How to transition from a “safe” full-time job to a full-time freelance medical writer.

Your freelancing experience is very limited; namely, a client or project that “fell into your lap” a few years ago. Ever since then, you’ve been working for an agency or pharma company, feeling dissatisfied and on edge.

At any moment, you could get laid off. You see “restructuring” happening all around you and have been holding your breath, hoping you’re not next. You may have even worked for a company in the past that “went under.” So, you know having a full-time job in today’s market is far from secure.

A number of people have advised you to “go freelance” as if it’s easy or straightforward. But the reality is: it’s intimidating and terrifying.

When you fast-forward to the part where you have a great work-life balance, control over your schedule, and a niche that aligns with your true passions, you know it would be awesome and that you’d absolutely thrive as a freelance medical writer. But when you think about all the things that (probably) need to happen in-between now and then to make that a reality, you become paralyzed with fear.

Knowing the steps to take is one thing (not easy when there’s so much conflicting advice out there). But taking consistent action in a way that feels good to you is a different story entirely.

You feel like you’ve gotten lucky up until this point in your career—you happened to be in the right place at the right time, and nothing has been terribly bad or traumatic. But you certainly don’t feel like you’re living your best life, doing something you’re really excited and passionate about, or fulfilling your life’s purpose (whatever that may be).

Having your own freelance medical writing business would put to use so much of your existing knowledge and skills. You can imagine it all working out pretty organically, if you’re in a great headspace in that moment. But there are just so many hurdles in your way:

How can you take the things that are great about you and tie it all up in a little bow to present to clients who can’t WAIT to hire you ’til the end of time?

How can you put your best foot forward in your business every day, and feel stable and secure enough to let go of your “safe” full-time job?

First, know that it’s normal to feel scared and overwhelmed when making a big career change or starting a new business. There are no guaranteed outcomes in life, and that will always be the case. No amount of waiting or preparing will take that away entirely.

Second, recognize that changing your identity and getting noticed is NOT easy, and that you’re going to need some professional training, guidance, and support along the way to make it feel doable (from someone who’s been there and can relate to your struggles).

Third, get rid of any pre-conceived notions you have about how building a business is “supposed” to be. There’s no right or wrong way. There are certainly best practices that you can implement to make the journey smoother and give you the best chance of success. But if anyone tries to tell you that X is right and Y is wrong, that’s a huge red flag!

Even the length of time in which your career transition takes place is completely up to you and what you feel comfortable with. At Prospology, we currently offer both 6-month and 12-month enrollment options, with additional support available after graduation. The former is ideal for people who have recently been laid off or have already left a full-time position due to extreme stress or burnout. The latter is best for professionals who aren’t in a hurry to leave their full-time position but know it’s what they ultimately want, so we can get all their ducks in a row and build their confidence before they make the leap (or get laid off!).

When embarking on any big life change, make sure you think carefully about:

If you’re more of a hands-on person, make sure any training or mentorship you receive will allow you to dive into the practical stuff and that you’ll get personalized feedback at every stage. Don’t take a course that’s all theory and no action.

If you’re highly intuitive and like to feel your way through life, ensure you work with someone who can zoom out and give you the 50,000ft view that you need before you can get into the details. Don’t join a program that’s prescriptive and process-oriented.

If you’re extremely driven and perfectionistic, work with a coach who has equally high standards, is particular about who they work with, and will push you when you need to be pushed (but also encourage you to submit things even when they’re not yet polished). Don’t work with someone who will say “that’s good enough” because they hate conflict.

If you have a wealth of knowledge and experience already under your belt that you know will be super useful in building your freelance medical writing business, work with someone who will appreciate that and help you shape and refine an authentic, powerful narrative for your brand. Don’t take a beginner’s course that assumes you know nothing.

You get the idea. You’re the one who’s actually going to be building and growing your business. So anyone who is leading you or coming along with you needs to let you do it in a way that suits YOU and brings out the best in you, instead of keeping or putting you in a box.

If there’s anything I see time and time again in the business world it’s that 99% of coaches and “leaders” are actually followers. They study what works in others’ business models and marketing strategies and apply it to their own ventures. They repurpose existing content and claim it as their own. They use conviction and status as an excuse not to innovate (because they can’t).

However, I bet that if you asked yourself to pick out the handful of experts who actually ARE at the forefront of their industry, genuinely passionate about their craft, and always going above and beyond to create new, incredible experiences for their clients, you can immediately name a few of them—your instincts are correct.

In March 2025, you might have seen various parodies and negative reviews emerging online about Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan.” Critics have described it as “toe-curlingly unlovable TV” and “queasy and exhausting,” with many viewers commenting on how inauthentic it is, saying Meghan clearly lacks expertise and is disconnected from reality. And yet, despite this overwhelmingly negative reception, Netflix has renewed the show for a second season.

This is an extreme example, but the point is, you can TELL when someone isn’t the real deal. Yet, we’re surrounded by “evidence” and “logic” that people are, in fact, respectable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy, so we tell ourselves we’re wrong, ignore our gut feeling, and continue to do “the right thing” in most instances. Losing touch with yourself is, unfortunately, one of the chronic symptoms of working for someone else for a long time…

Now, onto some practical next steps!

✨ Read stories about others who have successfully made the transition from full-time worker to freedom-focused entrepreneur. We have plenty on our website and YouTube channel, to get you started. But you can also speak to people directly, at networking events, conferences, etc., and find out what it was really like for them to make the change.

✨ Join communities that allow and encourage you to be yourself, and leave those that have a kazillion rules, expectations, and restrictions that make you feel like a follower instead of a leader in your own life. For example, Prospology hosts a couple of virtual conferences per year and you’re welcome to come on into our Community to see if it’s a fit for you.

✨ Look within to figure out exactly what type of support you need to transition from employee to freelancer. Is it information? A course may help. Is it gaining confidence? Hire a coach. Is it focus and accountability? A mentor may be best. Is it a combination of many different things? Check out The ‘Thriving & Free’ Medical Writer Program™.

✨ Conduct research before investing in any further personal or professional development. What have past graduates or clients said about their experience? Are they successful? Do they seem happy, energized, and fulfilled? Is the service provider an actual leader, or a follower in leader’s clothing? Can you have a discovery call before making a commitment?

Whatever you do, keep moving forward. This is such a rewarding and fantastic profession!

Sophie Ash, BSc (Hons), DipION is a former healthcare worker who burned out, emigrated, and built a freedom-focused lifestyle from scratch. She has a gift for seeing a new, viable future for someone, creating a tangible vision for them, and helping them bring it to life. Sophie creates a fully-customized experience for each of her students, working closely with up to 10 V.I.P.s at a time through her signature coaching program or on an ad-hoc basis.