UX Writing Weekly #221

The top red flags to look out for.
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WHAT’S INSIDE ✍️


Issue #221 (Feb 1st, 2023)

  • Say "no" to toxic clients

  • Common newbie UX writing mistakes

  • UX-away your marketing blues

  • AI music (Is there anything those robots can’t do?)

ARTICLES 🗞

🚩🚩 As tech layoffs continue, many are turning to freelance work—some for the first time. But how can you tell if a project is worth your time?


This article has great tips on how to avoid toxic clients from the outset, including several red flags to look out for.


Avoiding Toxic Clients: A UX Writer’s Guide

🫢 Here are five common mistakes that junior UX writers (and some seniors) are apt to make and how to avoid them. Pro tip: watch out for flaming-haired developers!

5 Junior UX writer mistakes and how to avoid them


💊 Marketing copy bringing you down? Try prescription strength MARKETOL and tell that guilty conscience to take a hike! That, or maybe become a UX writer.


Writing with conscience: from marketing to UX (cough cough ‘incognito mode’ cough)



MICROCOPY BITE 💬

Found inside the WordPress admin GUI. Great job WP! 👏

PILLARS OF COMMUNITY 🏛

Community answers to trending topics. Join the conversations below.

UPSKILL: EVENTS & WORKSHOPS 📚


This Groundhog Day, instead of worrying about  "six more weeks of winter," why not forget the forecast and come learn some practical uses for ChatGPT?


Join our friends at Sessions for what should be an informative event.


How to (actually) use ChatGPT (Tomorrow Feb 2nd)

There’s never been a better time to add to your UX skillset. Join our Figma Happy Hour, a live event exploring Figma through the writer's lens.


Figma happy hour #4 (Thu, Feb 6th)

AI is more than just ChatGPT. Learn how generative AI can help improve and enhance your workflows. We’ll cover:

  • Generative AI content for websites and apps

  • Building user personas with AI

  • Analyzing user data using AI

  • Content marketing and generative AI

  • And more


Generative AI for UX Writers and Designers (Free online event) (Tue, Feb 28th)

PORTFOLIO 🖌


When’s the last time you spruced up your portfolio? Whether you’re past due for an update or not, this NN/g article has some great approaches to keep your portfolio in tip-top shape.


And check out the self-assessment—whether you have a portfolio or not.


How to Maintain a UX Portfolio Over Time

JOBS 💼


Do you like sports, TV, Apple products, and UX writing? Then it’s your lucky day—Apple needs a UX writer in CA.


Or, if grammar is more your thing, join Grammarly as a Brand Experience Writer (remote-first hybrid).


More jobs on the job board.

THIS WEEK IN AI 🤖🎸🎶


First the robots came for our art jobs. (Midjourney) Then they came for our writing jobs. (ChatGPT) Then our voiceover jobs! (VALL-E) Guess all that’s left for us humans to do is to make video game music.


What? Now there’s an AI for that too? Google’s new AI turns text into music.


OK, upon listening, it’s pretty bad—unless you like cacophonous jumbles of highly-vocoded electronic nonsense. Musicians, you’re safe … for now.

COOL TOOLS 🧰


Do you ever find yourself wondering if a certain word is common enough to use in an interface? Try this handy tool from Tigim. Just pop in a word, and it’ll give you its usage and level.

VOX POPULI 🗣️


Join our online communities, and take part in the discussions and debates that are shaping the field.


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See you next week!



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