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:

1. Focused on what the client and reader wants and needs
2. Follows directions
3. Follows formatting
4. Responsive
5. Well versed in AMA style and rules of editing.
6. Organized and mindful of time.
7. Cheerful/forgiving/flexible
8. Professional with clients on calls
9. LinkedIn presence.
10. 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 [email protected] 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