Here are a few resources if you’re getting started in UX writing, content design, or UX content strategy.
I love talking to people who are trying to break into the field. If you’re seeing this page, I probably talked to you and said that I had some links to share — here they are! I’ll update this page regularly, so feel free to check back regularly!
I wrote an article for the UX Content Collective a few years ago with some practical tips and takeaways for creating a UX writing portfolio:
Tips for your UX writing portfolio when you're starting out
Adobe's Content Strategy Manager, Andy Wefle, shares some tips on how to create a UX writing portfolio to break into the UX writing field.
uxcontent.com
🌎 Communities
UX + Content →
My friend and Writing Is Designing co-author Michael Metts started this Slack a few years ago and — WOW — it’s grown to more than 7,200 members! It’s the go-to place for advice, links, and to get ahold of others in the industry. Take a moment to read the code of conduct and then request to join, and spend some time poking around. It’s maybe my #1 resource.
Content Strategists Facebook group →
A big FB group of content strategists. There’s always some kind of discussion happening, and an easy way to get quick opinions (and opinions you will get!).
🧑🏫 Learning
My friend and colleague Scott Kubie has an exhaustive list of classes, workshops and conferences and regularly maintains it, so I might as well refer you to his website for that:
Live learning: Where to find UX content classes, workshops, and events
Need to upskill on content strategy, content design, UX writing, or information architecture? Prefer a live instructor? This is the list you need.
kubie.co
📰 Newsletters
UX + Content →
My friend and Writing Is Designing co-author Michael Metts started this Slack a few years ago and — WOW — it’s grown to more than 7,200 members! It’s the go-to place for advice, links, and to get ahold of others in the industry. Take a moment to read the code of conduct and then request to join, and spend some time poking around. It’s maybe my #1 resource.
UX Content Jobs Newsletter →
Gordon Macrae sends out a weekly-ish newsletter that’s full of good articles and open UX writing roles. His newsletter is really helpful, full of wit, and, perhaps most importantly, is absolutely free. I’m not looking for a job, but I read every issue because it’s really good. (This link also lets you subscribe to The Dash, the UX Content Collective’s weekly link roundup newsletter and it is also really good.)
UX Writing Events →
My friend Scott Kubie publishes this weekly newsletter with lots of great events (virtual right now, obviously, but maybe some day will include in-person meetups) related to UX writing. He’s an extremely talented writer, too, and his personal introductions are compelling and worth the subscription.
📚 Books
Content Strategy for the Web, 2nd Edition
Kristina Halvorson and Melissa Rach
Kristina is considered to be a founding mother of content strategy. Her firm, Brain Traffic, organizes Confab, a really fantastic content strategy conference. It’s a longer read, and a lot of it is focused on agency or large organizational work (rather than products and apps and stuff) but still really great.
Content Strategy for the Web, 2nd Edition
Content Strategy for the Web, 2nd Edition [Halvorson, Kristina, Rach, Melissa] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Content Strategy for the Web, 2nd Edition
www.amazon.com
The Elements of Content Strategy
Erin Kissane
One of the elemental books for content strategy — I read this book when I was working at a web development and digital marketing agency in Indiana, showed it to my boss, and started trying out this thing. It’s a short, easy-to-read book!
The Elements of Content Strategy by Erin Kissane
Explore content strategy’s roots, and quickly learn not only how it’s done, but how you can do it well.
abookapart.com
Microcopy: The Complete Guide
Kinneret Yifrah
A great look at best practices and different approaches to writing Microcopy (a key output of UX writing).
Nemala | UX Writing and Microcopy - The Book
The first and most comprehensive guide to writing helpful and delightful microcopy - UX writing - on your digital product
www.microcopybook.com
Strategic Writing for UX
Torrey Podmajersky
One of the first books I’ve read that’s specifically about UX writing (instead of about a more general content strategy practice, of which UX writing is a part). Torrey’s a UX Writer at Google and has lots of great frameworks and approaches for UX writing that is effective and sparks growth and engagement.
Strategic Writing for UX
When you depend on users to perform specific actions—like buying tickets, playing a game, or riding public transit—well-placed words are most effective. But how do you choose the right words? … - Selection from Strategic Writing for UX [Book]
www.oreilly.com
Content Design
Sarah Richards
A super readable, clear book about how to structure information, write for clarity, and “opening up” your experiences to be accessible to as many people as possible.
Content Design by Sarah Winters, Paperback
Short, lively and practical with real-world examples, the book explains and guides you through the content design process.
contentdesign.london
Writing is Designing: Words and the User Experience
Michael J. Metts and Andy Welfle
I hope you don’t mind me plugging my own book! Michael and I wrote this after conducting workshops in a similar structure for a few years. It’s a bit more more broad in range than Torrey’s book, and it covers the why of UX writing just as much.
Writing Is Designing - Rosenfeld Media
Writing Is Designing will show you how to give your users clarity, test your words, and collaborate with your team.
rosenfeldmedia.com
