It's never "just 2 lines of copy."

I get it. I really do.

When words are well done, they feel so easy-breezy-beautiful, don't they? Like they always existed naturally, like there is simply no other way to say this particular thing.

And the quantity of words! It's staggering. Each day you might type hundreds of lines. Emails. Texts to friends. Social posts. A report for work. We're all swimming in words, practically drowning. Anybody can write, right? (Along these lines, you may also have heard, "Words are cheap.")

So when you ask your trusty UX writer for just a couple of words, they should be able to really deliver. They'll give you something that sits on a scale that runs from quality to total brilliance. They practically won't have to think. Just as fast as you can request them, words will come tumbling out. Writers are like right-word slot machines, and you're always a winner.

All this is the backdrop when you ask breathlessly, "Can I just get 2 lines of copy real fast?"

My friend, my dearest. Hold all your horses.

Metaphor backup by Doruk Yemenici on Unsplash

I know that it can seem like magic, the way UX writers think of things a little differently, help all the pieces fall into place. But here's the thing. We're not poets or magicians (but seriously, thanks for the compliments).

We're experts at figuring out what info people need to get s*it done, and not get lost along the way.

Hiding behind those 2 little lines of copy could be dozens of important questions. So I'm here to help you get prepared. When you ask a UX writer about your "quick 15-minute project", know that we may ask you the following:

Questions about the audience

• Who are we speaking to?
• What are they doing?
• How do they feel right now?
• What do they already know about this thing?

Questions about the purpose

• What's the most important thing to communicate?
• Any secondary messages?
• What do we want the audience to do?
• Are we sure that's what they want to do?

Questions about the placement

• Is this the right place to convey this information?
• Is the information hierarchy correct?
• Do we need to break this into multiple steps?
• Could this content be simplified?

Questions about the product

• How do we use any personal info they've provided?
• Any legal concerns or claims we need to support?
• What expectations should we set about what will happen later?
• Have we disclosed the appropriate level of info about how this functions?

Questions about polish

• Does this align with our style guide?
• Our voice and tone standards?
• Does the visual design support the desired information architecture?

Phew. That's a lot. You might have noticed that these questions are bigger than "what are the right words to put here?" or "how do I say this better?" or "how do I punctuate this?"

UX writing is a fundamental design competency, and a discipline all its own. Give it time and respect, and it'll take your designs to new heights.

Here's a metaphor to finish the meal. Treat UX writing like part of the cake, not the cherry on top.

Mmmm. Metaphor support by Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash.