A new chapter — Becoming an apprentice UX writer at 38
I’ve recently returned from maternity leave and have started a 6-month secondment in the John Lewis UX writing team.
Women can’t have it all.
Or should I say, women cannot have it all.
As I’ve recently learned, contractions are OK. But it’s best to avoid negative contractions — like won’t, don’t, can’t — as they are harder to read and understand.
And in this instance just downright depressing. Because there should be a world where we aren’t talking about whether or not a woman can have a career, kids and coupledom.
An important discussion that needs to be had, and one that I have no doubt I will have over the next 6 months, as I am joining a team of all female UX writers. But not for this blog.
Right time, right place
Returning to work after maternity leave was something that I was both looking forward to and feeling anxious about. And while maternity leave was definitely not time off, it did feel like a good opportunity to reflect on what I wanted out of life, from both a professional and personal perspective.
Life as I know it has completely changed. Not just for me of course, but it definitely felt like a good time to take stock and figure out what the next phase of my professional life was going to look like.
Having been the resource manager for the Experience Design team, I’d experienced first hand how dynamic and different the world of UX could be. I’d also seen the flexibility and variety that roles in this sector could offer — both within John Lewis and also as a contractor.
So, when the opportunity came up to start something new post maternity leave, I jumped at the chance.
Words are all I have
I have spent most of my adult life trying to work out what I want to be when I grow up. But the red thread that has run through it all would appear to be words.
After a humanities degree at university (with a heavy emphasis on words and language), I started life as a copywriter in Amsterdam, moved into PR, had a dalliance with working freelance and along the way kept a little black book of clients who relied on me to provide copywriting services.
Even when I packed it all in and jettisoned a PR role at a cruise line in Southampton, I kept my copywriting going. It has helped top up my wages when I worked on the shopfloor in M&S and also kept that side of my brain active when the day job has been a bit dull.
I can rustle up a blog about the impact of renewable energy, craft a press release that sells the benefits of invoice finance and draft and edit the annual report for a bus manufacturer.
New girl vibes
That doesn’t mean I don’t have lots to learn.
Where once I was writing to sell, sell, sell and draw attention to a product, person or service, UX writing is about crafting copy so clearly that users don’t even notice your words.
Understanding that is the first hurdle. I’m not here to wax lyrical, but simply help somebody get to the thing they want. And once I start to get my head round this, I start to see the importance of paring it all back and just how much harder it is to be simple and clear.
Concise, conversational and clear to the person using the experience — that’s the goal.
Does there need to be text here or will an icon suffice?
Does this word make it easier to understand the experience or are we confusing things?
Does the customer need to know about an internal process that we are launching or do they just want to know that if they hit that button and pay their money their purchase will turn up at their door?
A lot to think about when character counts are limited and sometimes all you have is a button to play with.
So I’ve bought the books, am listening to podcasts and interviews, have signed myself up for some courses and am delightfully shadowing my team to soak up as much knowledge as possible.
In fact, I am loving being the new girl.
I have the chance to work with 3 UX writers, the chance to get inside their heads, understand their different processes and approaches and work alongside them on all manner of projects.
Sharing is caring
I’m a few months into my secondment, so still very early days, but I’ve already had the chance to shadow and support with drafting content for cancellations, category pages, navigation and promotions.
I always thought writing was a solo sport, but it is very clear that UX writing (at least in this team) is very much a team effort.
Pair writing felt pretty daunting, but having given it a go, the adage two heads are better than one has definitely proven true. And I’m looking forward to getting more involved with projects and learning more from the Experience Design team as a whole.
I might not have it all figured out, but it’s looking like I’ve made the right decision on the career front — will keep you posted on the kids and coupledom!
