You may have a passion for something you know inside-out and think, "I can teach others to do that!" But it may not be as easy to explain as you thought. Learn the principles of how-to articles.

1. WRITING HOW TOWRITING HOW-TO
ARTICLESARTICLES
or
The How to How toThe How to How-to
Workshopp
Melanie Rigney
Montrose Christian Writers Conference
July 24, 2008

2. Principles of How-to Articles
These pieces are different from self-help
articles in that they typically deal with the
h i l th th th ti l i it lphysical rather than the emotional or spiritual
world.
 Woodworking Woodworking
 Scrapbooking
 Gardening Gardening
Solving a reader problem, need, or yearning
is essential.
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3. What’s All This Mean to Me?What’s All This Mean to Me?
If you have a passion for a
hobby such as knitting or
genealogy, a publicationg gy p
wants your work.
If you have expertise in an
area such as making metalarea such as making metal
jewelry, a publication wants
your work.
If you’ve created an unusualIf you ve created an unusual
quilting pattern and can
explain how to replicate it, a
publication wants your work
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publication wants your work.

4. Principles of How-to Articles
The language must be clear and
concise—few adjectives and adverbs.
Passive voice is even more of a no-no
here than in other writing.
The photos or illustrations that
accompany the text areacco pa y t e te t a e
even more important than
your words.
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y

5. Finding Ma kets fo Yo Wo kFinding Markets for Your Work
In this field more
than in many others,
you are likely to be
part of your target
audience!
What publications/at pub cat o s/
sites do you turn to
for information?
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6. Mine Yo Passion!Mine Your Passion!
Let your enthusiasm for the subject
show in your query letter, your article,
and your supporting materials!
Remember, you are the expert!e e be , you a e t e e pe t
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7. Q estions?Questions?
Thanks for coming!
Melanie RigneyMelanie Rigney
Editor@editorforyou.com
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