How a hairdresser ended up a medical editor

Ready to dive into being a freelance medical editor?

Being a freelance medical editor is a really rewarding and interesting career. And in fact, I'd always recommend freelance copyeditors and proofreaders find a niche because specialising in a particular area will not only set you apart from other freelance editors but also opens up more opportunities. So why is narrowing your focus advantageous?

• Expertise commands attention: Clients are drawn to specialists who can demonstrate in-depth understanding and knowledge in their own specific field. If you position yourself as an expert in a particular field, you become the go-to professional for clients seeking specialised editing services in their own area of expertise. If a client knows you can speak their language, you will become a more attractive potential freelancer to them than a do-it-all editor.

• Confidence in your skillset: Your clients will have more confidence in an editor who specialises in one specific area of expertise, meaning you can offer services and solutions that the client may not have thought of themselves. Thus, you become their trusted partner.

• Streamlined marketing: Tailoring your marketing efforts becomes more effective when you know exactly who your target clients are. Your messaging can be refined to speak directly to the needs and concerns of those in your chosen niche.

• Building a brand: A focused niche allows you to build a brand around your expertise. Consistently delivering high-quality edits in a specific area helps you establish a strong and recognisable presence in the industry.

How I got there: from hairdressing to medical editing

Ask any freelance copyeditor and they'll all have a different story on how they ended up freelancing in the area they are. Some freelance medical editors are ex medical proofreaders or ex editorial assistants from the MedComms industry. Others start off working with book publishers. Everyone's path is different, so I can only tell you how I ended up specialising in medical editing.

I didn't set out to become a medical editor. In fact, I actually started out as an apprentice hairdresser. It was my dream job and I loved it, but circumstances forced a change. I did a couple of admin jobs, discovered I was pretty good with a word processor and graphics, and was lucky enough to land a job as a layout artist in 1997. While in that job, I was trained in proofreading, which I really enjoyed, so then I worked in-house as a proofreader and copyeditor for many years in various industries including technology, human rights and marketing, before redundancy gave me the kickstart to set up a freelance proofreading and copyediting business. I did some proper industry-recognised courses and found work with book publishers working on books ranging from religion and history to art and education. I was even given the opportunity to project-manage books throughout the publishing process, but unfortunately the credit crunch saw the end of that.

At the same time I was doing a degree in human biology with the Open University. At first, studying was purely to tick off a bucket-list item of getting a degree (having foregone higher education for the hairdressing career that never was). But then, when I was offered a job in the medical-education industry in 2009, I finally found the thing I wanted to focus on: editing medical materials about the human body, diseases and healthcare. So, when I revisited the idea of freelancing again in 2018, it was an easy decision to set my niche as a specialist medical editor.

So what is a freelance medical editor?

I could call myself a medical copyeditor, or a medical proofreader (I do both). (I could also call myself a plain-English editor or a medico-legal editor – I do both of these too!) The terms are often confused and used interchangeably, but 'copyediting' and 'proofreading' are actually two very distinct editorial processes that serve different purposes (see my article on the differences between copyediting and proofreading here.) Book publishers, for example, will engage both a copyeditor and a proofreader to work on a book at different stages of production.

However, in the areas of medicine that I work in, editorial services are less definite and the roles tend to be more blurred. For example, an expert-witness client might ask me to do a ‘proofread’, but actually require a greater level of intervention than would be strictly expected of a proofread. With this in mind, I refer to myself as simply a ‘medical editor’ because many of my clients don’t want to – or indeed don’t need to – engage a separate medical copyeditor and medical proofreader.

Therefore, I consider a medical editor to be someone with specialist knowledge and experience who refines medical documents to ensure accuracy, clarity and consistency, and to make sure they are suitable for the intended audience and meet industry standards and guidelines. This could include anything from medico-legal reports and patient-education materials to medical news articles and public-health campaigns.

