What 26 years inside this industry has taught me
Start with This
“I write to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means.”
— Joan Didion, essayist and journalist
Something Worth Knowing
The U.S. medical writing market was valued at roughly $1.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of about 10% through 2035, with one of the major drivers being the rising demand for clear, patient-facing materials such as website content and patient information leaflets.
That growth matters for one reason: the demand for clinically credible writers is outpacing the supply. Nurses entering this market are walking into a buyer's environment that is actively looking for them.
A Good Read
Most blog posts on the topic “what is freelance health writing” answer in theoretical terms: it’s self-employment; it’s writing health articles. Almost none of them tell you how freelancing works as an actual business.
Today's post is the second one. The one I wish someone had handed me 26 years ago.
Read it here: How Freelance Health Writing Actually Works
One Small Step
Sit with these three questions this week. No need to act on them yet — just let them surface what's already true for you.
- If freelance health writing is a real industry, not a hobby, what changes about how I'd approach it?
- What clinical knowledge do I already have that an editor or content manager would actually pay me to translate for their readers?
- What's one assumption I'm carrying about this work right now that I couldn't possibly know without doing it?
Beth's Sunday Rounds
A quick note: I recently created Sunday Rounds, a long-form essay series for readers who want to go a little deeper. Each one is a 5-6 minute read — my reflections on building a business and a life you actually love. Enjoy!
This week: I had the best afternoon I'd had in months. Then I came home and walked straight into the cage I'd built for myself.
Read: Grasping
Take This With You
Freelance health writing is a real industry that pays nurses well for the clinical knowledge the institution undervalues. Treat it that way, and the work treats you that way back.
