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Hi Reader!

You know that moment when you realize you’ve been waiting for someone else to notice your talent, your availability, your readiness?

It came up in our recent WriteCME Pro Ask Me Anything session when one writer said:

This writer was talking about letting clients know she’s open to full-time roles.

But their mindset shift applies to so much more than employment. It’s about moving from staying small and hoping to be noticed to confidently claiming space and making your goals known.

And it resonated deeply with me.

I used to stay small, too—assuming clients or collaborators would just know I was capable, or ready, or interested. I wouldn’t ask. I’d wait. But when I turned 50 (12 years ago!) I recognized how much energy I was using to keep myself safe and unseen.

In freelance CME writing—and in life—people can’t read your mind. Clients and strategic partners don’t know you’re available for projects. They don’t know you’re interested in working with them unless you tell them.

Here's the thing.

You don’t need permission to follow up. You don’t need to wait to be chosen. You’re not being pushy. You’re being professional.

When you communicate with clarity and purpose, you stay top of mind—and when the timing is right, you’re the one clients and partners call.

So try this mindset reframe: From “Is it okay if I…?” → to “Here’s how I can help. When can we talk?”

And here's a challenge for you. Take 10 minutes today to follow up with a past contact. Let them know you’re available for summer or fall projects.

This tiny act of courage might be the door that opens your next opportunity.

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🎧 On the Podcast

From Failure to Fuel: Rethinking Your Mistakes

Have you ever walked away from a project thinking, “That didn’t go the way I hoped”?

I have! But here’s the thing: failure doesn’t have to mean you’re doing it wrong. It can mean you're doing it bravely.

This back catalog episode of the podcast focuses on what happens when we step outside our safety zone to create something bold—and it doesn’t land. You’ll learn how to turn those “flops” into fuel by shifting your mindset from blame to reflection.

🔎 Inside this episode:

• How to create a safe space for evaluating your own work honestly
• Why anonymity and trust matter when sharing lessons learned
• A practical approach to finding constructive takeaways from missteps

Don’t let the fear of getting it wrong keep you from making something great.​
Let this episode be your permission slip to fail forward—and grow stronger in the process.

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With you in growth,

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Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP, FACEhp is a writer, researcher, and podcaster who shares her deep expertise in health care and education with new-to-the-field or CME-curious professionals to help them create educational content with confidence. She hosts Write Medicine, the premier podcast for CME/CPD professionals like you, wherever you are in the content creation process. Alex runs WriteCME Pro and teaches on the Professional Education Program in Medical Writing and Editing at the University of Chicago.

Connect with Alex | alex@alexhowson.com | 415.374.9757

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