When I first started freelancing, I felt the same pressure every new medical writer hears: “pick a niche or get lost in the crowd.”
But here’s the truth I’ve learned after years of steady, fulfilling, and sustainable work in this field: medical writing is already a niche. And you don’t have to choose just one narrow slice of it to build a thriving career.
I’ve written for pharma companies and patient organisations. I’ve done white papers, website copy, CME content, and social media. I’m not scattered, I’m strategic. And in this post, I’ll show you how I used range within the niche of medical writing to grow my business, keep learning, and stay booked.
Medical Writing Itself Is a Niche, So Why Go Narrow Too Soon?
One of the first things you’ll hear when entering freelance writing is, “Find your niche.” And yes, it’s sound advice, if you’re writing across industries or trying to build a generalist content business. But if you’re already working in medical writing, you’ve already chosen a niche. This field is specialised.
Think about it: we’re already dealing with complex topics, regulatory expectations, and very specific audiences. Whether you’re writing patient education materials, regulatory submissions, CME content, or website copy for healthcare brands, you’re operating in a space that demands clarity, credibility, and a solid grasp of scientific detail. That’s a niche.
When I first started out, I didn’t limit myself to one format or client type. I worked with pharmaceutical companies, patient advocacy organisations, research teams, health tech start-ups, and more. My writing spanned white papers, blog posts, explainer videos, clinical summaries, and even social media content. This wasn’t randomness: it was range within a focused discipline. I wasn’t writing about fashion one week and fintech the next. I was developing a versatile skillset within the healthcare ecosystem.
In fact, this strategic flexibility allowed me to build confidence, grow a varied portfolio, and uncover the kinds of work I was naturally drawn to. If I had forced myself to specialise too early, I would’ve missed the opportunity to discover where my strengths really lay.
So if you’re just starting out or feeling uncertain about your “thing,” here’s my take: it’s perfectly fine to say yes to different types of medical writing. Explore what resonates. That’s not being unfocused, it’s being intentional.
Curious about what that range might look like? Have a look at some freelance medical writing examples to see just how broad this niche can be.
How I Built a Career Without Forcing a Sub-Niche
When I started freelancing, I didn’t have a five-year plan, or a fixed idea of what kind of medical writer I’d become. What I did have was curiosity, an agency background where I had already enjoyed covering various areas of medical writing, and a deep respect for clear, accurate communication. This led me to a wide variety of projects early on, and with each one, I learnt more about what I enjoyed, where I added value, and what felt sustainable long-term.
Instead of narrowing my options right away, I focused on building strong relationships. Clients came back not because I was the go-to writer for “X therapeutic area,” but because I was dependable, thoughtful, and easy to work with. I met deadlines, asked good questions, and cared about doing the work well. That’s what built my reputation.
That’s when I discovered a different kind of niching: not by industry label, but by alignment. It’s about finding the overlap between:
- What you love
- What you’re good at
- What the world needs / what you can be paid for
When I applied this lens to my work, I realised I didn’t need to contort myself to fit someone else’s definition of a niche. Instead, I could choose projects that lived in that intersection: getting paid for something I enjoy doing. For me, this often meant being versatile, writing for various clients and audiences, and mentoring writers who want to grow sustainably, while still having time to care for my sons.
I don’t have a hyper-specific niche. But I do have clarity on the kind of work I want to do, the clients I want to help, and the impact I want to make. And I’ve had a thriving business without this sub-niche.
For New Writers: It’s OK to Explore Before You Specialise
Start with Curiosity, Not Certainty
If you’re early in your medical writing career, you don’t need to have your niche figured out straight away. Honestly, you probably shouldn’t.
Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned came from saying yes to a wide variety of projects. Not every job turned into a long-term relationship, but each one taught me something: about writing, about clients, and about myself. That exploration wasn’t wasted time; it was professional development.
So, if you’re still finding your footing, give yourself permission to experiment. Try a regulatory project. Say yes to a patient education piece. Tackle a clinical summary, then test your tone with some marketing content. See what energises you. See what you’d rather avoid next time.
Recognise If And When Your Niche Starts to Take Shape
Over time, you may begin to notice patterns:
- The kinds of clients who keep coming back
- The topics you feel confident and well-informed writing about
- The formats where you consistently deliver your best work
This is where I believe in soft niching: not boxing yourself in, but recognising where your skills, enjoyment, and client demand naturally intersect. You might become known for tone-of-voice work, or you might consistently get hired for patient-facing content. It doesn’t mean you can’t do other things, it just means your strengths and interests are starting to speak for themselves.
Let Niching Serve Your Business, Not Limit It
Niching can also be helpful when:
- You’re getting too many inquiries that don’t quite fit your expertise or interests
- You want to streamline your work and increase efficiency
- You’re looking to position yourself more clearly in the market
And here’s the truth most people don’t tell you: once you niche down, the experimentation doesn’t stop. It simply becomes more focused. You might test new services within your niche, try out different ways of presenting yourself on LinkedIn, or reshape your portfolio to reflect your evolving focus.
What changes is the quality of the opportunities that come your way. You’ll likely see:
- Better-fit leads
- Fewer mismatched projects
- A greater sense of clarity in your business
And if your values or interests shift later on? You can always pivot. Your niche should grow with you, not limit you.
If you’re wondering how your niche might affect your pricing and positioning, this guide to setting freelance medical writing rates can help you price with more confidence.
Conclusion: You Can Be Specialised in Medical Writing Without Being Narrow
If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this post, it’s this: you don’t need to force a niche to build a fulfilling, successful medical writing career. Medical writing is already a niche in itself, and within it, there’s plenty of room to explore.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been freelancing for a while, remember that your niche doesn’t have to be a fixed label. It can be a living reflection of your values, your voice, and the clients you enjoy working with most.
Here are a few practical tips to take with you:
- Let experience guide you. Try different project types and pay attention to what energises you.
- Look for patterns. The clients, formats, or topics you enjoy most often point toward your natural niche.
- Stay flexible. You can specialise without boxing yourself in: soft niching lets you refine your focus without shutting out new opportunities.
- Review your messaging regularly. As your niche evolves, update your portfolio, website, and LinkedIn to reflect where you’re going, not just where you’ve been.
Most importantly, trust that you’re allowed to build a career that fits your life, not just your LinkedIn headline. And if you ever need a sounding board? You know where to find me.
FAQs About Finding Your Niche in Medical Writing
1. Do I Need to Choose a Niche to Start in Medical Writing?
No, not necessarily, you don’t need a niche to be well-paid as a freelance medical writer. Many successful writers, myself included, started by exploring different types of projects within medical writing before gradually identifying what felt most aligned. And for me, dealing with a diverse range of medical writing work, as well as mentoring freelancers, is what makes me feel fulfilled. It’s okay to experiment: what matters is showing reliability, clarity, and professionalism as you learn.
2. What Are Examples of Niche Areas in Medical Writing?
Common medical writing niches include niches by format, such as regulatory writing, HEOR (Health Economics and Outcomes Research), CME content, patient education, SEO health blogs and pharmaceutical marketing. But a niche can also be defined by who you write for or how: think ghostwriting for clinicians, or specialising in plain-language content for patients.
If you’re unsure which niche may align best with your skills or interests and want to get an overview, this guide to medical writing portfolio samples breaks down the most in-demand formats, like CME modules, pharma marketing content, and white papers, with real examples and tips for getting started.
3. Is Freelance Medical Writing a Good Career Choice?
Freelance medical writing can be fulfilling, flexible, and sustainable, especially if you enjoy independent work, continuous learning, and communicating complex ideas clearly. It requires strong writing skills, business acumen, and adaptability, but it offers room to shape your own path. To know more about what it takes to break into freelance medical writing, check out my posts:
- if you don’t have a science degree: 5 Steps to Transition Into Medical Writing Without a Science Degree
- if you’re a healthcare professional: How to Break Into Freelance Medical Writing With a Healthcare Background
Whether you’re pivoting or starting fresh, these guides will help you take the next step with confidence.
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