Discussion with writers from all walks of life and from across the globe has revealed that we have all come to our chosen career through different pathways. Furthermore, writer jobs are highly variable; two medical writers may have completely different roles and careers. Through a mixture of luck, both good and bad, I have taken the path of a medical writing manager. I have had the opportunity to work in pharmaceutical and device companies, one of the largest publishers in the world, several medical communications or medical education companies, as well as being a freelance writer. At every step along the way I have learnt so much, and can honestly say that each of these experiences has made me the manager that I am today. Herein, I describe parts of my journey, what I learnt, and what I believe are the attributes of a manager of medical writers.