Building a solid foundation: education and skills

To succeed in freelance medical editing, a relevant educational background shows your potential clients that you can speak their language. A degree in a subject such as life sciences/human biology provides a solid foundation. And qualifications in copyediting and proofreading will show that you are an expert not only in medical language but also in the written word. Educational background becomes less important, however, with the more experience you gain: the fact that I've worked on thousands of medico-legal reports matters far more to my clients than my degree subject, for example.

A related work background is also useful. I was an in-house proofreader and copyeditor before I set up my freelance business, so I had a lot of experience behind me. However, that’s not to say that you can’t set up a successful freelance business without this experience. Many freelancers build a successful business with no prior in-house experience behind them.

In addition to formal education, honing your skills is crucial. A keen eye for detail, a good understanding of medical terminology and proficiency in using editing tools such as Track Changes in Microsoft Word are all essential skills. Familiarise yourself with style guides commonly used in the medical field such as the American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style.

Building your portfolio

Build a compelling portfolio that showcases your skills and expertise. In my industry, it is difficult to show samples of my work because it's confidential and protected by NDAs. But you can emphasise any experience you have with medical or scientific content, for example with testimonials or by stating how much experience you have in that area. If you’re just starting out, consider offering your services to friends or colleagues in the healthcare field to build a portfolio of relevant work.

Networking within the medical community

Building a network within the medical community can open doors to more opportunities. Attend medical conferences, join online forums and connect with professionals in the field. Building relationships with researchers and healthcare professionals can lead to referrals and repeat business.

Staying informed: continuous learning

To stay relevant as a freelance medical copyeditor, it’s essential to commit to continuous learning. Subscribe to reputable medical journals, follow industry news and participate in webinars and workshops. And don’t forget to keeping your editing skills up to date. Organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) and the Publishing Training Centre (PTC) offer editing-specific courses. These are highly regarded courses in the industry, and will show that you are a well-qualified editor.

Setting your rates

Research industry standards and consider factors such as your level of experience, the complexity of the material and the time required for editing. As you gain experience and build a reputation, you can adjust your rates accordingly.

Managing your freelance business

Managing a business can be challenging. No one is paying your for the time you spend on administration tasks and marketing, and self-discipline is often the single biggest challenge for a freelancer. If you’re to build a successful freelance business then eliminating distractions and interruptions is one of the first – and most important – steps you can take. Set priorities and write out the tasks you need to do each day. Set aside time each week to keep on top of your admin, social media and accounting.

One of the best things about working for yourself is that you are in charge of your working hours. Your business model is down to you. You don’t have to work 9–5 anymore if that doesn’t suit you. Early birds can start work at 6am and be done for 2pm for example.

Marketing your services

Creating a professional website really makes you stand out from other freelancers. Using branding colours, style and theme across your website and your social media gives you an identity and makes your business memorable. Consider having professional photographs taken to really make you stand out. Utilise social media to connect with potential clients and share valuable content related to medical editing: regular posts and sharing interesting content keeps you at the front of potential clients’ minds.

Embracing feedback

Feedback is a valuable tool for growth. Actively seek feedback from clients after completing projects. Use this information to identify areas for improvement and to refine your skills. Positive feedback can also serve as powerful testimonials to attract new clients.

Professional development

As you establish yourself as a freelance medical editor, consider avenues for professional development. This could involve updating your copyediting and proofreading qualifications, keeping up to date in the medical areas that your clients specialise in, attending workshops, and reading journals and specialist medical websites.

Final thoughts

Freelance medical editing is such a rewarding career, but it does require a unique set of skills and a commitment to continuous improvement. Success in freelancing is not just about editing words: it's about building relationships, staying up to date and constantly evolving. Good luck on your freelance medical copyediting journey!

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A note on terminology: The terms medical copyeditor, medical proofreader and medical editor are often confused and used interchangeably. To add to the confusion, there are yet other terms used for different niches such as plain-English editor, medico-legal copyeditor and editorial assistant (the latter is commonly used in medical communications). I personally use medical editor to describe my role, and medical editing to describe both medical copyediting and medical proofreading, as this suggests a hybrid approach as per my own clients' preferences ... plus, it's simpler! See here for more detail on the traditional differences between proofreading and copyediting.