My 7-Step UX Writing Process

Clear, concise, conversational words.

UX writing is the craft of guiding, entertaining, and removing obstacles for users when they interact with a digital product. Whenever I write copy, I find myself repeating that familiar mantra, “kill your darlings.”

“Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.” — Stephen King

Darlings can be clever puns, witty repartee that make their writers bloom with satisfaction. But, fluff rarely helps a user complete a task. Killing your darlings must be carefully and relentlessly attended to when creating product messaging.

As the lone User Experience (UX) Writer intern on a design team I champion consistent, clear, useful words that are brand-appropriate. Every element must serve a purpose on a digital product.

Here’s my process.