Use the workbook to help you choose a topic and start writing your next article
Have fun!
Step 1: Choosing your topic
Write down some topics that you would like to write about. Use the questions to guide you in choosing / refining your topic(s). Make sure the topic is specific i.e.“How to maximise effectiveness of virtual user testing” vs just“online testing”.
What am I passionate about?
What do I have experience in or knowledge of?
What is relevant right now?
What topic is not as widely written about, or how can I take a different angle on a topic that is already widely written about?
Example:
Being a design leader, even when you’re not in a leadership position
How to optimize your user testing sessions(virtual & in-person)
Re-thinking productivity in a time of remote working
Write down one of your favourite topics from the list above to focus on
Example:
How to optimize your user testing sessions(virtual & in-person)
Answer the following questions about your chosen topic
Who is my target audience/ reader?
What do I want my readers to learn from this/ what would I like the key takeout to be?
Example:
Target audience: Anyone planning to host a user testing session(virtually or in-person)
Key takeout: I want to give my readers tips to follow to really optimize their user testing sessions, helping them avoid and overcome frequently experienced issues so that they can get the most out of their testing sessions.
Step 2: Unpacking your core themes
Write down the core themes you want to discuss in your article as part of your chosen topic.
Example:
Brief overview of purpose of article
What makes for successful user testing sessions
Commonly faced issues when it comes to user testing
Tips to follow before the testing session(what can they do to prep?)
Tips for the reader to follow during the testing session
Create headings for each of your article sections(e.g. introduction, paragraph 1, conclusion) and sort the above list of themes according to where you want to write about them in the structure of your article.
Step 1: Choosing your topic
Step 2: Unpacking your core themes