Why I Started Writing About My Real QA Experiences

I recently jumped back into a QA project that reminded me why our field needs more honest conversations about the day-to-day realities we face.

Three weeks into what I thought would be a straightforward project start, I found myself dealing with a familiar scenario: joining when development was already 80% complete, navigating the usual access delays, and trying to add value while still learning the system.

But here's what really threw me - I've been advocating for AI in testing, writing about it, speaking about it, and then I landed on a project where AI tools usage was limited. But suddenly I was back to manual approaches I hadn't used in months.

These are the real situations we face, and they deserve real solutions.

What I'm Building

That's why I started my newsletter, Hands On Wisdom. It's where I share the actual challenges I encounter and the practical solutions that work - not the textbook answers, but the ones that get you through the day and help you add value quickly.

In my latest issue, I walked through my recent onboarding experience and shared the exact Notion checklist template that kept me organized when everything felt overwhelming. It's the kind of practical resource I wish I'd had ready before I needed it.

The Stories That Matter

I want to document the real journey of QA work - the messy parts, the creative solutions, the moments when you have to adapt quickly. The stories about finding your testing rhythm when you're starting mid-stream. The reality checks that lead to better systems.

Because here's what I've learned: our best insights come from the challenging projects, not the smooth ones.

Want to stay connected? I share these real experiences and practical templates in my newsletter. You can check out my latest issue about building an onboarding system when you're starting behind: https://brittanystewarttech.substack.com/p/finding-my-testing-rhythm-when-starting

Connect with me: Find me on LinkedIn where I share shorter insights from my current projects.