I was one of those oddballs that actually didn't mind writing her thesis. Six years and two employers later, she is still enthusiastic about her career switch. Zhang is one of a number of life scientists who have shifted to medical writing as a way of applying their expertise in a nonlaboratory, usually nonacademic setting. As medicine expands, so does the field of medical writing. Observers of the field say that despite the higher supply of medical writers, demand is still strong, especially for experienced writers.
Medical writing is actually a catchall phrase covering diverse lines of work.
Brian Bass , a freelance writer in Robbinsville, N.J., and head of AMWA's Delaware Valley chapter, says four types of writing are involved. Promotional communications include advertising. Scientific writing embraces product monographs, grant applications, and ghostwritten journal articles. Educational writing is targeted toward physicians, patients, and salespeople. Finally, clinical and regulatory writing is an integral part of the drug evaluation and approval process.