How to become an inclusive UX writer with Emerson Schroeter @ HelloFresh

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Episode Summary

We are often unaware of how language can implicitly be exclusionary. To draw our attention to this and to discuss how we can all become more inclusive UX writers, today we are joined by UX Writing Hub graduate and UX Writer for HelloFresh, Emerson Schroeter. Emerson explains what led them from content writing into the world of UX writing. They talk about the projects that they did during a volunteer program at Kindship, how this drew their attention to the many ways that writing can be exclusionary, and set them up for their current role. Tuning in you’ll hear how Emerson knew that UX writing was the perfect career for them and how their writing process changed when they transitioned from content writing to UX writing, before explaining why inclusion shouldn’t be an add-on but something that is worked into the writing process from the beginning. To find out Emerson’s tips and resources for anyone who is interested in getting into UX writing, as well as their best practices for writing inclusive copy, tune in today!

Episode Notes

Key Points From This Episode:

  • What led today’s guest, Emerson Schroeter, into the world of UX writing.
  • What Emerson learned from the writing academy at the UX Writing Hub.
  • What HelloFresh does and what Emerson’s role there entails.
  • The projects that Emerson worked on at Kindship and how they set them up for their current role.
  • What Emerson learned from writing a diversity survey.
  • An overview of Emerson’s workshop on writing inclusive copy.
  • The first best practice for writing surveys: ask yourself why you need to know.
  • How to ask about gender if you absolutely have to know.
  • Yuval explains the inclusivity challenges of writing in Hebrew.
  • How language can exclude implicitly in terms of gender, race, and ability.
  • What Emerson learned about their writing when using a screen reader.
  • Why inclusion shouldn’t be an add-on but something that is worked into the copy from the beginning.
  • How Emerson’s writing process changed when they transitioned from content writing to UX writing.
  • Tips and resources for anyone who is interested in getting into UX writing.
  • What Emerson would name this episode!

Tweetables:

“I always had a way with words — and then I always found myself in customer service-type roles where I was really good figuring out what people needed and finding a way to make that happen. UX writing brings these two things together really perfectly.” — @em_schroeter [0:02:37]

“I would say best practice number one for writing surveys is ask yourself why you need to know.” — @em_schroeter [0:09:07]

“Often inclusion is seen as an add-on thing — when really, if this is worked into the DNA of your entire process, it makes for better copy in the long run.” — @em_schroeter [0:17:39]

“[UX Writing] is less writing and yet takes more creativity and thought work because you have to say so much in so little space.” — @em_schroeter [0:18:45]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Emerson Schroeter on LinkedIn

Amanda Mohlenhoff – Get Your Guide

HelloFresh

Kindship

CareerFoundry

CareerFoundry on YouTube

Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design

Ruined by Design

Yuval Keshtcher

UX Writing Hub

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