looks as if the entire world has been doing the same for years together. At such times, when we ourselves are trying to understand the most we can in the least possible time. Very limited information is shared online for some good reasons. If we are lucky to get in touch with the experts of the field, nothing like it.

Some great networking sites for medical writers:

• AIMWA The All India Medical writers Association is a new one as compared to the existing AMWA and EMWA (American and European MWA respectively). The site is under construction. They have had one conference and training session earlier this year and the future sessions will be announced on their site.

• Medical writing network (MWN) is a popular and good networking site and the members are from India and other countries. A lot of people with same interests meet often here. And interesting topics are discussed. Since many Indian writers and experts are members of this community, we can request them for guidance directly.

• Communities in social networking sites also exist such as in orkut.com, but how much help one may find there is unknown to me.

Happy networking!! Create your own set of powerful contacts.

 RD

A very delicate and critical matter. Discussed in http://clinicalresearch.blog.co.in/2008/09/10/children-in-clinical-trials/

Have your say!

Wierd start na?? yeah even I felt the same but is ok.. Its a blog!

I have often wondered of keeping the clinical reseacrh domain seperate from medical writing. So this attempt. Here I have for all of us; www.clinicalresearch.blog.co.in exclusively on clinical research as the name obviates. This is especially to be easily available to those who are searching for help on cllinical research.

And here at this parent blog site we’l stick to medical writing!

What say?!