The AAMC is seeking new writers for the "Aspiring Docs Diaries" blog to share stories of premeds, medical students, and residents about their journey to medicine. Writing a blog post about your path is a great way to inspire others and help you demonstrate one of the 15 Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students: written communication. To get started, read our tips below for writing a great blog post.
- Identify a Topic That Readers Will Care About
Blog posts for Aspiring Docs can be about anything related to medicine. Our most popular topics include stories about your interactions with patients, your inspiration for going into medicine, volunteer experiences, a time where you showed great resilience, etc. After choosing your topic, it’s important to consider what makes your perspective on this topic unique and why readers should care about it. Another question to ask yourself while writing is, “Is this a post I would want to read?”
- Write a Compelling Headline and Introduction
A right title and introduction can make or break a blog post. As the first thing readers see, it’s important that the introduction draws people in. Some creative ways to open are to begin with dialogue, pose a question, or state a surprising fact.
- Write From Your Point of View
Writing in the first-person allows readers to get an inside glimpse into your world. Whether you’re writing about a patient interaction, shadowing a physician, or a volunteer experience, the first-person perspective allows readers to put themselves in your shoes and imagine what it’s like to prepare for a career in medicine.
- Say It With a Story
If you have a story, anecdote, or memory of a specific event that pushed you to pursue medicine … share it in your post! Blog posts that feature a story with a distinct beginning, middle, and end are some of our most popular.
- Don’t Skimp on the Details
When it comes to providing details in your post, the more the better. However, we do make sure to protect a person’s identity and privacy, so be sure to vary some specific personal details and note if you are using a pseudonym for a specific patient or person.
- Write How You Would Talk to a Friend
Avoid using formal language, technical jargon, or an academic tone. Also, if you’re writing about a medical procedure, write about it the same way you would explain it to a friend. Using plain language will make your post relatable to a broader audience.
- Share Specific Advice
If you have tips about a step in the application process, such as studying for the MCAT, don’t be afraid to get specific! For instance, instead of saying, “It’s important to establish a study routine,” tell us specifically what your routine was and why it worked for you.
- Be Open
Posts that show a bit of vulnerability — by sharing a mistake or a lesson learned — showcase the author’s growth and are more engaging to readers.
To learn more, read some of our most popular recent posts: Becoming and Staying Human, The Same City – A Different Perspective, and What I Learned From My Illness. To volunteer to write a post for Aspiring Docs, email aspiringdocs@aamc.org.