By Frances Warneford

You’ve lived on a diet of scientific facts since you first decided to go to medical school, and you thought your creative writing days were over when you wrote your last essay for GCSE English.

Writing is a key skill for a successful medical career. Getting research or writing published will make your CV stand out in whatever specialty you go into. Even writing patient notes and case reports need good writing skills, correct grammar and clear English.

Here are our top tips on getting started:

1. Voice your opinion

Got something to say? Writing a letter to a medical journal, or writing to a newspaper on a hot medical topic, can be a good way of getting your name in print without the need for heavyweight research to back up your opinions. Most national newspapers have much bigger circulation and readership figures than medical journals, so it’s worthwhile keeping up with public health issues and taking any chance to comment. There’s a lot of competition to get letters published, so getting yours in print can go on your CV as a real achievement.

2. Keep it real

As a new doctor, you are going through some unique experiences, seeing and doing things that most people never get a chance to do. You are also in a profession that is endlessly fascinating to the public (just look at the number of medical dramas on TV). You have a wealth of subjects to write about, from your first real patient to the challenges of dealing with distressed relatives. Of course, you will need to approach all these topics with sensitivity and make sure you never breach patient confidentiality.

3. Don’t get carried away

Even one-off mistakes, in circumstances such as breaches of patient confidentiality, plagiarism, poor attitude or alcohol misuse, could harm your chances of obtaining substantive registration and your future career. Here are a few pitfalls to be aware of:

• Patient confidentiality always applies.
• Check all your facts.
• Don’t write about anything that might affect your reputation as a doctor, eg. excessive drinking, drugs or the wilder side of hospital social life.
• Always include references for any quotes or information gained from other publications or authors.

Find out more

• Read our guide on how to handle the media
• Boost your CV by earning CPD with E-learning on Prism
• Read our guide Supporting you through your Foundation Years