When you start freelancing, one of the first business questions you may encounter is whether you should be a sole proprietor, form an LLC, or become an S corporation. But those aren’t actually three versions of the same decision. For most solo freelancers, there are 2 separate questions: How should your business be structured legally? How should your business be taxed?

One of the first questions new freelancers ask is: What should I charge? It sounds like a simple question, but it most assuredly is not. Your rate has to cover much more than the time you spend writing, editing, or consulting. As a freelancer, you are also paying for the time you spend finding clients, preparing proposals, managing projects, invoicing, keeping records, maintaining your skills, and running the rest of your business.

AI can be genuinely useful in a freelance business. It can help you get started on a difficult draft, organize information, explore a topic, prepare for a meeting, or handle some of the administrative work that takes time away from billable projects. But freelance work adds a complication that is easy to overlook: much of the information you work with does not belong to you.

In medical communication, concise writing is so much more than a stylistic preference. It’s a way to ensure that your audience is engaged and able to learn the information in the content we produce…

In the fast-moving world of medical communication, continuous learning and upskilling are essential. Formal training and certifications play a crucial role in these processes, but other activities …

Whether you’re launching a freelance career, shifting to a new medical writing specialty, or applying for full-time roles, your portfolio is often the first (and sometimes only) impression yo…

Discover what causes vitiligo, its types, symptoms, and treatment options. Learn how this autoimmune disease impacts skin health and emotional well-being.

Posts about Professional Development written by Damiana Chiavolini, MS, PhD and J. Kelly Byram, MS, MBA, ELS

An online portfolio is an essential tool for showcasing your experience, expertise, and use of precise language as a medical writer or editor. However, with so many platforms available, how do you …

If you’re a medical writer, you’ve probably spent more time than you’d like hunting down expert sources. Ever find yourself searching the internet for hours, only to hit a dead end? Generative AI (…

As a seasoned medical writer, you’ve already built a reputation. But is it still aligned with the kind of work you want now? Your brand evolves just like your expertise—and sometimes it needs a tun…

You already have a brand—whether you’ve shaped it intentionally or not. Every project you’ve completed, every bio you’ve written, every interaction you’ve had with a client or colleague contributes…

NASW was founded more than 90 years ago with a mission to “fight for the free flow of science news.” That mission is imperative, yet threatened by recent challenges to the First Amendment and the freedom of the press.

In a recently published post, Kelly highlighted some of the ways writers can use AI tools. She talked about how these tools can assist with tasks, such as content generation and data analysis, but …

Post-viral conditions like ME/CFS, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia show what happens when illness is ignored. Will long COVID follow the same path?

This Prize was created to recognize that global economic health is dependent upon a vibrant research community and we need to encourage our best and brightest to continue in their chosen fields of res...

Making ends meet on an intern’s salary can be hard. Stipends don’t always cover the full costs of temporarily relocating to a new city or making ends meet while working remotely. Sometimes, prioritizing steps to advance your career can mean putting off other income opportunities that would otherwise serve more immediate financial needs.

I wish I’d known sooner that coaching could save me a lot of time when I first got started in medical communication. While making the transition from academia, I ended up wasting some time applying…

As discussed in a previous post, using the right words is crucial when writing about infection and infectious diseases. Disease occurrence has been gaining global attention in recent years, so toda…

A few months ago, Kelly and I presented a webinar on how to enter the field of medical communications. We had a great time discussing key steps, strategies, and our personal experiences as we began…

In an episode of one of my favorite podcasts, a famous actress with Italian heritage made an interesting slip with two English words. She used regime to describe the regimen she follows to manage h…

Health writing is a dynamic and rewarding specialty that involves creating engaging, informative, and accurate content in the areas of health, medicine, and wellness. Health writers play a crucial …

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