[Shawnachettu] How to Write a Great How to Guide [Shawnachettu]

How to Write a Great How to Guide!
By: Shawn Achettu

First:
First off it’s a good idea to give the reader an overview on the details that they are about to receive. It’s like an abstract, an introduction of what you’re presenting, so that the reader does realize they have found what they have been looking for over 30 minutes of “googling.” This also give them better understanding that if this isn’t what they aren’t looking for they can press the back button on the browser to navigate the web elsewhere to find their information they need.

Second:
Tell them information or items necessary to complete the guide successfully, for the sole fact that if it is not provided later on the later step throughout the guide you don’t want the reader mad at you for not telling them that an item would be needed. It would be nice for them to be able to get all the knowledge/information and items they need to complete it before they even start the process and all the steps. For example needing a banana to make a banana pudding pie maybe obvious, but then again it would be a nice reminder. Another reason is for the not so obvious items, so they would be advised, and maybe even add where they would be able to find the information/items.

Third:
Explaining every step with careful detailed procedure is greatly advised. Don’t leave any detail out that would make it a confusing guide. I also advise pictures (Screenshots, Camera Pictures, and Graphics) to go into more detailed explanation. Also you don’t want to assume anything! Don’t assume that they would know something common sense for you, because in another country it maybe something they never learned about!


Fourth:
During the guides most known problems that you think someone would experience, it would be appreciated by any reader to know what they are going to be. Explain what do when these problems may occur. Maybe a side note right under it. This way people that have the problem would recognize what to do right away.


Fifth:
Inform the reader what they have just created/completed/accomplished after completing the guide. It should explain once again what the end result does and what it should look like.

Final:
Let someone else edit and read through and comment and fix your errors and mistakes. It helps and you’d be surprised to see all the corrections you’ll see throughout the paper. After this it wouldn’t hurt for your friend to try the guide and see if he/she understands it simply, just as any other reader would.
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-Shawnachettu-

 

For proof reading, it would help with grammar if you copy and paste the guide on word...as it would correct basic grammatical mistakes! Other than that, pretty decent, simple and of course, organized guide

 

Thanks! Am I about to start making graphics look nicer <3

And btw great idea on the Microsoft word!
Thanks, SHAWN THE FUTURE UE? <3