This slide presentation outlines the logical order of steps to be taken when writing a manuscript for a peer-reviewed journal as a medical writer in a communications team, writing on behalf of a client. Reference is made to industry guidelines, requirements and standards.

1. The Manuscript
Writing Process for
Medical Writers
Dr Paul Giles
PG BioMed

2. Client Brief - Journal Selection
Article type – Original, meta-analysis, case report etc.
Working title – e.g. Anticoagulant use in patients with AF
Referees – proposed invitation
Target journal – (impact factor) and audience
Open access – subscription or author fee
Publication waiting time – electronic and paper lead times

3. Industry Guidelines,
Requirements and Standards
DEVELOPED FOR DIFFERENT
DESIGN STUDIES
CONFLICT OF INTEREST (COI)
DOCUMENTS
•Randomised
trials
CONSORT
•Systematic
reviews and
meta-analysis
PRISMA
•Observational
studies
STARD

4. Writing Process
• Fewest words to indicate the contents
• Important in literature searchTitle
• Briefly summaries the paper
• Should be organised like the paperAbstract
• Addresses, country, e-mail address
• Disclaimers, support, COI declarationAuthors

5. Writing Process: IMRAD
Intro
• Identifies the question the research addressed
• ‘Funnel-shaped’ moving from general to specific
Methods
• To allow others to replicate and evaluate what you did
• Describe the study design (Approval of research committee)
Results
• Summarise findings rather than providing data in detail
• Often includes tables, figures or both
And
Discussion
• Begins with a brief summary of the main findings
• Should answer the question(s) in the introduction

6. Writing Process
• Strengths and limitations of study
• Relationships to other research
Discussion
• People how helped with work
• Sources of financial support
Acknowledgments
• Give credit, credibility, further info.
• Formats in citation software
Referees

7. Publications Process:
Primary and Review Papers
Publication plan
concept
Briefing meeting
with author
Written brief.
Agency
Outline. Draft 1.
Agency
Draft 3.
Agency/author
agreed revisions
Review of draft
suggestions
Author-approved
draft
Draft 2.
Agency
Electronic Global
Publication
Clearance
Journal submission
Agency/author
Incorporation of
peer review
comments
Publication
Author(s) Author(s)
Author(s)
Author(s)
Author(s)

8. Table and Figure suggestions
TABLE
o Follow instructions to authors
o Only use if text will not suffice
o Design to be understandable
without text
o Use the same format for each
table
FIGURE
o Follow instructions to authors
o Use only if they help convey the
information
o Beware of designs that distort
the message
o Make sure annotations are large
enough to read when published
Examples of commonly used DMARDS
Nonbiologic Agents Biologic Agents
Aurothiomalate Etanercept
D-penicillamine Infliximab

9. Skills required to be a Medical
Writer
o Writing: clear, concise, logical, clear
research questions, follow journal
author guidelines
o Teamwork: Liaising with designers,
writers, editors, account managers,
project managers
o Communication: Build relationships
with clients and opinion leaders
o Project management: Manage
manuscript to final production on
time and within budget for the client
Moon (2017)

10. References
o Gastel, B and Day, R.A. (2017) How to write and publish a scientific paper.
8th edition. Cambridge University Press.
o Moon, A. (2017) From academic to medical writer. A guide to getting
started in medical communications. NetworkPharma.
o ICMJE recommendations, preparing for submission
http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/manuscript-
preparation/preparing-for-submission.html
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING 
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