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Why UX Writing? Oh, that old chestnut. It's a question that's been thrown my way more times than I care to count. But let me tell you, if I had a time machine, I'd go back and ask myself, "Why didn't you start sooner?" Better late than never, right?

My name is Michelle and i took the plunge into the working world a good 12 years ago as a social media manager. Back then, money wasn't rolling in as i wished, so I had to teach myself everything on the job and from some affordable online courses. In time, i got better, gained a truckload of experience and started managing pages of both local and international clients.

Somewhere in between all these, i started an entertainment/lifestyle blog which ran for 3 years and gained some popularity, until i shut it down. My career basically revolved around writing.

But hey, when they say let your passion work for you, they were talking to me. Yup!

So what drives my career choice? Three things, really. First, I'm empathetic to a fault. Second, I can't help but be restless when it comes to finding practical solutions. And third, I'm head over heels for the online space.

Now, if only I could figure out how to translate those qualities into a surefire way to become a billionaire... Very soon girl

Fastforward to 2021...

So, my very special buddy NK dropped a bombshell on me - she was transitioning to tech from social media management and diving into UX, with a special focus on UX Writing. Now, I gotta admit, my initial reaction was about as exciting as watching paint dry. I mean, UX is just another boring technical skill, right? Boy, was I wrong.

NK wouldn't let it go, and kept going on and on(God bless her for this) about how amazing UX is, until i couldn't take it anymore and decided to see what all the fuss was about. And let me tell you, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head - "Babe, UX is beautiful!" I chatted her up, feeling like a total convert.

So I took the plunge and signed up for a UX Design course on Coursera, courtesy of our tutors over at Google. And you know what? It was a blast! I soaked up every nugget of knowledge and felt like a kid in a candy store. Now, my project is almost done, and I can't wait to show it off. NK's probably rolling her pretty eyes at my newfound enthusiasm, but hey, who's the one with a killer UX case study in the works?

Following

I was already hungry for more knowledge and went on to take a free introductory course on UX Writing by the UX Writing Hub. And to really put my skills to the test, I tackled the drill at the end.

Here is the prompt below and my attempt at a solution in rewriting the copy:

Imagine you've recently been hired as a UX writer at a company called MockDocs: an online web app that lets designers easily create mockups, wireframes, screen layouts, and more, all from the comforts of their browsers.

Your first assignment is to rewrite a settings screen where users can set their default file export options. Here is the current screen, whose copy was written by a developer...

NB: I played a little with the design out of curiosity

My solution to the poorly written copy: https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVPhjwB1w=/

Original vs Edited

That was just the beginning. I've been following a ton of UX writers and designers on social media, devouring their every post and tips shared.

And if that wasn't enough, I'm currently taking on a UX Writing challenge with 15 different practical scenarios. Talk about pushing myself to the limit. But hey, I thrive under pressure.

Sure, this new field is a bit of a challenge, but my past experience writing content for social media and tech has made it a cakewalk. Okay, maybe not a cakewalk, but more like a brisk jog in the park.

The ultimate goal? Landing my first UX Writing gig or remote job. And with my newfound skills and determination, I have no doubt it's only a matter of time.

Based on a good number of recommendations, i grabbed these books on UX Writing, and they have been extremely helpful.

My favourite is the book by Kinneret Yifrah. She is a world expert in UX writing and microcopy. Any one who writes microcopy for products needs to have this in their stash

Beautiful, keep it up

Lala222:
Beautiful, keep it up

Thanks for the encouragement

UX Writing Challenge: Day 1

Scenario: A traveler is in an airport waiting for the last leg of a flight home when their flight gets abruptly canceled due to bad weather.

Challenge: Write a message from the airline app notifying them of the cancellation and what they need to do next.

Headline: 45 characters
Body: 175 characters max
Button(s): 25 characters max

My copy below....

uxwritinggirl:
UX Writing Challenge: Day 1

Scenario: A traveler is in an airport waiting for the last leg of a flight home when their flight gets abruptly canceled due to bad weather.

Challenge: Write a message from the airline app notifying them of the cancellation and what they need to do next.

Headline: 45 characters
Body: 175 characters max
Button(s): 25 characters max

My copy below....

I missed my thread. So here is what I've been up to...

I made another attempt at this Day 1 Challenge after a review by my mentor. Here's my second attempt....

I found this quiz exercise on Twitter and decided to get busy with it:

Exercise: Lady A feels uneasy going out because her clothes no longer fit.
Identify the problem vs. pain

Problem:
Her clothes no longer fit and are undersized

Pain:
- Feels uncomfortable going out in undersized clothes
- Spends more time dressing up in her failed attempt to find the right sized clothes
- Constantly reminded about her increased body size
- Develops low self-esteem
- Misses important events
- Incurs more expenses in shopping for new clothes

uxwritinggirl:
I found this quiz exercise on Twitter and decided to get busy with it:

Exercise: Lady A feels uneasy going out because her clothes no longer fit.
Identify the problem vs. pain

Problem:
Her clothes no longer fit and are undersized

Pain:
- Feels uncomfortable going out in undersized clothes
- Spends more time dressing up in her failed attempt to find the right sized clothes
- Constantly reminded about her increased body size
- Develops low self-esteem
- Misses important events
- Incurs more expenses in shopping for new clothes

Hi, this skill appeals very well to me, I would like to be under your tutelage
Thanks as I await your response.

Ojimmu95:
Hi, this skill appeals very well to me, I would like to be under your tutelage
Thanks as I await your response.

I'm glad to hear you're very much interested in this skill. However, i don't think i'm in the right skill level to offer a training, as i'm still in the learning phase. This is to prevent you from being misled.

You can begin just as i did and it will be totally worth it.

uxwritinggirl:
I'm glad to hear you're very much interested in this skill. However, i don't think i'm in the right skill level to offer a training, as i'm still in the learning phase. This is to prevent you from being misled.

You can begin just as i did and it will be totally worth it.

Ok, thanks a tonne for your prompt response, it doesn't necessarily has to be a training, just like a guide, should incase I'm not getting somethings right.
Thanks

hi i love this, I must confess your experience inspires me greatly.I recently started a six weeks programme on UX design at entry level.net. I want to know what's the difference between UX design and UX writing. How do i improve myself everyday even though i am just starting and i have no previous experience.