Editorial

Welcome to the first edition of Out On Our Own (OOOO) for 2014. OOOO is packed with something for everyone! For the tech-savvy, Jane Tricker ends her excellent series on social media for freelancers, with a look at its potential role in training and ongoing educational and professional development. With social media and other online networks providing platforms for sourcing and recruitment of contractors, Martina Reiter explores the concept of freelancing networks in selected northern European countries. Meanwhile, Alistair Reeves and Susanne Geercken begin a new series that will explore language resources, starting with the basic language resources for medical writers that they consider their personal ‘best friends’!

We are always interested to hear what our freelance colleagues get up to in their spare time. Gina Dungworth, a qualified veterinarian, provides an insight into the diverse range of blogs and articles she produces when not authoring healthcare documents.

Freelancing can be a solitary occupation, so it is heartening to hear of initiatives and organisations that make us feel part of a group – to know that we are not alone in the challenges we face. This issue we welcome John Brazier, who many of you will have heard speak at the Freelance Business Forum (FBF) in Manchester in May 2013. John is actively involved in promoting the ‘voice of the freelancer’ through his involvement in organisations across Europe such as PCG and EFIP in the UK. In this, his first article of a new series, he describes the ‘power of the collective voice’.

May is nearly upon us, and we look forward to seeing you at the FBF in Budapest on Thursday 15 May 2014 from 17.15 to 18.45. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to meet up with friends and colleagues, to share ideas and ask questions within a supportive environment.

Kathryn White

Kathryn@cathean.co.uk

Sam Hamilton

sam@samhamiltonmwservices.co.uk