This blog details the highs and lows of launching a career in medical writing, by Irena Ivanova, member of the first Accountability coaching group (now re-branded under the Agency Ready Programme).

Before…

So, I decided to transition into a medical writing career. This was not an easy or quick decision. It was rather a long and introspective process that involved a lot of thinking and soul-searching. I did also my fair share of preliminary research. I read numerous sources, listened to countless webinars and attended many relevant events – virtually  or in  person. Everything about this profession resonated with me and the transition was going to be smooth. Or was it?

One day, after reading the Nth article on the subject, it finally dawned on me that I could go on like this for ever without any progress. I felt very alone and at times lost. How would I reach my goal (the summit) without any guidance or support?

The answer to this question manifested in the form of the Accountability Medical Writing Group at Green Pen Solutions where a group of aspiring medical writers and freelancers would provide support to each other while guided and mentored by expert Sarah Nelson, PhD.

5 reasons WHY I would do it all over again

Sense of belonging

Once in the group, I felt immediately that I was in the right place. I belonged here – amongst like-minded professionals working as a group towards similar goals. Our biweekly meetings provided a fine structure for organising our goal activities and accounting to each other for them and any related problems. In addition, we had the guidance and support of our leader and mentor Sarah Nelson. She inspired us with her  GROW Goal Setting Model, The 5 Pillars of Medical Writing framework and numerous other sources regarding all facets of the job application process. We were provided also with opportunities to work on extending our professional portfolios. The fog began to lift!

Increased confidence

While in the group, I felt grateful for the opportunity to borrow wisdom from the group’s collective knowledge and experience. Different members shared unique insights and ideas that would help me in my quest. This increased my confidence immensely. I felt on the right track with every step along the slippery slopes thanks to the wisdom of several scientists (mostly freelance experts), an expert editor, a pharmacist, and a medic!

Increased motivation and self-discipline

I felt also more focused and committed than before. Many in the group wanted to strengthen their job applications with writing samples while working in a team environment. These joint projects required strong organisational skills and excellent time and project management skills. Coordinating interviews and writing blog articles to a deadline kept my motivation unwavering.

Improved communication skills

Throughout the 12 weeks, we discussed and debated different topics, gave and received feedback and constructive criticism to each other. Furthermore, I was thrilled to be given the chance to interview key opinion leaders for our articles. In addition, Sarah guided us not only in creating writing samples, but also in working within mini-teams, mimicking what it is like to work in an agency environment. We did not realise it at the time, but Sarah was coaching us to develop essential skills in communication, time management, and attention to detail.  All these experiences undoubtedly improved my communication skills. I was approaching the summit!

Networking opportunities

The warm collaborative environment and non-judgemental atmosphere we shared offered new opportunities for networking which would not have been otherwise possible. For me they are indispensable!

After…

After the end of the programme, a sense of loss set in. Nonetheless, we can still look with pride at all our achievements from this period, and I have a network of others who can help me answer future questions. We learned a lot! We created so much – blog articles, backgrounders, interviews and articles for a charity and a terrific glossary!

Yes, we were all on our individual journeys, but the help and support we shared with each other whilst being guided by an expert, would definitely propel us to new heights – to the summit!