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Write a How-to Article in 6 Easy Steps

If you’ve ever jotted down a recipe or shared do-it-yourself instructions with a friend, you already understand the basic structure of how-to writing. Christina Katz offers a six-step process for writing a good explainer.

CHRISTINAKATZ

SEP 6, 2011

If you’ve ever jotted down a recipe or shared do-it-yourself instructions with a friend, you already understand the basic structure of how-to writing. Christina Katz offers a six-step process for writing a good explainer.

Do you know how to prepare an exquisite turkey dinner on a shoestring? Execute a perfect rugby tackle? Pay rock-bottom rates for accommodations in exotic destinations all over the world?

If you’ve ever jotted down a recipe or shared do-it-yourself instructions with a friend, you already understand the basic structure of how-to writing. How-tos inform the reader and can often be submitted to an editor with a simple cover letter.

A how-to is written as a sequence—first you do this, and then you do this. The essential question the writer asks herself when writing a how-to is, “What happens next?” If you are about to embark on a how-to, start at what you consider the beginning, and just keep answering that question over and over again. Before you know it, you will have sketched out a draft of a how-to article.

STEP 1: SELECT YOUR TOPIC

Choose a topic that interests you enough to focus on it for at least a week or two. If your topic is broad, narrow it. Instead of writing about how to decorate your home, try covering how to decorate your home in country style on a shoestring budget. That’s more specific and, as such, easier to tackle.

Then write a rough, rough draft, including everything you can think of. Stay loose, avoid getting analytical, and enjoy the process of sharing what you know. When you’re done, you’ll have the bare bones of an article that only you could write. Then put it aside for a while.

STEP 2: ADDRESS YOUR AUDIENCE’S NEEDS

Now, come back to your piece. Switch gears and imagine you’re the reader of this article. Pick three words to describe the audience you want to address (e.g., professionals, single men). As this reader, what questions would you like answered? You might not know the answers yet, but list the questions anyway; you’ll find answers in the next step.

STEP 3: RESEARCH.

Research will ground your article in fact. Good details to include with your how-to are:

• Statistics
• Quotes by well-known people
• Definitions
• Anecdotes (short, illustrative stories about yourself or someone else)
• Quotes and examples from people like the reader, or from popular books on the subject
• References to other media (film, television, radio)
• References to local venues or events (if for a regional/local publication)
• Helpful tools, resources or products (if many, consider creating a sidebar)

Collect everything you have gathered and put it in a folder, an electronic document, a notebook or whatever you like. Don’t forget to keep track of sources in case you are later asked by an editor to verify them. You may want to sift through your research at a separate sitting from gathering it. Or just go ahead and sprinkle your research in right when you find it. It’s a lot like cooking—play around until you feel you have it “just right.”

STEP 4: TIGHTEN YOUR DRAFT

Keeping your audience in mind, write a tighter draft incorporating the new supporting information you’ve collected. Sometimes what you’ve learned in Steps 2 and 3 may compel you to start over with a completely fresh draft. Or you may just want to revise what you have as you proceed, retaining a nice conversational tone by directly addressing your audience.

This time when you read your draft, ask yourself: Is it working? Is it too general, too lightweight, uninteresting, unclear or choppy? If so, comb some of your favorite publications for how-to articles. What techniques are those writers using that you might employ?

STEP 5: MAKE IT SPECIFIC

Double-check to see that you’ve included every pertinent step in the process. How-to articles have to be thorough. You want your reader to walk away knowing exactly how to make that Thanksgiving dinner on a shoestring budget, execute that rugby tackle, or locate great accommodations.

If your narrative goes on and on, or off in too many directions, break it down into key points indicated with subheads (as in this article). Synthesizing complicated information and breaking it down into steps is especially crucial for online writing, and is also a trend in print.

STEP 6: READ, REVISE, REPEAT

Read the draft of your how-to article out loud to a supportive friend. Then, ask her a series of questions: Does she now understand the process? Are there any steps missing? Is there anything else she would like to know about the subject? Could she do the task herself? With your friend’s suggestions in mind, use your best judgment in deciding what changes, if any, need to be made.

Here’s a quick list to help you catch errors or omissions:

• Did you adequately describe the ingredients/supplies needed in order for the reader to complete the task?
• Did you include all the important steps?
• Is the order logical?
• Did you use words that indicate sequence: first, next, then?
• Did you warn readers of possible pitfalls?

Rewrite, read aloud, rewrite, read aloud, rewrite, find a proofreader and, only when you’re satisfied you’ve written an effective how-to article, submit your piece to an appropriate publication with a short cover letter.

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A good CV should include:

Your contact details

Make sure your phone number and e-mail address are up to date and that you are checking both of these regularly. If an employer can’t get hold of you, they’re not going to offer you an interview!

A personal statement

This is usually the first thing an employer will look at and is your chance to really sell yourself. Focus on what your key skills are and how you’ve demonstrated them in the past (either in previous jobs, education or other activities). Employers will be looking for skills such as being able to work in a team, being punctual, reliable, hardworking and motivated. Try to tailor the statement to the field of work you are applying for as much as possible.

Your work experience

Include all jobs you have had including voluntary jobs and work experience. They should be listed in date order from most recent, with the name of the employer, job title and dates you worked there. It’s a good idea to list what your duties were, and maybe some of the skills you gained.

Your education

You don’t need to list every single school you went to; just the ones where you gained qualifications. You should write the dates, subjects and what grades you achieved.

Any other training, short courses or personal achievements

This could be anything from completing an NCS programme, a first aid certificate, driving license, kickboxing medals etc. Don’t be afraid to show off!

Hobbies and interests

The employer wants to know who you are as a person. What do you like doing when you’re not working or studying? Any sports, music or clubs you do are always interesting.

References

If you’re offered a job the employer will usually ask for 2 references which can be previous employers, college/school/university tutors or job coaches. You don’t need to put who they are on your CV but it’s good to have them in mind and to write ‘References available on request’ at the bottom of your CV.

Top tips for CV writing!

• Double check all your spelling, punctuation, capital letters and grammar. Use spell check or get someone else to read over it.
• Make sure the CV is clear, well presented and easy to read.
• Your CV should be one to two pages long. Any longer and the employer is probably not going to read it all.
• Tailor your CV to the job you are applying for. For example, a CV for a construction job will look very different to an illustrator’s CV because the employers are looking for different things. Always have the employer in mind and think about what they would want to see in someone they’re hiring. If you don’t know, the job description is a good place to start!
• Give examples – rather than just saying “I have good communication”, tell them when you have shown this and how.
• Make sure your CV is updated – the more recent, the better. Your CV should be an evolving document which changes as you do.
• Big up your skills to make yourself stand out from the crowd. For example, rather than just saying what you did in a previous job/course, say what you learned from this or what skills you developed.