Physicians today make a valuable contribution to the world of books

On the non-fiction side of writing, many physicians use their books as a means to share their enthusiasm and knowledge arising from their specialty. Oliver Sacks, for example, a neurologist, writes books in a lively narrative style about Tourette's Syndrome, acquired colorblindness, the visual hallucinations of migraine headache sufferers, and many other phenomena related to neurology.

Some physician authors tell their life story. Others share their patients' experiences. A growing number share knowledge with fellow physicians by writing books for the medically oriented. Many physicians write books or manuals to help their patients better understand their bodies and treatment for common disorders.

Two top fiction writing doctors today are Michael Palmer, M.D. (Critical Judgment, Silent Treatment, Natural Causes, Extreme Measures, Flashback, and other titles) and Tess Gerritson, M.D. (Life Support, Bloodstream, Gravity, The Surgeon, and other titles). You can even attend a fiction writing conference just for physicians every November and learn from best-selling physician novelists.

Some physicians write novels to expose something they find disgusting. Sidney Sontag, M.D., wrote a thrilling novel that shows AIDS in its full horror (Keeper of the Gate), and an anonymous author we happen to know wrote Life Means Nothing Behind the Green Wall to reveal medical scandals and outrageous behavior he observed.

For more information about physician publishing, choose a topic from the list on the left. When you're ready to talk about your publishing project, call us. Or send us email at hodi@mindspring.com