Best peanut butter breakfast: (there are many fine breakfasts in this world -- so they must be categorized) Chunky peanut butter on a toast cinnamon raisin bagel

Java, I don't entirely disagree, but I do think that what you're describing is a very recent and culturally-specific definition of adulthood. It is not the definition held in great big swathes of the modern world today. And, sure, P-C's American as an American thing, but that doesn't neccesarily include the kind of WASPy distancing of family and prioritising of self & one's personal desires and aspirations over responsibility to family and community that has become common currency in much of the West. That isn't the default setting of normal adulthood.

I mean, yeah, I think we all share P-C's frustration at the expectations his family put on him over his marriage and his car and his job, but this doesn't mean P-C's being a pussy, or being a child. He's dealing with conflicting paradigms of what it means to be a successful adult and a good person. Buggered if I know which way I'd jump.

Okay, I think I need a hug from javachik and a hug from Fay, and whoever hugs me harder wins.

Ha, P-C.

Fay, I think you're right, but my comments were specific (originally) to P-C equating adulthood with a barometer (making $100k) that his uncle set forth. I have issues with anyone who sets "adulthood" in relationship with one's ability to make money. That's why I was (and am) emphasizing another view of adulthood.

ETA: You know what I just realized, going back and re-reading the posts? That I think I am resentful (if that's even the right word) that instead of being able to talk about careers, cars, life, whatever directly with P-C, it ends up actually being a discussion (usually) with the board acting as counter to his family. It's really predictable. And since I am not big on people complaining about stuff they're unwilling to change, I get unduly impatient.

So, I will bite my tongue the next time the topic comes up because as much as I want to offer advice (since I like P-C, and he works in my industry, so I am familiar with his struggles), I get too frustrated when I am arguing with his family and that's a bigass waste of my very limited time.

I shouldn't have mentioned my uncle. Honest to God, when I brought this up in the first place, my family had nothing to do with it. They still don't. I'm trying to work out what I want to do with my job/career.

It's okay. I am happy to talk about your career with you. Hell, I'll be honest, I think it's cool that you and Meara "get" my references to work stuff (esp. on LJ).

Now, when you say that "medical writing" stuff is sent your way, as it comes (even if rarely), does that mean it's overflow from another department? Or do you not have a medical writer team on staff? We don't have one - we use consultants or CROs like Constella. So, that could be one option for you to explore.

We have one in-house medical writer who sits in Regulatory; she's my main hope for projects like protocols and the like. We do seem to outsource most of our major writing projects. Opportunities in drug safety are generally only SOPs and safety narratives (which is what got me into the company in the first place and what I cut my teeth on, medical writing-wise). It seems like a lot rests on the future of the new products we've acquired; when they get going, there will be many documents to create. I don't want to just be spinning my wheels until then, though. (I also don't want to leave before getting a promotion, since that will look good on my CV. And stability this year would be nice. But I was really hoping that I would be a real live medical writer by this fall, and that's not going to happen. This was supposed to be The Year. Guess I could push it out.)

We do seem to outsource most of our major writing projects.

Is there any opportunity to talk your manager(s) into letting you tackle some of this in house? It would save them money, and everyone likes that. Writing MedWatches and SOPs is boring; it's no wonder you want meatier stuff. The trick might be getting some of the stuff sent to the vendor sent to your desk instead. ETA: the other route could possibly be for you to join Reg as an associate and tackle the medical writing there. I know Reg might sound boring, but I really love it. You get to put your hands into everything, and I love the inter-disciplinary aspect of it.

The other thing you've mentioned is that recruiters are calling you - if they're calling you for DS and what you want is Medical Writing, are you mentioning your preference to them?

The other thing you've mentioned is that recruiters are calling you - if they're calling you for DS and what you want is Medical Writing, are you mentioning your preference to them?

Yep.

the other route could possibly be for you to join Reg as an associate and tackle the medical writing there. I know Reg might sound boring, but I really love it. You get to put your hands into everything, and I love the inter-disciplinary aspect of it.

Yeah, I think we're waiting to see when the lone medical writer there can start building a medical writing team. I don't know if there's a spot in Reg for an associate.

Is there any opportunity to talk your manager(s) into letting you tackle some of this in house? It would save them money, and everyone likes that. Writing MedWatches and SOPs is boring; it's no wonder you want meatier stuff. The trick might be getting some of the stuff sent to the vendor sent to your desk instead.

I'll definitely look into that. I think I just need to start being more aggressive. Problem is, my drug safety duties are still taking up a lot of my time; they were supposed to decrease once we hired more people on but the workload hasn't changed! If anything, it's increased.

can start building a medical writing team. I don't know if there's a spot in Reg for an associate.

Oh, got it. I tend to think of the Reg hierarchy irt "associate" when what I really meant was a medical writer position in that group.

I'm headed to bed now, but it looks like you're headed in the right direction. 'night.