Dr Julie Charlesworth at MedComms Networking Meeting

In an effort to save my laptop (which was successful) I fell awkwardly and ended up with a broken fibula – on reflection not worth the pain. Anyway, I still managed to get to a MedComms Networking event a few days later. Publishing, Medical Writing and Authorship’ Dec 8th – a very worthwhile meeting for keeping up to date and sharing latest thoughts on transparency. As always it was a great opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues. Not quite the ‘designer boot’ I was wanting from Santa Ho Ho Ho

Julie Charlesworth joins in with some of the team and participants. Sally Jackson (centre) shares tips on new research tools.

The new interactive IT, social media and productivity tools session debut: ‘Show IT, Share IT, Rise and Shine’ at the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA) Conference was a great success!

Dr Julie Charlesworth, the driving force behind this freelance initiative, introduced the session and said, “When our Freelancers have good ideas, as their Freelance Advocate I want to make it happen for them”.
Julie put together a great team of Table Leaders and organisers. There was a 30 min slot available in the conference programme. Freelancers (and others) turned up enthusiastically, even at 8.00 a.m.! This was a new learning and sharing initiative at the EMWA conference. As soon as it started everyone knew it was ‘a winner’ – time flew.
Thank you to Table Leaders and all participants. Apologies to those who were unable to attend when numbers had to be capped at 40 participants.
The popularity and success of the trial run of this initiative is definitely a basis for EMWA to take this forward.

EMWA Freelance Advocate, Dr Julie Charlesworth, introduces Marco Torregrossa, Secretary General at the European Forum of Independent Professionals, to Abraham Shevack, Vice President of EMWA (European Medical Writers Association)

Dr Julie Charlesworth introducing Marco Torregrossa, Secretary General at the European Forum of Independents Professionals, to the Freelance Business Forum

Just to share, in the moment, the exhilarating experience of the freelance (FL) sessions. More information and photos to come.
Meanwhile…

As the EMWA Freelance Advocate I was the driving force behind the introduction of a new initiative for freelancers (FLs): an interactive IT, social media and productivity tools session – Show IT, Share IT, Rise and Shine. Thank you to the Table Leaders and all participants in this trial run. A great success!

When our Freelancers have good ideas, as their Freelance Advocate, I make it happen for them.

An extended Freelance Business Forum (FBF) took place in the evening.
I presented updates on the evolution of the FBF and related activities. FBF initiatives are really taking off! We have been busy – great progress in many different areas.

I was delighted that Marco Torregrossa, Secretary General at the European Forum for Independent Professionals, accepted my invitation to be our FBF guest speaker. Marco gave an inspiring and informative presentation. A lively question period ensued. Marco stayed on for our Table discussions to learn more about freelancing in our profession, enabling him to take into account the challenges that our FLs encounter, when he contributes to policy development at the European level.

The Table discussion period – goes from strength to strength. Thank you to Table Leaders. This session works so well – discussion of hot topics and frank, open and productive exchanges between FLs. It was a stimulating and friendly networking environment.

Special thanks to the conference organising teams and AV support.

Next EMWA conference – Birmingham, May 2017

“C’est la vie!”

MEDIA RECEPTION – Photograph by Matt Wilkinson Photography for ESOF 2016

More about EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) here

‘Science transcends boundaries’
‘Science as Revolution’ – Hey come on what did you expect – this is Manchester after all!

Just back from ESOF Manchester (EuroScience Open Forum Manchester, July 2016) and I have just spent 4 fascinating days immersing myself in the science; listening, learning and meeting amazing people from all over the world.
I was thrilled to be attending with media accreditation at ESOF 2016.

Speaking to some of the scientists and others involved was an inspiring experience so I want to communicate and share this experience widely. More to come……

Thank you ESOF! Thank you Manchester!

In January 2016 Dr Julie Charlesworth was invited to be Co-Editor of a section of Medical Writing, a high quality journal produced by EMWA the European Medical Writers Association. The section is aimed primarily at freelancers and those interested in freelancing in the field of medical writing. Julie aims to develop this section, encourage new contributors and provide ‘a wide range of serious (and entertaining articles) about business and the practical aspects of freelance working’. The journal is issued 4 times per year.

In the latest edition (June 2016), Julie presents a brief editorial extra providing a glimpse of the future with the new editorial team and her personal views on freelancing as an option that allows personal choice at different stages of life and career. You can read the editorial extra by clicking here.

A Tree of Life Sciences® Director Dr Julie Charlesworth was invited to a MedComms Networking event in Oxford on 1st June 2016.
She presented a summary and her personal reflections from ‘Science and Medical Communications Today’ EMWA’s Fourth Symposium held in Munich on 12th May 2016. Julie also discussed current trends and the future of science and medical communications, the complex interactions and challenges from research to patients, the opportunities for medical writers and life science students; and in her opinion the key role of the medical writer in ensuring communications ‘stay true to the science’.

Just back from last week’s Freelance Business Forum (FBF) in Munich. Amazed at the fantastic response from everyone.

The FBF took place on May 12th 2016, during the EMWA Spring conference. This was the first time I (or my co-host) had hosted the forum.  I tried out a new format with a very upbeat and forward-looking perspective. The theme was Out On Our Own but Not Alone. Out On Our Own (OOOO) is the name of the freelance section of the EMWA Medical Writing journal and we are the new co-editors of OOOO.

We opened the FBF with a few introductory slides acknowledging those responsible for initiating and developing this forum; then a brief history and some key achievements to date. We quickly shifted to the future: opportunities, initiatives and ideas. There is so much potential!

The forum then moved on to the main focus – a table discussion period led by 6 freelancer (FL) Table Leaders: FL volunteers with a spectrum of experience. This time our Table Leaders were FLs who live in France, Germany, Sweden and the UK. 7 hot topics were proposed to kick-start the discussions – the topics were based on subjects and questions received from our FL community in recent months. It was also an opportunity for FLs to share different dilemmas, tips and solutions.

This was a relatively informal networking session with drinks and ‘nibbles’. The enthusiasm was palpable and the allocated time was only sufficient to touch on some fascinating questions. As this FBF was in Munich we were delighted to have Andreas Lutz from the VGSD as our guest. Not surprisingly, there was an impromptu table discussion (without a table) where Andreas fielded questions from FLs based in Germany. He provided practical advice and he himself gained an understanding of some of the specific needs of FLs working in the field of medical writing.

Time was of the essence. The summing-up led up to some take home messages and a few final remarks. On a lighter fun note everyone was mobilised by a short music video clip. The lively discussions then resumed informally outside the forum for some time afterwards with new friends and contacts keen to continue getting to know each other. Indeed several FLs are making plans to start informal ‘local gatherings’ of freelancers (an initiative promoted at the FBF this time). FLs should know that although they say that sometimes they feel ‘Out On Our Own’ – they are certainly Not Alone!

There was an impressive turn out of over 60 individuals from many different parts of Europe and beyond – FLs and others interested in freelancing who are passionate about their subject and their professions (medical writing and related).

We can all look forward to the next FBF at the EMWA autumn conference in Brussels. We will be catching up with friends and colleagues and I am sure there will also be many new faces. It is an exciting time in the ‘freelance world’ and we would like to build on the momentum achieved in Munich. We have more ideas for Brussels ……

Fuller coverage will follow – this post is just a taster to capture the moment and to take the opportunity to thank all those who participated and contributed to making it such a success.

by Julie Charlesworth