The Proper Format For Creating a Guide

The Proper Format For Creating a Guide​

Creating a guide is a process which many are unaware of and most people usually follow their own guidelines, which is always a bad thing. You can follow your own format, just make sure it's acceptable and neat. In this guide I will show you how to successfully format a guide and how to mock what a perfect guide should/would look like. The first step to creating a good guide is intelligence and the second step is knowing how to put your information into words, which isn't always a simple process.

Things To Include: There are multiple things which one must include to create a perfectly formatted guide, which includes impeccable grammar. Below are the essentials to a good guide:

• Pictures. These are essential because they allow visual learners to follow your images to show them how to correctly carry out your guide. You don't need ten pictures per guides, you just need pictures where your words may not be enough to describe the specific process. Pictures make the difference between a good guide and a great guide.

• Grammar. This is one of the best things which a guide can contain. when it's written correctly. Grammar is something which you must attain overtime and it entails good spelling. Sometimes a user doesn't have correct grammar, but good spelling is something everyone should be able to do. These forums have built in spell checkers and they are simple to use.
  
  Correct Example: A quote taken from a guide about snowboarding.
  
  Incorrect Example:
  

• Organization. This is the most important thing on my list. When your guide is organized it shows a reader the type of work you put forth. When something is neat, someone would be more apt to read it. But, if something is all jumbled up and hard to comprehend then a user is less apt to read it.
  
  Correct Example: This is a guide about working out.
  
  Incorrect Example:
  

• Detail. This is a very important factor because the further you travel into detail the easier it is for a reader to understand your guide. When you describe something thoroughly it is much easier for a reader to create a mental picture of what your words are describing.
  
  Correct Example: This is a guide written about playing football as a wide receiver.
  
  Incorrect Example:
  
  -The difference is that atop you will be able to know exactly how to stand and what the correct position is, down to the last position of important. With the incorrect example your are somewhat unaware of what type of athletic position to be in.

• 
  Categories. When creating a guide you should categorize your work. It allows the reader to follow certain portions of the guides based on the specific category.

• 
  Background Information. In almost every guide I create I leave a portion at the top to tell a little bit about how I am linked to the topic and what the guide will include.

• 
  Lastly, provide examples. I have provided examples in this whole guide which will give the readers a lot better idea on what I am speaking about. When you have examples it is far easier for someone to comprehend a topic of learning.

Examples of Guides:
Analog's Guide To The IPhone 3G-

Analog's Official Workout Guide-

SuF's Power Point Quizzes-

 

Nice guide. Too bad not everyone will follow this when creating their own guides.

 

This guide has been done time and time again, however that doesn't mean you can't make it. Basically this covers all of the information that other guides have, just in its own creative way. In general, it does describe what we look for in guides, and how we go about rating them.

I like the fact that this is more of a check list rather than an outline of a guide, because if everyone were to follow the same format in every guide, they would be very dull. In terms of how this guide is written and it's content, it's VERY good, but in terms of originality, it could do better.

Still, thanks for posting this, 7/10.

 

This is a great guide, obviously lots of effort has been put into this, and it is very understandable and clear.
Guides aboout this same subject have been posted before, but this one goes into the most detail.

Very good clear and helpful guide.
9/10

 

Analog, you just keep coming out with the goods. You've completely taken out the "boring side" of guides and put your own creative twist into it. Your way of writing guides is not only appealing to the eyes, but you bring a bit of fun and joy as well. Although this subject has been brought up many times in the past, its always good to see a "fresh lick of paint" now an again, to help others in producing well written guides of there own. Fantastic Work!

 

Much appreciated.

 

Ah.. the guide on guides

Solid but overdone

 

A guide for creating a guide? Interesting concept but you've obviously followed your own rules in making an awesome guide.