Yeah, actually, I hadn't remembered that you're in drug safety when you want to be a medical writer. I'll say this, and it's purely anecdotal: the few unemployed biotech industry friends I have? Are medical writers.

Ha! Er. And here I thought medical writers had job security since no one knows how to write. (I know I have job security here because I'm too awesome.)

I get calls from recruiters constantly. I don't know what percentage is drug safety and what percentage is medical writing.

Since we were talking about Nashville here, I'll mention that Dan Miller [link] died yesterday of a heart attack at age 67. Someone who's been a news anchor in a town for 30+ years can feel like family, and he was a genuinely nice guy. I talked to my mom this afternoon and she was still in tears.

You spend 1/3 or more of your life working. ( and 1/3 sleeping)

Your job should either be something you like doing for so much of your time -- or not be soul sucking so that when you are not working you are doing what you want.

Here are my thoughts -- do what you are doing, but explore opportunities. Interview at other companies. Write magazines about drugs for popular magazines or newspapers ( even small papers that may or may not pay). Put together a blog that is only medical writing.

You have a good job where they like you. Stick with it until a opportunity comes along that is what you want to do.

And ask yourself -- seriously -- do I want a career? I love my job -- But even thought there is a career path I might follow, I don't actually have a lot of interest in going up . Going up in the library world means moving a way from the people -- not what I want . I have no desire to be in charge - unless I see the results.

And I know your Uncle was an offhand remark -- but if you are going to be a medical writer you might have to learn to deal with the fact that you may disappoint him forever ( got a number of friends that are tech writers -- they used to make that kind of money , they don't now. )

And ask yourself -- seriously -- do I want a career? I love my job -- But even thought there is a career path I might follow, I don't actually have a lot of interest in going up .

This is a VERY good point, actually. I like my tech editing gig, and I've put a fair amount of effort into being good at it. But I don't consider it My Career. It is a day job I like, and that I can do with a minimum of stress (mostly), but in no way do I want to become a managing editor or anything like that.

(I suppose, if I really think about it, I consider "being a spokesperson for the Goth subculture" to be My Career. That's certainly what I put the most effort and plans into, anyway.)

( got a number of friends that are tech writers -- they used to make that kind of money , they don't now. )

Yeppers. If medical writing is anything like tech writing/editing, six-figure salaries are not quite the norm, nowadays.

Just skipped a whole bunch of posts.

Passover is going OK. Had the seder at my aunt and uncle's. My mother and aunt both rolled their eyes at me for being a bit "creative" in my Haggadah reading. (Changing "forefathers" to "ancestors" just got me an eyeroll. Changing a "He" to "She" in a reference to G-d got me a hissed, "Hillary!") (Though, my mother added "in a galaxy far, far away" to a sentence that started with "Long ago," so really, who's being irreverent here?)

Passover food is difficult on vacation, as usual. Just went to a salad place for dinner. They had a special "Passover menu" posted. One of the items was caesar salad with matzo croutons and shrimp.

They had a special "Passover menu" posted. One of the items was caesar salad with matzo croutons and shrimp.

::facepalms::

caesar salad with matzo croutons and shrimp.

Well, points awarded for trying to be accomodating. And then promptly taken away for being ignorant.

Well, my mother's been talking about what she's going to eat when we go to Maine tomorrow, and this list included steamers, because she can't eat fried clams during Passover.

Well, it's not kosher but if it's not a kosher restaurant it wouldn't be anyway. I had some shrimp today, myself, though I am observing the ban on leavened bread.