Write How-to Articles that Editors Crave!
With The Instruction Writer's Guide by Marilyn Haight

When an assignment comes along that asks you to explain how to perform a task, creative prose will only get you so far. Editors reject articles that entertain and inform when the "how-to" portion leaves them scratching their heads. To get an editor's approval, somewhere in your print or Web media text, you must insert clear, easy-to-follow instructions that work.

The Instruction Writer's Guide: How to Explain How to Do Anything is the "how-to" writer's success tool. There's no fluff, no filler, and no repeat of the things you already know about writing-this book gets right to the point in an entertaining way. It even includes an estimator for the time you'll need to write your instructions. This is a must-have on your writer's reference bookshelf!

Check out the excerpt below, or review the table of contents and author bio!

Format: PDF, 113 pages

Price: $10.00

Condensed Excerpt from Chapter 11 - Be Exact:

           The debit machine at the supermarket read: "Press 'Yes' button if amount is correct." I searched and searched for the "Yes" button-while my ice cream melted. There was no "Yes" button! It meant: "Press 'Enter' button."

           Readers expect you to give them all the information they need exactly as they need it. Follow these six steps to write instructions that say exactly what you mean and identify exactly what your readers will see:

1. Provide exact qualities and quantities.

           (Table with examples)

2. Verify your information.

           (Text and table with examples)

3. State your meaning precisely.

           (Text and table with examples)

4. Use distinctive words and explain words that have multiple meanings.

           (Text and table with examples)

5. Avoid prefixes and suffixes that may be unclear, unfamiliar or commonly misused.

           (Table with examples)

6. Substitute exact measurements for general statements.

           (Table with examples)


Table of Contents:

   INTRODUCTION (iv)

1. ALLOW ENOUGH TIME (p1)

2. COLLECT AND ORGANIZE REFERENCE MATERIALS (p11)

3. OBSERVE A WORKER AND TAKE NOTES (p14)

4. REPLACE JARGON (p19)

5. INTRODUCE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS (p21)

6. INTRODUCE NEW LANGUAGE (p24)

7. USE SHORT SENTENCES AND COMMON WORDS (p27)

8. USE ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CAREFULLY (p30)

9. SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOUR READERS (p33)

10. BE POSITIVE AND FOCUSED (p34)

11. BE EXACT (p37)

12. BE CONSISTENT (p42)

           - Names

           - Abbreviations and Symbols

           - Acronyms

           - Whole Numbers - Non-financial

           - Whole Numbers Less Than 10

           - Whole Numbers of 7 Digits or More

           - Zero

           - Fractions

           - Whole Numbers with Fractions

           - Decimal Fractions

           - Quantity and Measurement Statements

           - Financial Values

13. BE EASY ON THE EYES (p49)

           - Set Wide Side Margins

           - Set Large Top and Bottom Margins

           - Present Steps on the Same Page

           - Indent Paragraphs

           - Separate Paragraphs

           - List Items

           - Separate Listed Items

           - Center Short Text

           - Indent Subordinate Steps

           - Use Easy-to-Read Fonts

           - Select and Easy-to-Read Print Size

           - Emphasize Key Words

14. IDENTIFY NECESSARY RESOURCES (p56)

15. INFORM READERS OF HAZARDS (p57)

16. ARRANGES STEPS IN ORDER (p59)

17. INCLUDE CHECKPOINTS AT CRITICAL STAGES (p61)

18. BEGIN ACTION STEPS WITH "DO" AND "DEGREE" WORDS (p63)

19.  DESCRIBE PEOPLE, LOCATIONS AND THINGS WITH "PICTURE" WORDS (p66)

20. DESCRIBE NOISES WITH "SOUND" WORDS (p69)

21. DESCRIBE FLAVORS WITH "TASTE" WORDS (p71)

22. DESCRIBE TEXTURES WITH "TOUCH" WORDS (p73)

23. DESRIBE ODORS WITH "SMELL" WORDS (p73)

24. ILLUSTRATE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS (p74)

           - Photographs and Drawings

           - Four-Box or Quadrant Charts

           - Combination or Matrix Tables

           - Flowcharts

           - Graphs and Charts

           - Worksheets

25. GUIDE READERS IN SOLVING PROBLEMS (p85)

26. REFER TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (p87)

27. DESCRIBE "THE END" (p89)

28. TEST YOUR INSTRUCTIONS (p91)

29. REVISE AND RELEASE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS (p94)

APPENDIX A: VAGUE EXPRESSIONS TO AVOID (p97)

APPENDIX B: "DO" AND "DEGREE" WORDS (p98)

APPENDIX C: "PICTURE" WORDS (p100)

APPENDIX D: "SOUND" WORDS (p101)

APPENDIX E: "TASTE," "TOUCH" AND "SMELL" WORDS (p102)

APPENDIX F: "ON-SCREEN" INSTRUCTIONS (p103)


Author Bio:

Marilyn Haight is an adult education specialist; organization development consultant; researcher and award-winning writer. She is the author of Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Boss: 13 Types and How to Survive Them, How to Market Your Book on the Internet for Free: A Guide for Non-Techies Like Me, and she has published essays in Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies as well as online. Visit her website at: http://www.wordedwrite.com.