Savvy Money-Saving Hacks for Thriving Freelance Medical Writers

Alex Howson [00:00:00]:
This episode is brought to you by Writecme Roadmap, how to thrive in continuing medical education with no experience, no network, and no clue, Writecme Roadmap is the resource for medical writers who want to break into CME writing, regardless of background, experience, and training. It covers everything you need to know to start down the path of freelance CME writing success and provides an in depth guide to accreditation and medical writing ethics, adult learning strategy, and educational awareness. CME writing formats, how to identify your unique writing skills and how to break into the CME market and build a sustainable writing business. WriteCME Roadmap is published on October 31. As a podcast listener, you can get access to an early bird discount. Just go to https://alexhowson.ck.page/writecmeroadmapbook.

Are you a new medical writer feeling overwhelmed by the costs of starting your career or your business? Do you hesitate to invest in expensive resources, wondering if there's a smarter way to begin? You're not alone. Many aspiring medical writers struggle to balance their passion for the field with the financial realities of getting started. But what if I told you that you don't need to break the bank to launch your medical writing career or freelance business? In this episode, we're diving into twelve money saving hacks that can help you access vital resources, improve your skills, and network effectively, all while keeping your budget intact.

Alex Howson [00:01:43]:
I'm your host, Alex Howson, and whether you're looking to find free alternatives to pricey databases, discover cost effective ways to enhance your skills, or learn how to leverage existing resources you might have overlooked. This episode is your guide to smart, budget friendly strategies for Kickstarter starting your medical writing journey. Sometimes expensive doesn't necessarily mean better, so stay tuned as we uncover these invaluable tips that could save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars as you embark on your exciting new career path. So let's get started. First of all, use free medical databases like PubMed, MedlinePlus, and the National Guideline Clearinghouse for research. You'll find more details about what you can expect from these different databases in a season eight episode of Right Medicine, which I'll link to in the show notes. Second, work with free versions of reference management software until you need to pay for an upgrade, and you will probably have to pay for an upgrade at some point. But free versions of Zotero or Mendeley can help you organize your research efficiently and save you time and money.

Alex Howson [00:02:59]:
So using these free versions is a very good place to start. Third, many of your clients or employers probably use Microsoft Word as their word processing software, but you can also use software like Google Docs, which are available at no cost to anyone with a Google account, instead of those more expensive versions of Word. There's interoperability between Google and Microsoft. It's pretty reasonable. So even if your client is a Microsoft user, you can still use Google Docs and share those documents back and forth. It allows real time collaboration with your colleagues and your clients, so you can still incorporate feedback and track revisions if you're using Google Docs versus Microsoft. Fourth, attend virtual conferences. These are often less expensive than in person events, and they can still provide you with great learning and networking opportunities.

Alex Howson [00:03:59]:
Fifth, this one is a no brainer skill. Swap with other professionals. Exchange your writing skills or other skills that you have for services that you need, like website design, graphics, or accounting advice. Six. Use public libraries. Many of us overlook the rich treasure chest of resources that are in public libraries. Many offer free access to medical journals and databases like ProQuest or EBSCO that would otherwise be expensive to subscribe to individually. Seven.

Alex Howson [00:04:36]:
Start with a basic home Office setup. Invest in ergonomic essentials. You have to keep your fingers, your hands, your wrists, your shoulders, and your back intact because your body is your writing instrument. But initially, avoid unnecessary expenses on fancy equipment. When I started as a freelance medical writer in 2005, I had a laptop, a cell phone, and Microsoft Office 2004, I tracked my time with task time four, which no longer exists or copious post it notes on my desk. Over the years, I've added a lot of software tools to my technology stack, and some have enhanced my productivity. Some have wasted time, and some have just been fun to explore. But when you're starting out, it's absolutely okay to be very basic about your home office setup.

Alex Howson [00:05:31]:
8th. Take advantage of free online courses or low cost online courses. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or eDX offer free or very low cost introductory courses that will enhance your writing or build your foundational science and clinical data skills. And of course, the American Medical Writers association has many low cost courses as well for members. 9th. Use citation style generators so there are two tasks that I always struggle with or that I have long struggled with in my business. One is scheduling meetings much, much better now that I use calendly. I've used calendly for several years now, but there are lots of scheduling apps on the market, and the other is managing citation styles.

Alex Howson [00:06:20]:
Now I use endnote as my reference manager, and I have done so since I was a grad student about 100 years ago or so. But there are lots of free tools like citation machine or Bibme that can save you time and reduce errors when you need to format references in various medical citation styles. 10th, explore medical terminology resources. You can use free medical dictionaries and thesauride, the plural of thesaurus. It's quite hard to say thesauri. You can find these free tools such as med terms or the NCBI medical subject headings mesh terms. These are a great option to help you explore medical terminology without having to invest in Dorland's illustrated medical dictionary number eleven use plagiarism checkers like key text or Grammarly to ensure originality in your writing, and you can do this without expensive subscriptions. Both of these have free versions and there are many others on the market.

Alex Howson [00:07:31]:
And last but not least, consult government health resources like CDC Dot Gov and NIH Dot Gov for up to date medical information and statistics at no cost. So there you have it. We've explored twelve money saving hacks that can help you kickstart your career or your freelance medical writing business without emptying your wallet. Remember, being resourceful isn't just about saving money, it's about developing a mindset that will serve you well throughout your career and your business. As you start to implement these strategies, keep in mind that every established medical writer started exactly where you are now. Your creativity and determination in finding cost effective solutions today will translate into valuable problem solving skills in your future projects. So before we wrap up, let's recap three takeaways from today's episode. First, leverage free resources.

Alex Howson [00:08:36]:
From PubMed and Google Docs to public libraries and government health websites, there's a wealth of free tools and information at your fingertips. Make the most of these resources before investing in paid alternatives. Second, invest in learning, not just tools. Focus on building your skills through free online courses, virtual conferences, and skill swapping. Your knowledge and abilities are your most valuable assets, and many ways to enhance them dont cost a dime when you are ready to invest in your professional development, write CME Pro is here for you and I'll put a link in the show notes so you can get more information about this professional development membership for medical writers who want to specialize in continuing medical education. And third, start simple and scale up. Begin with a basic setup and free versions of software. As your career or your business grows and your needs evolve, you can make informed decisions about which paid tools and resources are truly worth the investment.

Alex Howson [00:09:44]:
Remember, success in medical writing isn't about having the most expensive tools it's about how effectively you use the resources available to you. So start applying these hacks and watch your business take off without breaking the bank. If you found this episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe to the right medicine podcast for more practical advice on navigating your medical writing and continuing medical education career. Until next time, keep writing, keep learning, and keep saving.