Bone's Guide on How to Write a Guide
STEP ONE: CHOOSE A TOPIC
This first decision is often the hardest. Before even starting, assess what areas you are knowledgeable in. You want to contribute some new information or way of looking at this information. The best guides here on Neocodex have a specific topic and concisely address the issue. If you try to cover too much ground, your message will likely be lost in all the extraneous detail. Finally, guides that are specifically pertinent to Neocodex are usually more helpful than guides that don't go beyond what people can say on Neopets.
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STEP TWO: WRITE THE GUIDE
If you really know your stuff, this very well may be the easiest part! One of the most important things to do is to effectively organise the information you are presenting. Try using lists, font adjustments, indentations, and whatever else you can find in the post editor. If you're presenting your guide as a block of text, it will not be read by the vast majority of those who click on the topic.
STEP THREE: POLISH, POLISH, POLISH
If you post your new guide as soon as you finish the last sentence, it'll be no more than a mess. Most guides will develop beyond your original intentions, so make sure the organisation and formatting of the guide still makes sense. Don't be afraid to add your own flair, whether that be humor, humor, or humor. To add that extra layer of credibility, make sure you spell-check and read through the guide a few times before finally clicking 'Post'.
STEP FOUR: POST AND REVEL IN YOUR SUCCESS
Congratulations! You have just written a guide that has not only helped the Neocodex community, but have also improved your own ego and reputation.
STEP FIVE: SURPRISE! REVISE AND ADD
Just kidding, you're not done yet! People will inevitably find problems with your guide and change will need to made. If you feel that their suggestion is not in order, don't feel obligated to make it, but remain open to suggestions and criticism. To ensure your guide remains relevant, make sure you update links as they die, account for changes in Neocodex or Neopets that may affect its content, and try to answer any questions people have.
Edited by Bone, 20 February 2012 - 07:27 AM.
