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Confessions of a Website Copywriter
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If healthcare and medicine interest you, you'll probably enjoy freelance health and
medical writing. Even if you're not versed in technical jargon, you can still find a place for
yourself in the industry.
If you do have the technical background, you might be an excellent writer for
pharmaceutical companies or an editor for medical journals. Otherwise, expect to find
freelance jobs writing for magazines or websites about health, or in the health sections of
newspapers.
Health and medical writers without backgrounds need to be excellent researchers.
Look online or – better yet – go to a university library to update yourself on what's going
on in the medical world the public finds interesting. Has there been a recent vaccination
controversy? Is there a new exercise trend on the horizon? Do energy bars really work?
The answers to those questions appeal to people interested in health and wellness. If you
can find the answers, you'll have a sellable article.
Do I need experience to be a freelance health or medical writer?
Do you need proof that you've written these types of articles for others? Yes, almost
always.
Do you also need proof that you got paid for what you wrote as a health or medical
writer? Nope, absolutely not.
If you don't have the "almighty portfolio," never fear. Write a few health/wellness
articles and send them to your community newsletter, those free city newspapers, hospitals,
nursing homes, medical clinics, etc. You won't get paid, but editors will likely publish good
articles.
Medical and health writers demand experience because you're working in a specialized
area. However, two or three published articles are usually enough to get your first paid job.
It'll just keep getting easier from there.
How do I find freelance medical writing jobs?
Once you have a few writing samples, it's time to start sending query letters. A query
letter introduces you and your idea to an editor. Here are a few tips to write a compelling
query letter:
1. Know your editors. Read their magazines so you get a good feel for what articles
editors may be looking for.
2. Always introduce your idea before you introduce yourself. You can impress editors
by original ideas, not by resumes. Editors won't glance at those clips you painstakingly
collected if the editor doesn't like your idea.
3. Focus on why an editor should publish your article. Yes, you need to tell the editor
what you plan to write about -- your main goal is to sell the editor on the notion the
magazine's readership will find your article interesting.
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You may also want to approach editors of online health and medical sites, such as
everydayhealth.com, healthline.com, and wellness.com. Again, make sure the nature of
your article matches the content they publish.
Finally, try looking for ads on websites. Online-writing-jobs.com usually has about a
dozen ads for health or medical writers, as does Freelancewriting.com and a few other
sites. Do a search for "freelance health writing" to see for yourself.
Visit FreelanceWriting.com's Writer's Guidelines Database where you can search for many health/medical publications that pay freelance writers for articles.
How much money can I earn?
It all depends on whom you're working for. Many magazines pay $100 to $300 for
short, quality articles (they pay more if the article is longer). Websites usually pay less
because they have plenty of writers trying to work for them. Editors may also pay you per
word, between $0.20/word and $2.00/word and up, depending on your experience and the
publication's reputation.
How should I respond to an ad?
You've come across an ad that appeals to you – congratulations! Read the sample ad
below to see if you can figure out the best way to respond:
Holistic Weekly Magazine is currently accepting articles on alternative health trends.
$0.50 to $0.90 per word.
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This ad doesn't tell you a lot, but it does tell you enough. Before you respond, go get a
copy of Holistic Weekly and read it cover to cover. Once you have a solid grasp on what
the magazine is all about, you're ready to pitch your article ideas.
This magazine seems to focus on alternative health, so you need to ask yourself
whether your idea is relevant. Organic eating, "western medicine" scandals, and types of
alternative health care might be ideas to get you started.
Remember: knowing your editor and your readership are important to get published.
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