I Gave Myself My Dream Job
Or, how taking a risk landed me on the path I wanted to be on.
I have a pretty impressive track record for selling myself short. If selling myself short was an Olympic sport, I’d probably win the bronze. This bad habit has affected my life and career in more ways than I’ll ever be able to pinpoint, but if 2020 taught me anything, it’s that nothing is for certain and you might as well go for what you want. So I did.
I recently wrote a post about my experience freelance writing on Fiverr and how putting myself out there to do the job I want to do has helped me realize that a.) yes, indeed this is what I want to do and, b.) I can do it. But even as I wrote that article and patted myself on the back for traipsing into new, uncharted territory, I was selling myself short.
You see, what I really want to do is be a UX writer. The entire idea of user experience design didn’t exist in its current form when I went to college, so when I discovered it five years after I graduated, I slowly started gravitating towards it. But, not having a degree or background in design, each step was like a tip toe into a completely new land of flow charts, wireframes, and user testing (which actually aligned with my communications degree, but I digress). I even went so far as to design an app with a software developer that we had up and running for a summer until we completed our free year of Azure from Microsoft’s BizSpark program. I started a UX design class but pulled out after a couple of classes because, for some reason, it didn’t fit. Something didn’t fit. But, eventually, I discovered what did fit: UX writing.
I’ve always been a writer. Writing is the thing I get. In school, I could always save myself with my writing. I gravitated towards a minor in television and broadcast journalism for the writing aspect. I‘m a songwriter. Almost everything I’ve enjoyed has had a central theme of crafting something using words. It’s how I organize my thoughts, solve problems, and express myself. Writing is where it’s at.
The discovery of UX writing is actually what inspired me to enroll at the University of Washington for their Certificate in Professional Technical Writing program. However, after the course I felt less prepared than ever to take on the task of finding a UX writing job. Perhaps this was another case of selling my self short, or perhaps it was a freeze response to the potential of failing at something for which I had worked so hard. Either way, it was paralyzing.
Months had gone by and I’d made no progress towards what I actually wanted to do. Sure, I was getting some music articles to write which was fun and keeping my fingers active on the keyboard, but I wasn’t making the moves I needed to make. So, one day, on a whim, I put up a Fiverr gig for UX microcopy writing. I did a little research and learning on my own to make sure I was prepared, and then I waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing.
Until, something. One day I got a message from someone looking to rewrite a large portion of a website they were developing, and I was in. I wrote more than I had in months within the span of a few days, and it was thrilling. What is so fascinating about UX writing is that it’s not just writing. It’s problem-solving. It’s tone matching. It’s communication at its most complex and simplified level. It’s informative and fun. That project started a small wave of inquiries that led to other projects such as rewriting apps and editing established websites. This week, I received a notification that I’d received a “Fiverr’s Choice” order, which means Fiverr indicated me as a preferred seller for this service. Though the imposter syndrome has been no joke, I think I can officially say that I’m a UX writer.
Maybe it’ll take a little more time for the title to feel official, but when I’m doing the work, I know it is. When I’m scanning over copy to find how it could be better, how it could be more effective, friendlier, more professional, more concise, more fitting… that’s when it feels official. And it feels good, to know I’m finally not selling myself short and allowing myself to use my natural talents and honed skills to help others solve their problems. Actually… it feels amazing.
So, now that I’m officially a UX writer, I guess I can start looking for jobs that will allow me to use these skills on a higher level. And, I will. But, honestly, I’m enjoying freelancing a lot. I’ve begun to see each new challenge as an exciting offer rather than a daunting one. I love knowing that I do have the skills to help individuals and small businesses in a professional capacity and that I can offer high-quality work for a very affordable price (okay, okay, I still kind of sell myself short in this department. But I’m learning!). And I love that each new day brings new opportunities to grow my skills not just in writing, but in customer service, entrepreneurship, and professionalism. Though the road ahead is obscured and unpredictable, it’s showing me first hand the value of my skills both monetarily and professionally. Selling myself short has never seemed so silly.
Need a freelance writer? Check out my offerings on Fiverr here: https://www.fiverr.com/katrinawrites
Interested in becoming a freelancer? Sign up for Fiverr here!