Struggling with your research paper? 10 ways a freelance medical writer can support your publications team

Managing publications in an industry setting comes with unique challenges, including tight timelines, complex internal review processes, multiple stakeholders, and the constant need to ensure scientific integrity and compliance with evolving industry standards.

Partnering with a freelance medical writer can help your team overcome these hurdles, while maintaining quality, consistency and credibility across your publication outputs.

Why consider working with a freelance medical writer?

Freelance medical writers bring:

• Scientific expertise based on research and clinical understanding

• Experience with ICMJE guidelines, Good Publication Practice (GPP) and journal requirements

• Familiarity with compliance platforms such as DataVision, Veeva and internal SOPs

They are not ghostwriters. The authors will retain full intellectual ownership of the study, while the writer provides technical and editorial support to present the work in the best possible light. This ensures the collaboration is ethical and transparent, with proper acknowledgement of contributions.

10 ways a freelance medical writer can support your publications team

1. Developing a first draft. Writers can work from study reports, slide decks, or meeting minutes to create a strong initial draft, freeing internal teams to focus on scientific input and review.

2. Structuring content and storytelling. They can propose a logical structure that aligns with journal expectations and clearly communicates the study's key messages, methodology, and outcomes.

3. Medical editing. Writers polish grammar, syntax, and flow while ensuring scientific clarity and consistency. They help make manuscripts accessible to target readers without oversimplifying the content.

4. Designing tables and figures. Freelance writers can assist with visualisation, ensuring that data are presented in a clear, concise, and journal-compliant format.

5. Supporting review rounds. Writers can manage rounds of internal review, collate feedback from authors, and update drafts accordingly, while maintaining version control and alignment with SOPs.

6. Journal selection, formatting and submission. With knowledge of scope, audience, and impact factors, writers can help select suitable journals and format manuscripts, references, and figures accordingly. They also perform dummy submissions and navigate journal portals to avoid common pitfalls that can delay review.

7. Managing compliance and declarations. Experienced writers will ensure that disclosures, author contributions, and data sharing statements are complete and correct.

8. Addressing peer review comments. Medical writers can draft or edit responses to reviewers, helping teams respond constructively while preserving the study's overall message.

9. Final proof review. Before publication, writers can check page proofs for accuracy and consistency, ensuring the final article is error-free and publication ready. They can also support with completing copyright forms and arranging for open access payments to be made.

10. Developing publication extenders. To maximise reach and engagement, writers can develop plain language summaries, graphical abstracts, lay summaries for patient audiences, and slide decks. These extenders help translate complex findings into accessible formats for broader stakeholder groups.

Addressing ethical concerns

Compliance and transparency are critical in industry-sponsored publications. A professional freelance writer will:

• Follow ICMJE and GPP guidelines

• Avoid ghostwriting by ensuring all intellectual contributions remain with the authors

• Ensure appropriate acknowledgement of writing support and funding

This helps you maintain ethical standards, avoid reputational risks, and build trust with journals, investigators, and HCP audiences.

Finding the right freelance medical writer

There are tens of thousands of people online who claim to be a medical writer. Unfortunately, many of these will be underqualified, inexperienced and/or likely to be reliant on tools like ChatGPT, without the expertise needed to properly support your work.

However, there are plenty of freelance medical writers out there who are offering a professional service. But how do you find them?

Here are some good signs to look for:

• Relevant experience. Whilst employment at a senior level in a medical communications agency is not essential, it is a strong indicator that these writers have significant practical experience. The fact that they have been promoted should also reassure you that they are actually good at their job.

• Strong academic background. These writers will have authored their own articles, may have been a journal reviewer and will have personal experience of the scientific publications industry.

• Strong portfolio. Look for a writer with a long list of the publications they have authored or been acknowledged on.

• Client testimonials. Good reviews from happy clients are a great sign that the writer knows what they are doing.

• Signs of a legitimate business. A professional website and email address, an up-to-date LinkedIn profile with photograph, and appropriate business protections, such as professional indemnity insurance, all point to someone serious about their work.

• Realistic rates. If someone offers to write a manuscript from start to finish for $50, give them a wide berth. In the UK, a realistic cost for full manuscript support will be around £10,000 for a freelancer and £20,000+ for an agency.

• Excellent English language skills. A professional medical writer's command of English should be clear in all their communication, including website, emails and social media posts.

Conclusion

Freelance medical writers can be valuable partners for pharma publications teams, providing the expertise and flexibility needed to navigate complex projects, tight deadlines, and evolving compliance requirements.

By collaborating with a skilled writer, you can enhance manuscript quality, improve efficiency, and maintain the highest ethical standards, ensuring your research is communicated clearly, accurately, and effectively.

---

About me

Looking for freelance support with your publication plans?

I specialise in helping pharma and Med Comms clients take manuscripts from draft to submission. Get in touch to find out how I can support your team.

If you're interested in working with me, please take a look at my website to learn more about my fees, explore my portfolio and read my client testimonials.

When I'm not writing about science and medicine, I am bringing up two children, fostering cats and attempting to play the piano.