Who Can Be a Good UX Writer?
A lot of us writers ended up in this profession because when we were kids, we loved to make up stories and we collected (and filled) lots of journals.
I definitely did.
And while I didn’t get a degree in journalism, English, or literature, I always imagined that at some point my path would lead me to writing for magazines or newspapers or publishing a book.
The path to UX writing, however, doesn’t have to be so “obvious.”
Let’s get one thing out of the way: If you hate writing with a burning passion, UX writing probably isn’t for you. I mean, it has “writing” in its name…
But a lot of different roads can lead to UX writing, even if you don’t have the “traditional” writer background—if you haven’t written professionally, published longform articles, or even dreamed of becoming a published author.
While you do need to be able to write clearly, here are some other qualities that can set you up to be a successful UX writer:
1. You’re a good teacher.
Lots of people turn to YouTube for makeup tutorials. Makeup influencers don’t elaborate on the ingredients or the scientific process of each makeup palette. They simply explain why they love a product, how (and how not) to use it, and what it should look and feel like. A good makeup YouTuber is able to process the endless makeup information available out there and break it down into key takeaways for the average viewer (or, in my case, the lazy mom with limited getting-ready time). These influencers keep it real and get the important information across to their viewers.
The same is true for UX writers. Great UX writers are able to take a complicated interface or flow, along with their wealth of experience, and break it down into clear steps with straightforward instructions, written in concise, conversational language. They can transform confusing or nerve-wracking processes into a sweet and simple process that, well, flows. Just like a great teacher, they impart the information you need to know while empowering you to do it on your own.
2. You have great attention to detail.
UX writing is not the place for sloppiness. For the most part, you’re working with limited space, and a misstep in the copy and messaging can frustrate users and impact the experience you offer them. Consistency also plays a big role, with UX writers defining terminology and setting stylistic rules that are then applied across the product.
If inconsistencies drive you up a wall and you are often the one to find typo needles in content haystacks, you may already be well on your way to a UX writing career.
3. You’re interested in human behavior and what makes people tick.
It’s not user experience if you don’t know about the users. If you love psychology or anything about human behavior, UX writing might be just the thing for you.
The most significant part of UX writing actually happens behind the scenes—during the planning stage, before a single word is written. How will people react to this? Will they be willing to engage, buy, or share? Will they know what to do next? What questions or concerns might they have at this stage? All of these are questions that UX writers ask on a daily basis in order to be able to craft the most accurate UX copy.
4. You’re good at organizing information.
Have you ever found yourself going in circles “around” an app, tapping back and forth from one page to another in search of something only to finally find it in a completely unexpected place (if at all)? (If your answer to that is no, you either don’t use a lot of apps or—more likely, let’s be honest 🤭—you don’t remember.)
If you’ve ever found yourself creating outlines, flowcharts, diagrams, or simply thinking about how to rework a bulk of information to make it digestible, you already have a big part of what it takes to succeed at UX writing. Good UX writers shine not when they’re told “Fill in the text on these screens,” but when they get the chance to break down the product and build it back up again with the users’ needs in mind.
5. You like a good challenge.
A lot of UX writing is like a puzzle: How do you communicate important details in a limited amount of space? On top of that, the process of UX writing involves defining a product’s personality and “voice,” coming up with a style guide (or at least rules to guide the writing process), and juggling lots of different stakeholders, such as designers, developers, product managers, and leadership. Turns out, even when you’re writing the simplest of buttons, you’re not likely to encounter a dull moment.
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Writing is a big part of UX writing, but it’s not the only part of it. If you have good communication skills and are interested in technology but don’t have extensive writing experience, don’t write it off! You might still have exactly what it takes to take your first steps and then soar!
Interested in learning more about getting your feet wet as a freelance UX writer? Join the waitlist for UX to Success!
