Landing freelance writing assignments in medical journalism often starts with a great pitch.
How do you pitch a medical story idea editors will actually say yes to?
This blog outlines steps to pitch articles for public audiences that get accepted. If you're looking to expand your skills and write articles about medicine and health, this road map will help you stand out and get results.
Read on for advice on crafting pitches that are timely, relevant, and tailored to the publication’s audience, format, and editorial voice. This blog also includes tips for introducing stories with concise, evidence-based leads that highlight relevant data, trends, or patient impact, while avoiding common pitfalls such as unclear focus or misaligned tone.
Medical writers seeking opportunities in medical or health journalism or writing health content for blogs and other publication outlets can use these tips to expand their freelance careers.
Developing Winning Pitches
To secure freelance medical writing jobs, your pitch needs to capture attention, show relevance, and convince others of your abilities. Here are three essential strategies to stand out:
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Find a timely, relevant angle.
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Craft a short, targeted pitch tailored to the publication.
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Show why the story matters now—and why you’re the right person to write it.
Editors may get dozens of pitches a day. If yours clearly answers those questions and fits their goals and audience needs, you’ve got their attention.
Why Pitching Is An Important Skill
In freelance medical journalism, your pitch is your calling card. A strong idea—even before many words are written—can open the door to publication. Yet many writers struggle with vague ideas, generic emails, or pitches that don’t match the outlet’s audience. Editors want stories that are clear, timely, and tailored to their readers.
To help you succeed, we’ll outline the steps for crafting a top-notch pitch.
How to Write a Successful Medical Story Pitch: Step by Step
- Find an angle that is fresh and timely. Start by scanning current health news, trends, and research, including preprint scientific manuscripts like those in Medrxiv, clinical trial sites, conference proceeds, and public health websites. Look for an idea that ties into something current: a new treatment, seasonal concern, or policy change. Editors are always looking for stories with urgency and relevance.
Once you have the idea, ask yourself, What’s new here? Can I show the reader something they haven’t seen or heard before? - Conduct market research to understand demand for your topic. Look at whether the general public or a specific audience is interested in this information.
For example, articles about menopause may resonate strongly with women’s magazines that target an older female demographic. You can refine the idea further by narrowing the focus: if your research shows that women in leadership roles are particularly concerned about perimenopause, that becomes a sharper, more compelling angle. Including these insights in your pitch demonstrates both relevance and audience awareness. - Match the idea to the publication. Before you write the pitch, study the outlet. Who do they write for? Do they publish long-form or service journalism (articles that help people solve problems)? What tone do they use—conversational, authoritative, helpful?
Tailor your idea to fit their style and format. Mention a similar piece they’ve published and how yours adds something new. - Lead with a hook that draws the reader in. Open your pitch with one or two compelling sentences: a surprising fact, a little-known statistic, or a human story that evokes an emotional response. Make your point quickly and clearly.
For example, “New CDC data show a 40% drop in routine childhood vaccinations in some states, just as school starts. What’s behind the decline, and what are pediatricians doing to respond?” - Summarize your story in one strong paragraph. After the hook, write a concise paragraph explaining what your article will cover. Include the scope, tone, and how you’ll report it (e.g., interviews, studies, on-the-ground reporting). Make sure the editor can see the shape of the finished story.
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Consider pitching more than one idea in the same topic cluster. Depending on the publication, pitch multiple story ideas related to a broad topic. For instance, if you are pitching stories about GLP-1 drugs used for diabetes and weight loss, you could propose these angles:
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Social determinants of health: How access to GLP-1 drugs is creating a “haves and have-nots” divide in obesity treatment
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Government policy: An update on which states are moving to cover (or exclude) GLP-1s — and the lobbying forces shaping those decisions
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Patient Explainer: A practical checklist for readers navigating costs, side effects, and access
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Medical research: Studies underway that are looking into whether GLP-1 drugs can address other health issues like heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease
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Show why you are the right writer. End with a short bio sentence that includes your relevant experience—especially published clips, subject matter familiarity, or personal connection. If you haven’t written for that outlet before, link to a few samples or your professional website as well as your LinkedIn profile (if you have one) to show your experience and style. If an editor likes your pitch, that person might want to review your skills and background before they reach out to you.
Common Mistakes That Undercut a Good Idea
Even great ideas can get rejected, especially if the pitch is weak. Here are a few common errors to avoid:
- Pitches that are too long or too vague
- Story ideas that aren’t timely or newsworthy
- Ignoring the publication’s tone or audience
- Leaving out why the story matters right now
- Forgetting to show why you should write it
Get to the point, show that you've done your homework, and make the editor's job easy.
Final Takeaways: Building Your Medical Journalism Career
Once your pitch is accepted, your job shifts to writing accurate, engaging articles. Check your facts, avoid hype, focus on clarity, and take care to stay up to date on trends in medical journalism.
Building a freelance medical writing career takes curiosity, commitment, and storytelling skills. With consistency and care, you’ll not only build a rewarding, flexible career, but you’ll help shape how people understand medical issues that affect their lives.
AMWA acknowledges the contributions of Tania Sultana, PhD, for peer review in the development of this AMWA resource.
