Nearly two decades in writing and education have helped me develop several important traits that make me an exceptional UX writer.
Writing
For five years, I’ve written web-based content for local and regional tourism outlets, including the City of Staunton Convention and Visitors Bureau. Recently, Staunton has received best-places-to-visit article nods from Architectural Digest, USA Today, Southern Living, Reader’s Digest, and more, thanks to marketing campaigns for which I’ve written content. My work is often featured on the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official tourism blog and the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance’s website.
I use plain language and the organizational voice and style to write clear, purposeful, research-based messaging that’s consistent across all platforms. I also edit and proofread copy before publication.
Project management & educational content design
As an educator at a regional governor’s school, I was a project manager in charge of designing, planning, executing, evaluating, and documenting various projects related to curriculum development, student learning, classroom management, and professional development.
I identified educational goals, created journey maps, and guided my users toward those goals. I regularly conducted quantitative and qualitative user research, identified pain points, and iterated my materials to improve usability. Addressing the needs of all students, especially those with special needs, trained me in the importance of designing for accessibility.
Empathy
Teaching taught me to notice when, where, and how people struggle, and it taught me it was my job to help. I relied on empathy to connect with, design for, advocate for, and motivate students. Students in a single classroom vary widely in ability, attention, background, and engagement, yet a good teacher guides them all through their educational journeys with minimal frustration.
I outlined clear expectations, contextualized content, broke tasks into small parts, and progressively disclosed information. I simplified and reframed complex material and provided helpful instruction and tips as they were needed.
I approach writing and speaking tasks deliberately, weighing the potential benefits and consequences of my words and presentation. I am deeply cognizant of how words impact readers, especially since I won’t be there to offer clarification or context. I define and write for particular audiences and regularly put myself in their shoes as I anticipate and solve problems before they arise.
Problem-solving
I’m a firm believer that few things are ever completely “finished” and most projects should be regularly re-evaluated to determine if they’re still working properly and remaining relevant and accurate. I’ve contributed to content audits
Having worked as an educator, I know that there’s often not a one-size-fits-all solution to every problem. I prefer to take a holistic approach to finding answers by examining data and solutions to similar problems, observing users with the product, and evaluating user feedback.
Collaboration
While I don’t have much experience working on a dedicated UX team, I have worked on teams made up of project managers, marketing personnel, commercial partners, web designers, writing and teaching colleagues, educational authorities, and other interested parties. I am comfortable working as part of a group that divides tasks and responsibilities and meets deadlines. I am also comfortable communicating with my team. I’m good at articulating and supporting my textual decision-making process, putting aside my ego to accept input and constructive criticism, and making the appropriate compromises.
I am a strong communicator and as an educator, I advocated for both students and educational stakeholders. I met the educational and emotional needs of my students as well as the legal requirements and state-mandated educational goals.