You already know how to write learning objectives. You reference Bloom’s taxonomy. You understand Moore’s outcomes framework.

But here’s the real question:

When you write a learning objective, can you clearly identify the two to three specific clinical tasks that must happen for that objective to be achieved?

In this episode—based on a webinar I participated in with the Good CME Practice Group—we go deeper than frameworks. We unpack what actually sits underneath a learning objective and how that layer determines whether your CME changes practice… or simply delivers information.

1. Why learning objectives are signposts—not the design itself
2. How to break each objective into 2–3 concrete clinical tasks
3. The role of workflow, format, and audience context in determining granularity
4. How learning science (cognitive load, retrieval practice, feedback) strengthens action-focused design
5. Where CME programs most commonly lose alignment between need, content, assessment, and outcomes

If you can’t name the specific clinical actions required to meet an objective, the content won’t drive behavior change.

Design lives underneath the objective.

If this episode resonated, try this:

Take one learning objective from a current project and ask:

1. What are the two or three specific clinical actions underneath it?
2. Where do those actions appear in the content?
3. Where are they assessed?

That exercise alone will elevate your design work.

And if you want structured practice applying this level of thinking—with feedback, live coaching, and a community of CME professionals—explore WriteCME Pro.

This is where writers become design partners.

Good CME Practice Group

Mentioned in this episode:

AI Practice Lab

Build a Practical, Safe, Repeatable AI-assisted Workflow in Just 4 Weeks. March 9 - April 2 Move beyond experimenting with AI. In this 4-week practice lab, work hands-on with Núria Negrão to build a documented, repeatable AI workflow for research, drafting, and quality control—one you can confidently explain to clients and teams.

In this year-end episode, Alex takes you behind the scenes into a full year of growth inside the WriteCME Pro community. Whether you're just starting in CME or deepening your expertise, you’ll hear the most important trends that emerged among CME writers in 2025—what they struggled with, how they moved forward, and what this means for your own career in 2026.

If you want clarity, confidence, and a sense of belonging in the CME world, this episode offers a peek at the path forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The biggest mindset and skill gaps CME writers faced this year
• Why understanding the ecosystem matters more than mastering templates
• The professional identity shift that helped writers step into higher-level roles
• Why wellbeing has become a non-negotiable business strategy
• What happens when writers grow inside a community instead of alone
• What support, structure, and opportunities are coming in 2026

You’ll especially benefit if you’re:

• A medical writer curious about entering CME
• A working CME writer who feels stuck or isolated
• A freelancer craving clarity, community, or better workflow systems
• Someone who wants to build a resilient, respected CME writing business

Learn more or join the community:

12 Days of Giving Secret List

WriteCME Pro

Mentioned in this episode:

Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab

Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"? Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th. You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours. $297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership [CTA Button] Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis

Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

What if you ended the year not with burnout or urgency, but with a daily ritual of inspiration, generosity, and creative momentum for your CME writing?

As CME writers, so much of our work happens behind the scenes — the interviews, the needs assessments, the outlines, the manuscripts. It’s meaningful work, but it’s often quiet and relentless, yet it carries real impact for learners and patients. This episode takes you behind the curtain into the reflection, intention, and creative spark that inspired the 12 Days of Giving. If you’ve ever wanted to reconnect with the why behind your own writing, this story will resonate.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• My why behind the 12 Days of Giving
• How reflection helps us stay grounded in a profession that rarely slows down.
• Why generosity isn’t just a nice idea, but a practical force that strengthens your craft and the CME community.

Press play to step behind the scenes and discover the heart, intention, and creative spark powering this year’s 12 Days of Giving.

Ready to join the secret list? Do that here: https://www.alexhowson.com/12-days-interest

Mentioned in this episode:

Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab

Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"? Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th. You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours. $297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership [CTA Button] Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis

Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

In this hot seat coaching conversation, Sarah Jabeen MD, a clinician turned medical writer, brings the honest questions so many emerging CME writers quietly carry:

How do I navigate a career pivot without feeling like an imposter? How do I leverage my clinical background without overwhelming my writing? And how do I grow from “new” to “trusted” in the eyes of clients?

Together, we unpack what’s underneath each of these questions and explore how identity, confidence, community, and small experiments shape your growth as a CME writer.

You’ll hear:

• Why self-doubt is a normal part of professional transformation—and how to shift from “What if this fails?” to “What if this works?”
• How your clinical experience becomes a true superpower in CME writing, giving you insight, relevance, and empathy that elevate your work.
• What separates a beginner from a trusted partner, and how reliability, curiosity, and consistent communication matter more than perfection.
• The role of community and belonging in building confidence and combating isolation during a career pivot.
• Practical guidance for showing up online, finding your voice, and creating a presence that feels aligned and safe.

