Write Medicine

In this year-end episode, Alex takes you behind the scenes into a full year of growth inside the WriteCME Pro community. Whether you're just starting in CME or deepening your expertise, you’ll hear the most important trends that emerged among CME writers in 2025—what they struggled with, how they moved forward, and what this means for your own career in 2026.
If you want clarity, confidence, and a sense of belonging in the CME world, this episode offers a peek at the path forward.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The biggest mindset and skill gaps CME writers faced this year
Why understanding the ecosystem matters more than mastering templates
The professional identity shift that helped writers step into higher-level roles
Why wellbeing has become a non-negotiable business strategy
What happens when writers grow inside a community instead of alone
What support, structure, and opportunities are coming in 2026

You’ll especially benefit if you’re:
A medical writer curious about entering CME
A working CME writer who feels stuck or isolated
A freelancer craving clarity, community, or better workflow systems
Someone who wants to build a resilient, respected CME writing business

Learn more or join the community:
12 Days of Giving Secret List
WriteCME Pro
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
[CTA Button]
Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

What if you ended the year not with burnout or urgency, but with a daily ritual of inspiration, generosity, and creative momentum for your CME writing?
As CME writers, so much of our work happens behind the scenes — the interviews, the needs assessments, the outlines, the manuscripts. It’s meaningful work, but it’s often quiet and relentless, yet it carries real impact for learners and patients. This episode takes you behind the curtain into the reflection, intention, and creative spark that inspired the 12 Days of Giving. If you’ve ever wanted to reconnect with the why behind your own writing, this story will resonate.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
My why behind the 12 Days of Giving
How reflection helps us stay grounded in a profession that rarely slows down.
Why generosity isn’t just a nice idea, but a practical force that strengthens your craft and the CME community.

Press play to step behind the scenes and discover the heart, intention, and creative spark powering this year’s 12 Days of Giving.
Ready to join the secret list? Do that here: https://www.alexhowson.com/12-days-interest
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
[CTA Button]
Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

In this hot seat coaching conversation, Sarah Jabeen MD, a clinician turned medical writer, brings the honest questions so many emerging CME writers quietly carry:
How do I navigate a career pivot without feeling like an imposter? How do I leverage my clinical background without overwhelming my writing? And how do I grow from “new” to “trusted” in the eyes of clients?
Together, we unpack what’s underneath each of these questions and explore how identity, confidence, community, and small experiments shape your growth as a CME writer.
You’ll hear:
Why self-doubt is a normal part of professional transformation—and how to shift from “What if this fails?” to “What if this works?”
How your clinical experience becomes a true superpower in CME writing, giving you insight, relevance, and empathy that elevate your work.
What separates a beginner from a trusted partner, and how reliability, curiosity, and consistent communication matter more than perfection.
The role of community and belonging in building confidence and combating isolation during a career pivot.
Practical guidance for showing up online, finding your voice, and creating a presence that feels aligned and safe.

Whether you’re transitioning from clinical practice, entering CME writing from another discipline, or simply looking for more confidence in your craft, this episode offers permission, perspective, and a path forward.
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
[CTA Button]
Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

What do you do when your inbox goes quiet and the client work that once filled your calendar suddenly disappears?
For many freelance medical writers—especially those transitioning into the CME space—quiet seasons can feel like failure. But what if those fallow periods are actually the most fertile ground for growth? In this conversation with seasoned writer Addie Nagy, we explore how to reframe slow seasons, rebuild confidence, and manage client relationships with steadiness and purpose.
You’ll learn how to
Reimagine client relationships as a dialogue rather than a power struggle so collaboration replaces anxiety.
Turn information gaps and slow communication into opportunities for curiosity, clarity, and boundary-setting.
Use “fallow time” to strengthen business foundations, refresh systems, and cultivate the mindset shift from freelancer to business owner.

Press play to learn how to transform uncertainty into strategy and make every season of your freelance CME writing business work for you.
Resources Mentioned
Ilise Benun — The Creative Professional's Guide to Money: How to Think About It, How to Talk About it, How to Manage It. 2011. HOW Books.
WriteCME Pro — a community and professional network that provides peer support and opportunities to hone CME writing skills.
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
[CTA Button]
Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab
LinkedIn Live AMA

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Have you ever hesitated to push back on a client’s “non-negotiable” contract — even when something didn’t feel right?
For freelance medical writers, contracts can be one of the most intimidating parts of running a business. Between indemnity clauses, “work made for hire” language, and shifting risk to the writer, it’s easy to feel powerless. In this episode, legal strategist Brionna Ned (The Lawless Lawyer) breaks down how to approach contract negotiations with confidence — so you can protect your work, your income, and your peace of mind.
You'll learn how to:
Identify and communicate your leverage points — the non-negotiables that protect your business.
Decode intimidating legal terms like indemnity and work made for hire in plain language.
Reframe contract negotiation from a high-stakes confrontation into a collaborative conversation about creating a fair working relationship.

Press play to discover how to build contract confidence, reduce risk, and negotiate terms that support a thriving medical writing business.
Connect with Brionna
 The Lawless Lawyer
Instagram
Threads
LinkedIn
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
[CTA Button]
Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab
LinkedIn Live AMA

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp