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Writers Are More Welcome Than Ever

Pharmacists are in demand. They just need to have writing and editing skills. Think this rules you out? Think again. If you've ever thought about writing-even if you have no experience or skills-you are on the right track. And this column will help ignite your spark of interest.

When pharmacists think of writing, they generally think of writing for a professional journal. And clearly this is a good means of entry into the publishing world. For example, JMCP always welcomes articles for publication. The instructions for authors appear in every issue of the Journal. If you have an idea for an article, but you don't think it fits in with any of the categories, call the editorial offices at 703/998-4000 and talk to the Journal staff. They will help you determine the best way to proceed with your article to get it published in a timely manner.

But publishing an article isn't the only way to enter the world of academic publishing. You can apply to become a reviewer for JMCP or another journal. Submit a cover letter describing your experience and areas of expertise, along with a current curriculum vitae, to the editorial offices. This volunteer effort will give you important insights into the editorial process and how articles are peer reviewed and edited.

While journals such as JMCP present the most obvious publishing opportunities, there are other avenues that interested pharmacists can explore. For example, many professional societies publish educational materials such as newsletters, books, and special reports. And these publications often are written by pharmacists who are members of the organization. The first step here might be to offer your services as a committee member. Most organizations have a number of volunteer member-driven committees that work on a variety of projects from developing programs and preparing reports to planning sessions for meetings and conferences. These projects can provide you with valuable experience that may lead to some exciting opportunities.

Americans increasingly are interested in their health, and this presents opportunities for pharmacists to write patient education materials. The reference desk at your local library can show you directories of magazines and periodicals and what kinds of articles they accept for publication. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies, publishers, and professional organizations produce a wide variety of patient education materials.

However, don't think that publishing is limited to written materials. There are many opportunities for writing and editing scripts for videotapes, audiotapes, and CD-ROM programs. In addition, writing and editing for home pages and other Internet web sites has become a growing field. One source of information about these opportunities is the American Medical Writers Association at 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20814; 301/493-0003.

Of course, it always helps to have the appropriate skills and knowledge going into a writing/editing project. Many universities and colleges, as well as professional organizations, offer classes and workshops on script writing, publication writing/editing and production, and writing for multimedia. These programs not only can provide you with a new or enhanced skill, they can bring you new contacts, networking opportunities, and access to valuable resources.

If you are ambitious and innovative, the opportunities are unlimited. This is particularly true for managed care pharmacists, since managed care is a hot topic and there are still few experienced writers who understand its complexities and terminology.

Your spark of interest in writing and editing can ignite into a flame of opportunity. If you want to write, don't put it on the bottom of your "to do" list. Take one of the ideas outlined here and act on it today.

Joanne Kaldy
JMCP Contributing Editor