Let's face it — breaking into UX writing is hard

UX writing is like a different language, and imposter syndrome is all too real. On top of that, there are tons of aspiring UX writers competing for the same roles that all seem to “require” 3 – 5 years of UX writing experience. How the heck is someone supposed to find their spot in this incredibly-welcoming yet ever-exclusive field?

Answer: The UX Content Career Course👇

The UX Content Career Course, formerly The Gig Gal Encyclopedia, is your UX writing gal pal, here to make learning UX writing a piece of cake and landing a UX writing job easy-peasy 🌻

In 860+ pages, I spill absolutely everything I know about UX writing, landing a UX writing job, and starting a UX writing freelance business.

The UX Content Career Course includes:

• 91 lessons on UX writing, landing a UX writing job, and starting a UX writing freelance business
• 29 UX writing practice exercises inspired by real-world scenarios
• 17 templates and frameworks like a resume template, cover letter template, error message writing framework, etc

It's the most thorough, comprehensive, and easy-to-understand UX writing resource out there.

About the creator

I'm Slater Katz, and I've 100% been in your shoes. In 2019, I was a laid-off copywriter with big UX writing dreams. I couldn't quite wrap my head around technical explanations of UX writing, and landing a UX writing job felt like a pipe dream.

But I buckled down, and within ~1.5 months, I taught myself enough about UX writing to be dangerous and landed my first official UX writing job with Fitbit. Since then, I've gone on to write UX copy for companies like Netflix, Chime, Afterpay, Verizon, Opendoor, and many more.

Kind words from kind people

"To begin, Slater goes BEYOND! I am switching careers and feel like I'm on the cusp of reaching that full-time position. The Learning Membership skyrocketed my confidence and design thinking. I followed The Gig Gal before The Learning Membership launched so I knew Slater was friendly and trustworthy. The day it launched I was like "SIGN ME UP!" I subscribed to Architects+ to hone my skills and receive feedback to see where I can improve. The best aspect of The Learning Membership is how in-depth each lesson is. There are photos, examples, and step-by-step advice to ensure you understand the material. I'm a huge The Gig Gal fan and know that Slater goes above and beyond with her feedback, content, and kindess."

-Ryen

"In a berserk flurry of following content design/UX writing people on LinkedIn - I found Slater. She was already sharing super useful info - then she dropped her Gig Gal platform. Slater's done an awesome job of creating a clear, accessible route to upping your UX copy chops. Thoroughly recommended, whether you're coming to it totally new, looking for your first role, or like me - a career switcher."

-Sid

"I was new in my UX writing journey and I’m so glad I found The Learning Membership. It gave me the guidance I needed on what to learn, and how to do UX writing so I’ll be able to confidently write for products. The content was very well organized and clearly explained. I was cramming like a college student trying to read it all quickly and I learned so much in a short time. Also the exercises were so fun and really made the lessons stick. I feel like I understand the lessons more, especially with the visual examples. I loved the examples!!! But what was SO helpful for me was getting feedback from an expert UX Writer like Slater. Glad I made the decision to join!"

-Andre

Check out more kind words

PS: The UX Content Career Course was formerly called The Learning Membership, hence the mentions in the testimonials :)

Table of contents

UX writing

Lessons

UXW#1: What is UX writing (in words anyone can understand)................................................10

UXW#2: Why UX writing matters................................................23

UXW#3: How to know if you should be a UX writer.................................................26

UXW#4: Relevant UX writing skills.................................................30

UXW#5: Where UX writing fits in.................................................36

UXW#6: UX writing vs copywriting vs content writing.................................................42

UXW#7: UX writing vs content design.................................................49

UXW#8: UX writing terms.................................................50

UXW#9: Features vs benefits.................................................55

UXW#10: How to think like a UX writer (1/3).................................................60

UXW#11: How to think like a UX writer (2/3).................................................68

UXW#12: How to think like a UX writer (3/3).................................................74

UXW#13: The UX writer’s guide to Figma basics.................................................78

UXW#14: UX writing best practices.................................................87

UXW#15: How to write clear microcopy.................................................94

UXW#16: How to write concise microcopy.................................................106

UXW#17: How to write useful microcopy.................................................119

UXW#18: How to write usable microcopy.................................................127

UXW#19: How to write helpful microcopy.................................................147

UXW#20: How to write accessible microcopy.................................................155

UXW#21: Friction in UX writing.................................................163

UXW#22: Cognitive load in UX writing.................................................172

UXW#23: Progressive disclosure in UX writing.................................................176

UXW#24: What makes bad UX writing.................................................179

UXW#25: Deceptive design in UX writing.................................................194

UXW#26: How to write headlines.................................................201

UXW#27: How to write body copy.................................................224

UXW#28: How to write buttons.................................................239

UXW#29: How to write forms.................................................257

UXW#30: How to write labels.................................................276

UXW#31: How to write placeholder text.................................................287

UXW#32: How to communicate progress.................................................304

UXW#33: How to write empty states.................................................322

UXW#34: How to write loading states.................................................347

UXW#35: How to write error messages.................................................364

UXW#36: How to write success messages.................................................387

UXW#37: How to write modals.................................................401

UXW#38: How to write tooltips.................................................425

UXW#39: How to write toasts.................................................444

UXW#40: How to write push notifications.................................................456

UXW#41: How to write SMS messages.................................................477

