Freelance Medical Writer Success Trait Number 5: Being well versed in the AMA Manual of Style and rules of writing and editing
In this week’s episode, I talk about the success trait number 5, and that is being well versed in the AMA Manual of Style and the rules of writing and editing.
Qualities like having a science background, being detail oriented and having the ability to sit quietly at a computer are a given and not included in the 10 traits. Here are the top 10 traits as I see them:
- Focused on what the client and reader wants and needs
- Follows directions
- Follows formatting
- Responsive
- Well versed in AMA style and rules of editing.
- Organized and mindful of time.
- Cheerful/forgiving/flexible
- Professional with clients on calls
- LinkedIn presence.
- Lifelong learner
From today's episode: If you would like an advance review copy of Nick Nichols' (aka dear hubby) new legal thriller All We Hold Dear coming out March 1, 2022, please email nicknwrites@gmail.com and we will send you a copy.
Here are some books I recommend:
- On Writing by Stephen King
- Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
- On Writing Well by William Zinsser
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White
- How to Write Bestselling Fiction by Dean Koontz
- War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
- And my book Freelance Medical Writing Emma Hitt Nichols, PhD
Download the AMA Style cheat sheet here
Download the AMA style reference list here
- Course EDITING FOR MEDICAL WRITERS (Learn AMA Style https://learnamastyle.com/)
- Find out more information about how to get into freelance medical writing at 6weekcourse.com
- Does your company need medical writing assistance? visit Nascentmc.com
- VisualMedComms is a new membership where you can learn how to make your medical and scientific communications visually appealing and benefit from incorporating a new set of in-demand skills to offer your clients. visualmedcomms.com