Brief Setting: the Neglected First Step 

Tim Albert

One of the great mistakes we make when writing is to start too early, without really knowing where we want to end up. Here we learn what author Tim Albert (see below) recommends: that the first thing to do is to draw back from writing and think very carefully about what you want to do. This process is called 'setting the brief' and Tim gives five basic steps on how to go about it. By all means, let your writing be a voyage of discovery, but look at the existing navigation charts before you set out.

The Medical Translator's Dilemma: Shall I, Shan't I? 

Anne Bartz

Some people come to medical writing not from the natural sciences, but rather from a linguistic background, as former translators. An EMWA member expands her horizon from medical translating to medical writing.

The Publication Game: Life is Easy

Norbert De Clercq

Norbert discusses the potential trials and pitfalls of producing publications, and the merits of pinning your hopes on a lottery win!

ICH E3 'Structure and content of clinical study reports': Guideline or Template? 

Stephen de Looze

We've all struggled with this question ourselves or with clients who complain "... but it's not according to ICH". Now we can learn from an EMWA member who was on the IFPIA Committee that drew up the draft guidelines about the real intent of ICH E3.

Slash the Slash (please wait for this to load as it is a 288k PDF)

Stephen de Looze

Stephen looks at a punctuation mark whose abuse seems to be spreading in epidemic fashon even among those who ought to know better.

All gendered up  

Stephen de Looze

More and more words have more and more meanings. Less and less words will make do. As editors and writers we are the beacons in a sea of impoverished vocabulary. Sometimes a compulsion overcomes us, we feel overwhelmed with sympathy for a mistreated word, angered whenever we see it belied and are moved to champion its cause. Read Stephen's passionate treatise of the word 'gender'...

Regulatory Questions and Answers: the Investigator's Brochure 

Douglas Fiebig

As the first offering in our new series, we look at the seemingly irreconcilable goals of making an Investigator's Brochure attractive enough to get the investigators to read it while still keeping it simple enough for the next update and getting it finished on time.

Simply Symposia 

Katherine Hall

The medical writer's job is, ultimately, to ensure that key product messages are conveyed clearly without compromising the credibility of the presenters. This is by no means an easy job, but if everything goes according to plan, the results can be extremely rewarding for all involved.

Business Strategies for Freelancers and Small Businesses

Adam Jacobs

Adam presents the conclusions from one of the Prague conference lunch discussions on a topic that has since become very dear to the editor’s heart, small businesses. Find out what to do and just as importantly what NOT to do as various EMWA members share their accumulated wisdom born of hard and sometimes bitter experience.

Why the theme consent and plagiarism?  

Elise Langdon-Neuner

The answer is because both are beset with misconceptions.

The TWS Editor-in-Chief ties Volume 14, no. 3 together with a look at misconceptions about plagiarism and informed consent, mass media distortions, and other hot topics in medical writing.

The second EMWA freelance and small business forum  

Alison McIntosh

Alison McIntosh reports on the Freelance and Small Business Forum held at the EMWA meeting in Budapest in 2004.

Medical writing at home 

Alison McIntosh

Find out about the experiences of one EMWA member who turned to freelancing. 

 

Freelance Medical Writing: The Complexities of Client/Freelance Interactions 

Linda Mizen

Linda writes about the complexities of relationships between the freelance writer and the client, showing that even when you think that nothing can go wrong, something probably can ... and will!

The pleasure of being a "non-native": How rootless wanderers find their ideal corner among thick dictionaries 

Ernesta Palombo-Kinne

'My Italian origin spoils me to the use of Latin-root terms (supposedly more elegant, what a kick for a "non-native").'

'Accuracy can transform our language weakness into communicative strength, because as long as we are looking for a term, why not look for the most accurate one.'

What the Regulatory Authorities want to see 

Eva Pike

High quality, easy to read and understand, and well-prepared ERs written in the form and with the standard formats described in the Notice to Applicants will not only hasten the review process, but will also help to get the reviewer in a better mood!

Guidelines for Medical Writers: recent news from EMEA 

Alison Rapley

Those amongst you who regularly write documents for regulatory submissions will need no introduction to the invaluable list of EMEA guidelines.

The Contractor-Client Relationship 

Adam Jacobs

Adam writes about relations between clients and contractors from the contractor's point of view. Since he has worked in a CRO, an agency and as a freelancer, he has had a chance to experience much of what contractors have to do. Here we will learn why some clients turn out to be from hell and why others are a joy to work with, and what both clients and contractors can do to make things run smoothly.

Becoming a Non-native English-speaking Freelance Medical Writer 

Annemieke Van Hest

Another in our series by non-native English speakers, here we'll find out about a possibility which might at first glance seem challenging in the extreme ­ becoming a non-native English freelance medical writer.

 

How to Publish in Biomedical Journals 

Liz Wager

Knowing how to write is not the whole story.