One of the more alarming pieces of advice new freelancers hear is: “Don’t forget about quarterly taxes.” It can sound as though becoming self-employed suddenly creates 4 new tax bills a year. It doesn’t. Quarterly estimated taxes are a way of paying taxes you would owe anyway. When you are an employee, your employer withholds federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare from each paycheck and sends that money to the government.

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.

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…

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.

Create a professional portfolio tailored for medical writers and editors—no clients, no design skills required. This self-paced package includes video lessons, templates, and tools to help you build a polished, strategic portfolio that attracts the right clients and roles.

The work of writers, editors, and other medical communicators can feel a bit lonely, especially for freelancers or those who work remotely. A fun and productive way to add variety to our solo activities is finding ways to work with others. Last year I talked about the activities that can help us establish collaborations and, in turn, allow us to…

Whether drafting regulatory documents, patient education materials, scientific manuscripts, or your own portfolio, being concise ensures that key information is accessible and impactful. Last week, we talked about how writing concisely can enhance both our work and career as medical communicators. This week, we’re highlighting three strategies medical communicators can use to write more concisely. Here are a few ways to consider:

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. The ability to write concisely is also a career-defining skill. Writers and editors who can distill information without losing meaning can balance brevity with clarity and…

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. The ability to write concisely is also a career-defining skill. Writers and editors who can distill information without losing meaning can balance brevity with clarity and…

The other day I went to a GenAI tool to get reassurance that I haven't totally lost my mind. I've grown somewhat accustomed to hearing and seeing "who" used for "whom," but lately I've noticed "that" is being substituted for "who." Not to sound cranky, but that really was the last straw. According to the tool, I have not lost my mind, at least when it comes to grammar and usage.

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 …

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 …

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 choose the right one for your professional needs? Here are three major platforms that can help you create a standout portfolio:  A Personal WebsiteThrough a personal website, you can easily showcase your medical writing and editing samples.

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 (gen AI) might just offer the help you didn’t know you needed. Gen AI tools can quickly scan massive databases, research articles, and public profiles to suggest potential experts on a given topic—whether you’re writing about CRISPR, long COVID, or the latest in Alzheimer’s research.

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…

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 …

Building a compelling medical writing or editing portfolio is essential for showcasing your expertise and attracting potential clients or employers. Including a diverse range of writing samples dem…

Building a compelling medical writing and editing portfolio is essential for showcasing your expertise and attracting potential employers or clients. Including a diverse range of writing samples demonstrates your accumulated experience, versatility, and depth in the field, but you’ll have to carefully assess what kind of samples to include. Here are three types of samples to consider: Patient Education Materials…

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…

I wish I’d known sooner that coaching could save a lot of me time when I first got started in medical communication. While making the transition from academia, I ended up wasting some time applying for jobs I wasn’t qualified for or hardly interested in. At the time, I barely even knew that the field had multiple specialties! Also, I found myself yawning through every annual review when my previous employers asked me to set goals.

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…

Introducing our comprehensive suite of medical writing and editing courses, webinars, and professional development programs, designed for medical communicators at all levels. Whether you’re just st…

Are you looking to enter or pivot within the field of medical communications? Are you interested in exploring full-time employment opportunities or developing your freelance writing business? Regar…

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 …

Are you considering taking the leap into freelancing as a medical writer or editor? This webinar will guide you through the critical factors to consider before making the transition. Join us as we exp...

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