4 Reasons Why You DON'T Need Formal Experience to Succeed as a Freelance Writer.

If you’re drawn to freelance medical writing for the freedom to work on your own terms, pursue projects you’re passionate about, and enjoy a flexible lifestyle, you might think formal, in-house experience is a prerequisite. But this belief is holding you back.

Many successful freelance medical writers—including me—have launched their careers without ever having a full-time writing role. Let's debunk four myths to discover why formal experience isn’t necessary, so you can start building your dream life today.

Myth #1: “The best way to learn is by working in house as part of a team.”

Reality #1: Freelancing teaches you far more than in-house roles ever could.

Freelancing challenges you to develop essential skills like finding clients, negotiating contracts, networking, personal branding, and marketing yourself—skills that in-house roles don’t teach. These are the building blocks of a successful freelance business, but they’re completely overlooked in full-time positions because a) it isn't part of a medical writer's role and b) companies don't want you to bypass them and try to work directly with their clients. Not only will they not provide training on how to do this, they will usually add stipulations in their contracts to explicitly prevent you from working with their current or potential clients.

An in-house role would expose you to certain deliverables, but you wouldn't be able to choose your projects, set your own priorities, or determine how best to meet client needs. In contrast, as a freelancer, you'd work directly with clients, giving you invaluable opportunities to practice ascertaining their needs, delivering tailored solutions, and adapting to their feedback. These interactions would teach you how to navigate varying expectations, communicate effectively, and build trust—all of which are critical for long-term success.

Resultantly, most writers who begin freelancing with formal industry experience find it doesn’t prepare them for entrepreneurship much at all. In fact, 3 out of 100 of my past students who had formal experience before enrolling said it slowed their progress by not equipping them with the business skills and 'client-first' mindset that freelancing requires. This is because real growth happens when you’re directly responsible for managing client relationships and delivering outcomes—not when you’re part of a system that intentionally shields you from these realities.

As you can see, freelancing isn’t just about completing writing projects; it’s about building the ability to adapt, solve problems, and grow with your clients’ needs. The hands-on experience you'd gain from working directly with clients would easily surpass what you'd learn in-house, giving you the tools to thrive both as a writer and as a business owner.

Myth #2: “I have to gain formal experience before companies will hire me.”

Reality #2: Clients care about results—not resumes.

Companies hire full-time employees based on formal experience, whereas freelancers are hired based on their ability to meet client needs. In other words, your ability to deliver high-quality work matters far more than the titles on your resume. Clients care about results—they want someone who can deliver the writing they need, at or above their standards, while being reliable and easy to work with. So, chasing job titles and 'on paper' experience is only going to be helpful if you're looking to work in a full-time medical writing position long-term.

One of the major benefits of going straight into freelancing is that it allows you to position yourself as a specialist in your chosen niche right away, making it easier to secure clients who need that exact expertise. When companies see that your services are tailored to their specific needs and resonate with your personal story, they will be far more confident in hiring you rather than a generalist who lacks targeted expertise. As a freelancer, you’ll be in complete control of your brand positioning and messaging, which will enable you to attract the ideal clients for your business without beating around the bush for a few years first.

For example, one of my students, BB, launched as a diabetes specialist. By creating a writing portfolio and messaging that specifically targeted diabetes-focused clients, she quickly secured her first manuscript project in diabetes before even launching her business. The client knew BB could deliver the results they needed because of the clear expertise in her niche and brand—it made her a better fit than a general medical writer from an agency.

Similarly, SL wanted to freelance for CME companies. By creating a targeted Needs Assessment that showcased her ability to meet the specific needs of CME clients, she immediately landed CME projects despite having no formal in-house experience. Her ability to focus on a single niche helped her stand out and has kept her fully booked ever since.

All in all, freelancing offers the flexibility to position yourself exactly where your ideal clients are looking, giving you the freedom to approach opportunities on your own merit and negotiate the terms of engagement. Deep down, you already know that if a client landed in your lap tomorrow, you’d figure out how to meet their needs and feel incredible afterwards. Starting to freelance sooner rather than later would allow you to begin building the confidence and skills you'll need through real-world experience, helping you take on clients sooner than you ever could have imagined.

Real professional growth happens when you’re directly responsible for managing client relationships and delivering desired outcomes.

Myth #3: “I have to work harder and for longer before I can reap any rewards.”

Reality #3: You don’t have to wait to enjoy the freedom and flexibility you crave.

