The work of writers, editors, and other medical communicators can feel a bit lonely, especially for freelancers or those who work remotely. A fun and productive way to add variety to our solo activities is finding ways to work with others.
Last year I talked about the activities that can help us establish collaborations and, in turn, allow us to upskill, grow our network authentically, and even find new business opportunities.
Today I want to dig a little deeper and share some of the ways that have personally allowed me to collaborate with my peers:
Co-authoring content. Teaming up with another writer or editor to create articles, blog posts, or white papers on topics of mutual interest is one of my favorite ways collaborate. Co-writing a peer-reviewed article for the AMWA journal with a former co-worker was a fun and productive experience! We could divide the work, learn from each other, and discuss angles, edits, and concerns to become better writers and editors. We also both added the publication to our portfolios!
Swapping edits or feedback. Peer review isn’t just for journal editors and official reviewers. Offering to read and provide feedback on a paper can be very helpful to a colleague who may not have access to editorial services. Asking a trusted colleague to lend a fresh pair of eyes can be invaluable when you’ve been staring at the same document for days or if you’re struggling to get that tricky sentence unstuck! As we attend events, volunteer, and build our network, we may find that people in this field are very often kind and ready to help. Helping and giving back can make us feel good and give us a sense of peace and accomplishment.
Co-teaching workshops or co-present at conferences. Partnering with a colleague to present at a conference, create a webinar, or design a course allows professionals to leverage strengths and build visibility in the field. This is how Kelly and I started to collaborate! We met at the dinner hosted by AMWA’s Southwest Chapter at the AMWA national conference in 2017. After that conference, we said we should work together in the future and so we did. We’ve been collaborating since 2018, and Evergreen exists thanks to our ongoing collaboration!
Exchanging backlinks. This may be the easiest and most effortless method, but it’s also a clever and strategic approach to boost visibility and build authority online. When you and a fellow writer or editor have a professional site or blog, linking to each other’s content can improve SEO and drive relevant traffic to the site.
Once you’ve accomplished something through collaboration, I recommend sharing your wins and giving your colleagues shoutouts on LinkedIn or other relevant social media platforms. By doing so you won’t just showcase your own collaborative abilities but also help your peers shine!
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