11 replies to this topic

[Bone]

Bone's Guide on How Not to Write a Guide!

1. Don't fill up empty space with meaningless prose. Example:

Spoiler

The Smuggler's Cove may seem like an enigma, you hear about amazing items being stocked there but you always seem to miss them yourself? No need to fear that there is something wrong and you just can't see them I will explain how the Smuggler's Cove works.

...get to the guide!

2. Pick a topic that:

a. Has not already been covered sufficiently by an existing guide on Neocodex.

b. Doesn't already have an excess of guides on Neopets and elsewhere. {Examples: Food Club, Smuggler's Cove, Weapon Reviews} Writing guides like these wastes everyone's time and only shows that you can use a search engine. 95% of guides here that are worthwhile are on topics that are pertinent specifically to Neocodex (autobuying, SSing, proxies, etc).

3. Go beyond superficial, surface-level content that could be easily found with a search engine or common sense.

Follow these three simple steps and your guides will suck less in no time!

Please acknowledge that:
Adding random disclaimers to the end of your guides will accomplish nothing, except for making you look like a fool.

[Boggart]

Awesome guide. Concise, to the point, and you seem like actually know what you're talking about

[Neoquest]

Other than the fact that this was directed at a specific user, and you seem to discourage using an opening statement for some reason. Good guide.

[Yung]

Please Acknowledge That:

NOTICE: NeoPets Image Copyrights

[Boggart]

Please Acknowledge That:

NOTICE: NeoPets Image Copyrights

... what

[Bone]

All images that are displayed in the Battledome Challenger Submissions section are protected by copyrights.

Battledome Challenger Submissions section

[Keil]

I like how you used the text-modifying features of the forum to make your guide not seem like a wall of text (i.e. centering, listing, and bolding)

[NapisaurusRex]

The word 'not' seems to connote so much negativity though. What about a guide on how to write a guide?

I've Googled some of my questions that I had instead of asking them on the boards. The interesting thing is that Google just brings me back to a thread/guide on Neocodex. I don't know if it's the way I'm wording it or what.

Edit: Except for when my VPN is in BFE. Then it doesn't work. But when I'm just internetting normally, the questions I have bring me back here.

Edited by Napiform, 19 February 2012 - 09:30 PM.

[Bone]

The word 'not' seems to connote so much negativity though. What about a guide on how to write a guide?

I'm not a positive person.

I've Googled some of my questions that I had instead of asking them on the boards. The interesting thing is that Google just brings me back to a thread/guide on Neocodex. I don't know if it's the way I'm wording it or what.

Okay? Neocodex has good SEO. I don't see how that is relevant.

[Junsu]

Other than the fact that this was directed at a specific user, and you seem to discourage using an opening statement for some reason. Good guide.

I enjoy the fact that this was directed at a specific user.
I hope this guide will finally tell this user to stop making shitass guides.
I would give this guide 20 rep if I could

You should also add to not make guides you aren't even experienced at.

Examples:
Transferring NP
Restocking at the Cove
Weapon Review
Restocking in General
Food Club
Battledoming

Edited by Junsu, 19 February 2012 - 09:39 PM.

[NapisaurusRex]

Okay? Neocodex has good SEO. I don't see how that is relevant.

Doesn't already have an excess of guides on Neopets and elsewhere. {Examples: Food Club, Smuggler's Cove, Weapon Reviews} Writing guides like these wastes everyone's time and only shows that you can use a search engine. 95% of guides here that are worthwhile are on topics that are pertinent specifically to Neocodex (autobuying, SSing, proxies, etc).

Seems relevant to me. Using a search engine brings me back here... where guides are.