UXW#42: How to write emails.................................................494

UXW#43: What is product voice and tone.................................................520

UXW#44: Brand voice vs product voice.................................................526

UXW#45: How to build voice & tone guidelines.................................................530

UXW#46: How to use voice & tone guidelines.................................................553

UXW#47: What is a style guide in UX writing.................................................557

UXW#48: How to build a UX writing style guide.................................................564

UXW#49: What's a good UX writing process?.................................................570

Frameworks

FRW#1: Writing forms.................................................299

FRW#2: Writing empty states.................................................342

FRW#3: Writing loading states.................................................359

FRW#4: Writing error messages.................................................382

FRW#5: Writing success messages.................................................396

FRW#6: Writing modals.................................................419

FRW#7: Writing tooltips.................................................439

FRW#8: Writing toasts.................................................452

FRW#9: Writing push notifications.................................................472

FRW#10: Writing SMS messages.................................................490

FRW#11: Writing emails.................................................514

Exercises

EX#1: Define UX writing in your own words.................................................22

EX#2: Show the benefit, not the feature.................................................59

EX#3: Design with words.................................................66

EX#4: Apply progressive disclosure.................................................72

EX#5: Writing for users in different states.................................................77

EX#6: Write clear microcopy.................................................104

EX#7: Write concise microcopy.................................................116

EX#8: Write useful microcopy.................................................125

EX#9: Write usable microcopy.................................................145

EX#10: Write helpful microcopy.................................................155

EX#11: Write accessible microcopy.................................................161

EX#12: Redesign sign-up screen.................................................199

EX#13: Write an effective headline.................................................222

EX#14: Write effective body copy.................................................238

EX#15: Write button copy.................................................256

EX#16: Write an effective form.................................................273

EX#17: Write effective labels.................................................286

EX#18: Write effective placeholder text.................................................302

EX#19: Effectively communicate progress.................................................321

EX#20: Write effective empty states.................................................345

EX#21: Write an effective loading state.................................................362

EX#22: Write an effective error message.................................................385

EX#23: Write an effective success message.................................................399

EX#24: Write an effective modal.................................................422

EX#25: Write an effective tooltip.................................................442

EX#26: Write an effective toast.................................................455

EX#27: Write effective push notifications.................................................475

EX#28: Write effective SMS messages.................................................493

EX#29: Write effective emails.................................................517

Job search

Lessons

JB#1: Is it hard to land a UX writing job?.................................................584

JB#2: Understanding the UX writer job search.................................................587

JB#3: How to land UX writer jobs without 3 – 5 years of experience......................................592

JB#4: Why you don't need a UX writing certification to land a job.........................................599

JB#5: Why perseverance is the key to land a UX writing job.................................................605

JB#6: How to use the UX writer job description to land interviews..........................................610

JB#7: Understanding the UX writer resume.................................................618

JB#8: What makes a bad UX writer resume.................................................624

JB#9: What makes a good UX writer resume.................................................635

JB#10: How to write a UX writer resume.................................................645

JB#11: Understanding the UX writer cover letter.................................................659

JB#12: What makes a good UX writer cover letter.................................................664

JB#13: What makes a bad UX writer cover letter.................................................673

JB#14: How to write a UX writer cover letter.................................................678

JB#15: Understanding the UX writer portfolio.................................................696

JB#16: UX writer portfolio checklist.................................................704

JB#17: Understanding the recruiter interview.................................................709

JB#18: Understanding the hiring manager interview.................................................714

JB#19: Understanding the UX writer portfolio presentation.................................................719

JB#20: Understanding the whiteboard challenge.................................................724

Templates

TPL#1: Job application tracker.................................................609

TPL#2: UX writer resume template.................................................656

TPL#3: UX writer cover letter template.................................................692

Freelance

Lessons

FRL#1: Why you should do UX writing freelance style.................................................731

FRL#2: UX writing freelance misconceptions.................................................736

FRL#3: UX writing freelance surprises.................................................739

FRL#4: Day in the life of a freelance UX writer.................................................743

FRL#5: Why freelance UX writers should avoid Upwork.................................................747

FRL#6: Process to land a UX writing freelance gig.................................................753

FRL#7: Why every UX writing freelancer needs a personal brand............................................757

FRL#8: Why clients look for UX writing freelancers with a niche................................................764

FRL#9: How to pick a niche.................................................769

FRL#10: Why you need to know your target client.................................................774

FRL#11: How to define your target client.................................................777

FRL#12: How to define your messaging.................................................792

FRL#13: Understanding the UX writing freelance portfolio.................................................799

FRL#14: How to create niche-specific portfolio pieces.................................................809

FRL#15: What makes a good UX writing freelance website.................................................817

FRL#16: Blogging to $100k proposals.................................................825

FRL#17: How to build credibility with clients.................................................831

FRL#18: How to crush client sales calls.................................................836

FRL#19: What not to talk about on sales calls.................................................843

FRL#20: How to price UX writing freelance projects.................................................847

FRL#21: How to write a UX writing freelance project proposal.................................................852

FRL#22: How to measure success.................................................864

Templates

TPL#4: Freelance project proposal template.................................................862

Frameworks

FRW#12: Define your target client.................................................791

FRW#13: Messaging canvas.................................................799

Made it this far and only interested in 2 parts of the encyclopedia (ex: UX writing + job search content)? Use code "33-percent-off" to discount whichever part you're not interested in :)