If you're a recovering workaholic and people pleaser (like me), you probably have a history of finding yourself stuck in a cycle where being good at your job only leads to being given more work. Employers see that you can handle it, so they keep adding to your plate, and you can't help but take it on. You believe that working harder and longer will eventually lead to the freedom and fulfillment you crave, but I can tell you from experience that it doesn’t.

Whenever you're working for someone else, you'll be reinforcing the idea that productivity should be prioritized over balance and personal growth, because that's what aligns with the company's vision and mission. Changing that engrained narrative and the associated behaviours is practically impossible until you start working for yourself and can actively challenge these habits and beliefs on the daily.

The truth is, you’ll never feel completely ready to step into something new. Perfectionism so easily convinces you to delay gratification, chasing a future version of yourself who’s “ready” or “perfect.” But waiting for that moment only keeps you stuck. Growth happens when you take small, imperfect steps forward—not when you hold yourself back out of fear.

To move closer to your goals, you must give yourself permission to act even when you don’t feel fully prepared. Focus on progress over perfection, trusting that each step you take will build your confidence and skills. That doesn't mean you can't seek out training, feedback, and support to make it easier. Just know that freelancing rewards persistence and action; not perfection. By starting now, you'll be able to grow while enjoying the flexibility and fulfillment you’ve been craving (not years from now when you 'get there'—en route!).

Myth #4: “I will start earning sooner if I get a full-time job before freelancing.”

Reality #4: Freelancing offers faster income and career growth, irrespective of formal experience.

Freelancing offers a faster path to success, allowing you to start earning and building your career much sooner than traditional full-time roles. You don’t have to spend months applying for jobs, facing rejection, and being ghosted, only to compete for a limited number of in-house positions. Instead, freelancing lets you take empowered action from Day 1, setting you on a path to earning and gaining valuable experience right away.

The numbers speak for themselves: In my coaching program, 75% of students land at least one client or paid writing opportunity before graduating, with first invoices typically ranging from $1,900 to $2,950. Most of my students begin working directly with clients and earning within just 2–3 months of enrolling, far outpacing the 6–9 months it typically takes to secure a full-time job in the highly competitive medcomms field. When I first launched my writing business, I made an average of $6,780 per month in Year 1, after spending just two months getting things set up. By the second quarter of Year 2, I was averaging $9,200 per month. Had I waited to secure a full-time, entry-level medical writing position first and gained formal experience, I would have delayed this earning potential by at least 1–2 years and it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as high.

Freelancing doesn’t just provide faster income—it accelerates your growth as a professional. Every client interaction and project teaches you skills that help you refine your services, build confidence, and create momentum for continued success. Instead of waiting for someone else to open the door, freelancing lets you step into opportunities right away, giving you both financial rewards and the experience needed to progress in your career.

By freelancing right out the gate, you’re investing in a path that rewards your efforts from the start. It’s not about waiting for the perfect moment—it’s about taking the bull by the horns and learning as you go. As your business becomes profitable (not difficult to achieve, since there are practically no overheads), you can choose to reinvest some of that back into your company to ensure you feel adequately empowered and supported along the way.

Growth happens when you take small, imperfect steps forward—not when you hold yourself back out of fear.

WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING

• You’re delaying your career gratification because you have a history of work addiction, people pleasing, and perfectionism. 
• You’re never going to feel entirely ready—it will be scary to have your first client meeting, write your first proposal, etc.—and there’s no perfect time to start.
• You’re waiting for external validation to ‘prove’ that you’re good enough before you go after your dreams.
• Your fear of failure is holding you back.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Applying for full-time positions when you truly want to freelance is fear disguised as preparation.
• The only way to overcome fear of failure is by taking small, calculated steps towards your goals, supported by a proven framework and a community rooting for you.
• Confidence doesn’t come from formal experience—it comes from developing competence and seeing results.
• Formal work experience won’t prepare you for building and running your own business—you’ll still need to learn and practice that independently.

The freedom and flexibility you’re craving are closer than you think—you just need to clear away distractions and take intentional action to acquire the skills, confidence, and business acumen necessary for success.

NEXT STEPS

• Define your ultimate goals: if you didn’t have to wait for your dream career and lifestyle, what would it look like?
• Stop delaying your happiness by creating unnecessary steps that only hold you back.
• Give yourself permission to have what you want now by shifting the limiting beliefs keeping you stuck.

My signature coaching program provides holistic, comprehensive training that encompasses practical skills, business acumen, and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, eliminating the need for formal industry experience. 

Don’t let these myths stop you from building your dream, freedom-focused lifestyle. Take the first step today by joining my waitlist for 1:1 coaching, or enrolling in my Freelance Medical Writing Academy.