Whether you’re transitioning from clinical practice, entering CME writing from another discipline, or simply looking for more confidence in your craft, this episode offers permission, perspective, and a path forward.

Mentioned in this episode:

Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab

Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"? Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th. You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours. $297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership [CTA Button] Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis

Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

What do you do when your inbox goes quiet and the client work that once filled your calendar suddenly disappears?

For many freelance medical writers—especially those transitioning into the CME space—quiet seasons can feel like failure. But what if those fallow periods are actually the most fertile ground for growth? In this conversation with seasoned writer Addie Nagy, we explore how to reframe slow seasons, rebuild confidence, and manage client relationships with steadiness and purpose.

You’ll learn how to

• Reimagine client relationships as a dialogue rather than a power struggle so collaboration replaces anxiety.
• Turn information gaps and slow communication into opportunities for curiosity, clarity, and boundary-setting.
• Use “fallow time” to strengthen business foundations, refresh systems, and cultivate the mindset shift from freelancer to business owner.

Press play to learn how to transform uncertainty into strategy and make every season of your freelance CME writing business work for you.

Resources Mentioned

Ilise Benun — The Creative Professional's Guide to Money: How to Think About It, How to Talk About it, How to Manage It. 2011. HOW Books.

WriteCME Pro — a community and professional network that provides peer support and opportunities to hone CME writing skills.

Mentioned in this episode:

Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab

Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"? Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th. You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours. $297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership [CTA Button] Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis

Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

LinkedIn Live AMA

Have you ever hesitated to push back on a client’s “non-negotiable” contract — even when something didn’t feel right?

For freelance medical writers, contracts can be one of the most intimidating parts of running a business. Between indemnity clauses, “work made for hire” language, and shifting risk to the writer, it’s easy to feel powerless. In this episode, legal strategist Brionna Ned (The Lawless Lawyer) breaks down how to approach contract negotiations with confidence — so you can protect your work, your income, and your peace of mind.

You'll learn how to:

1. Identify and communicate your leverage points — the non-negotiables that protect your business.
2. Decode intimidating legal terms like indemnity and work made for hire in plain language.
3. Reframe contract negotiation from a high-stakes confrontation into a collaborative conversation about creating a fair working relationship.

Press play to discover how to build contract confidence, reduce risk, and negotiate terms that support a thriving medical writing business.

Connect with Brionna

 The Lawless Lawyer

Instagram

Threads

LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab

Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"? Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th. You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours. $297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership [CTA Button] Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis

Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

LinkedIn Live AMA

How do you turn a detailed needs assessment full of data and practice gaps into a clear, learner-centered activity agenda that actually changes clinical practice?

If you’ve ever stared at a dense needs assessment wondering how to transform pages of evidence into a coherent educational design, this episode is for you. Many CME writers struggle to bridge the gap between analysis and application—between identifying what clinicians need and structuring how they’ll learn it. In this episode, Alex shares a practical, step-by-step process that helps you connect the dots and design education that makes sense and gets results.

By listening, you’ll discover:

• A seven-step framework to translate insights from your needs assessment into a logical, outcomes-aligned agenda.
• How to apply the 3-A Test—Aligned, Actionable, Appropriate—to ensure every session delivers value for learners.
• A real-world mini-case that illustrates how to transform your research into a compelling, structured learning journey.

Press play to learn how to transform data into design—and gain the confidence to craft CME agendas that close gaps and inspire change.

👉 Grab Your Insight-To-Action Framework

👉 Register for LinkedIn Live

Mentioned in this episode:

LinkedIn Live AMA

Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab

Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"? Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th. You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours. $297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership [CTA Button] Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis

Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

What if the work that feels invisible is the very thing building your expertise?

For many CME writers, the hours spent researching, editing, and shaping educational content happen behind the scenes — valuable, but unseen. Over time, that invisibility can blur your sense of value and readiness.

In this Write Medicine hot-seat coaching session, Gina Castiblanco PhD shares what it’s really like to navigate that in-between space — leaving behind a visible academic identity and learning to trust her voice as a CME writer and business owner.

Together, we unpack how professional visibility starts with self-awareness, boundaries, and the courage to say, “I’m ready, even if I don’t feel ready yet.”

By the end of this conversation, you’ll learn how to:

• Reframe invisibility as part of your growth process — not proof that you don’t belong.
• Use your academic and clinical background to shape a distinct CME writing identity.
• Turn your unseen skills into visible value that attracts aligned clients and projects.
• Shift from doing the work to owning the work — as a creative, strategic partner.

Stay to the end of the episode for three practical steps you can take today to start making your invisible work visible — and strengthen your visibility, voice, and value in the CME ecosystem.

Mentioned in this episode:

Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab

Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"? Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th. You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours. $297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership [CTA Button] Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis

Root Case Analysis Practice Lab