Do you want to become a UX Writer in 2021?
UX Writer is a career role focused on creating the words we interact with when we use digital software or products.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the decision to change careers or start a new career journey. I have outlined some of the beginning steps to take to build your skills and prepare you for the challenges.
If you are still on the fence about choosing UX Writing over other fields, I would suggest trying a few of these steps and see how you feel. There are other fields of writing that are similar to a UX Writer role, this linked post articulates some of the nuance between different roles, “UX Writing, UX Copywriting, Content Strategy, and Content Design are not the same job” (2018) by lauxcritora and UX Collective.
Connect with UX Writers
By connecting with UX Writers you can get tips, ask questions, see trends, get inspiration and find support.
- Microcopy & UX Writing (the largest UX writing community on Facebook)
- UX Writers & Content Designers (a large group on LinkedIn)
- Writers In Tech (podcast)
- UX Coffee Hours (connect to experienced UX Writers, with possible mentorship opportunities.)
- ADPList (free virtual mentorship opportunities.)
Books about UX Writing
Having books is helpful for familiarizing yourself to the formal concepts and to use for reference when you are at a job and get stuck.
- Strategic Writing for UX: Drive Engagement, Conversion, and Retention with Every Word by Torrey Podmajersky and O’Reilly Media
- Content Strategy Toolkit, The: Methods, Guidelines, and Templates for Getting Content Right (Voices That Matter) by Meghan Casey
- Writing Is Designing: Words and the User Experience by Michael J. Metts, Andy Welfle
Courses online for UX Writing
Taking a course is not required, but it will get you well practiced and help you prepare better for building your writers portfolio.
- UX Writers Collective — A good place to learn, affordable and the syllabuses look legit. They have some coursework that includes crossover with content strategy.
- UX Writing Hub — They offer a longer course — the Academy, 4/5 months long, but should get you where you want to be in terms of preparedness. They also offer a public job board for UX writing jobs worldwide.
- Daily UX Writing — Free writing prompts with instruction, 15 days long.
- Think Like an Editor with Anne Ditmeyer — Free online course, 2 parts. This website also offers other related courses like UX Design for free.
Making a career change is never easy, otherwise everyone would be doing it. But it is possible. This change is about contributing to your overall wellbeing and quality of life. No matter how hard or frustrated you feel, you are not alone. Let me know how your journey is going, drop me a line in the comments.
