mentoring
for freelance writers
Ready to take the next step in your freelance writing journey?
You’re an aspiring freelance writer with ideas a-plenty. You’re ready to start… but need a nudge in the right direction. Or, you’ve been freelancing for a while, but you’re feeling stuck? Not sure how to build a business that works for you?
- Putting together a portfolio?
- Writing copy for your website?
- Sorting social media platforms?
- Working out your rates?
- Seeking those elusive client leads?
- Managing your busy schedule?
Why Rachel?
Why choose Rachel as your mentor? She:
- Has been a health and medical writer for more than a decade
- Has worked for them all, from tiny health tech start-ups to leading communications agencies
- Has experience leading a team of writers agency-side, knows how to pitch for and win work in the face of the competition, and how to train and mentor other writers
- Has run a successful freelance business since 2022
- Has a roster of clients who regularly rebook
- Wins new work month-by-month
- Somehow makes it work alongside a busy and full life as a mother-of-two, a partner, a friend, a runner, a reader, a chef (and all the other hats!) – just like you?
Mentoring packages
One-off mentoring session –
1 hour, £150 (one-off)
Suitable for all freelance writers.
- A 1-hour chat with me – you set the agenda.
- You’ll walk away with everything you need to take your next step and, hopefully, with a smile on your face. Come with all your questions! My cup of tea is in hand and I’m ready for anything…
- You’ll also get a written summary of our call.
MONTHLY MENTORSHIP -
1 HOUR per MONTH, £150 (MONTHLY)
Suitable for all freelance writers.
- A 1-hour session with me, once every month – plus, the chance to stay in touch between sessions.
- You’ll set the agenda each month.
- You’ll also get a written summary of each call.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, with rachel
Background
I have been working as a writer since ~2010 (14 years at the time of writing). My first writing role was at Yell Adworks (the company with the big yellow book, which probably ages me). I also wrote copy for a camping start-up and an Art magazine, before I landed my first role in medical communications, in the Strategic Communications Team at a health economics consultancy. This was back in 2012.
For just over as decade, I worked ‘agency-side’, working my way up to leading a team of six writers (and numerous freelancers) at a leading healthcare communications agency.
I’ve worked across all manner of projects, with hundreds of clients, and many different writers. I know how to write to brief, to budget and on time. And I know how to mentor other writers to be their best writing self.
If you want to work specifically in the medical communications field, it is a good idea to get some agency experience under your belt. This will help you build a network, make a name for yourself, and *importantly* learn how to write.
That said, I do not think agency experience is the only way to break into the industry. Many health writers are healthcare professionals with years of clinical experience. Others come to the table with other experiences. If you want to write health blogs, for example, you may not need years of agency experience to do this.
What you do need to do:
- Network
- Build a portfolio
- Create an online presence
- Define your offering and why people should use YOU (rather than the thousands of other ‘medical writers’ out there).
Winning work
When I first started, these were my priorities:
- Reaching out to existing contacts (this is where it helps to have built a network)
- Setting up a presence on social media, including LinkedIn (priority) and Instagram – then searching for (and adding, with an intro message) my ideal clients
- Created this website, outlining my services and as a home for my portfolio
- Joined several Facebook groups where work is frequently shared
- Wrote a standard ‘cold pitch’ email
Today, I have a steady stream of repeat clients, so I rarely cold pitch. I DO keep my website and social media channels up-to-date, and regularly reach out to clients I have worked with before, just in case they need something new. I always want to be the first freelance medical writer they think of when they have a project to outsource.
As an aside, I do not look for work through companies like Upwork or Fiverr as these jobs will generally pay far lower than my standard rate (see below). However, I do not outright advise against this. Just make sure you are discerning and know your worth!
I currently have five regular clients. I always try to have between four and six. Too many and I cannot give them enough attention; too few, I start to worry about flow of work.
At the moment, I am working with all of these clients on a project-by-project basis. Previously, I have also worked on contracts (e.g., 2 days per week for 6 months).
Money
There are several different ways you can charge for your services. Each client may have a preference, but it is up to you how you would like to charge yourself out.
- Hourly or day rate – You get paid by the hour or the day, depending on the time that you work
- Fixed project – You agree a fixed price for a scoped project
- Retainer – You agree a monthly price for a series of deliverables
Mostly, I charge a fixed price by the project, or in some cases, by the day. I generally find hourly pricing is not cost-effective for me, as the quicker I do the work, the less I get paid. However, you may find this works for you – especially at the start of your freelancing journey.
Freelancers will charge different rates depending on their experience. In general, this ranges from between £350 to £600 a day. Some freelancers charge by the word, but as I do not do this, I cannot comment.
I personally charge a variable rate, which averages out at £500-£550 a day, depending on the work required and the type of client. I decided my rate based on my own experience hiring freelancers. I have increased my rates once in the past two years in line with inflation.
Do your research. What are other writers in your field charging? How much experience do they have? Could you be charging more for your services?
If you are overbooked, you may need to up your prices. If no one is booking, then maybe they need to be lower.
Business set-up
I am set up as a Limited Company. My previous employer (who hires many freelancers) told me to do this. Many small companies are happy to work with sole traders, but bigger corporations may require you to be a limited company.
As I work with pharmaceutical companies and other large corporations, I am required to have professional indemnity insurance up to £5 million.
I have my own contract, but I will also sign my clients’ contract if required. I always check the terms, and let them know if there’s anything I am unsure about. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – I usually look closely at termination clauses, who owns the work product, whether you can add the work to your portfolio, and conflict of interest stipulations.
If there’s something that really doesn’t work for you, it is ok to walk away.
Starting out
I have a blog about this… go check it out.
