This essential guide includes dozens of links to my top blogs and resources for becoming a successful health writer and writing high-quality, engaging health content.
Getting started as a health blogger: The beginner’s guide
This health blogging guide contains my top resources for aspiring bloggers. The guide is perfect for you if you want to start a health blog or write health blogs as a freelance writer for clients and employers.
Evidence-based writing strategies for health writers
Evidence-based writing is about making sure your writing incorporates best practices and recommendations as determined by communication-related research.
Podcasts for health writers: Our top picks
These days, you can find podcasts on just about any topic – and, thankfully, there are plenty of interesting and helpful podcasts for health and medical writers. Here are our top picks to get you started.
How do young people research health online?
We already know that adults around the world are prolific internet users. But what about teens and young people – do they have the same internet behaviours as adults?
Is humour in health communication useful?
If you write online health content for the general public, should you consider upskilling in a bit of humour?
Are Reddit health posts trustworthy?
We know that people turn to user-generated content on social media to research their health concerns, but how influential is this health information?
And, more importantly, how does this type of influence impact the health content we create?
Delivering bad news in writing: an evidence-based approach
While there are many evidence-based writing techniques we can use to engage readers to try and get their full, undivided attention, controlling how our readers react to bad news is just as important as engagement. So, if you’re working on a project that requires you to deliver bad news, what’s the most appropriate communication strategy?
How to write a medical ethics column
Daniel Sokol, lawyer and medical ethicist, has just been shortlisted for the ‘Best Columnist of the Year (Consumer Media)’ award at the PPA Awards 2018 (“the Oscars of the UK publishing industry”). In 2015, Daniel won ‘Best Column’ at the UK Medical Journalists’ Association Awards. In this article, he gives aspiring medical columnist some tips for success.
Vaccine hesitancy – how to communicate about vaccination
Had The Lancet not published their now retracted article, “Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children” by Andrew Wakefield et al. in 1998, perhaps we wouldn’t be facing one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.
Fear-mongering in the media: does it work?
Fear mongering and scare tactics are used in public health campaigns to drive behavioural changes. We see fear in headlines for online articles, food label warnings, pamphlets and brochures. But how effective are these fear-based messages?
20 ways to assess your writing and identify quick fixes
There’s no denying that assessing your writing is a daunting, confusing task. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to evaluate your skills so you can develop your writing abilities with confidence.
How uncertain language could be damaging your work
A US research team aimed to determine the natural indicators of uncertain language and understand how these indicators predict decisional conflict.
How health buzzwords trick consumers: Research
Health buzzwords like ‘protein’, ‘paleo’ and ‘organic’ are used by marketers as key selling points for many of today’s health products. Yet these words can also trick consumers into believing a product is healthier than it really is.
How to increase motivation and inspire behaviour change
As health writers, we focus a lot of our energy on knowledge. We write ‘how to’ articles about eating better, exercising more, breaking bad habits, making healthy choices and reducing risk factors. We offer knowledge – but, we rarely sell the desire to change.