WikiCommunication

Writing a wikiHow article is a lot harder than it looks. There are many steps and planning that need to be done before writers can even start the article. The first of which is figuring out to write about. Choose three to five topics. These could be anything as long as they are of interest to the creator. Once the three or so topics have been chosen, outline each topic: What tools are needed, what ingredients, step-by-step instructions, as well as tips and cautions. Writing an outline will help writers decide which topic to choose, as it will give them a clear idea of the work in store for them. It will also help weed out any articles that would be too boring or complicated. If the article only has 2 or 3 steps or expensive ingredients, chances are the writer should not choose that topic.

 For example, “How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Banana   Pancakes.” These were easy to make, yet required a few detailed steps that sets them apart from normal pancakes. They were inexpensive to make, some readers may even have the ingredients already lying around at home, and no one else had already written an article on it yet. The steps are simple and easy to follow and include pictures for readers to gauge whether or not the steps are being followed correctly.

Once the outlines have been written, it is time to write the entire article. At this point the writer has chosen the best topic and is ready to communicate and share their knowledge with readers. There are many ways in which the article is communicated. First, through the use of pictures that go along with each step. These pictures are there to enhance the article. However, the pictures may also help any visual learners who read the article. Writers can also choose to include videos rather than (or along with) pictures, both of which visually communicate how to perform the task and provide readers with the opportunity to gauge how well they are following the steps. 

The next form of communication is the ‘What You Will Need.’ This is just a simple list at the top of the article included with any possible ingredients or tools the reader may need. This is a simple but important form of communication. This is because it tells the reader what is needed so they can prepare before they start following the rest of the instructions. Writers don’t want their readers to get half way through the article, only to realize that they don’t have a certain ingredient, and have to throw away everything they’ve made because they don't have the means to finish it. Writers need to make sure the reader is as prepared as possible, if not over prepared.

Next is the step-by-step instructions. Take the outlined steps and flesh them out. These are the most important pieces of the article because they explain exactly how to do the task. Write the article as if it is teaching a child how to make the chosen topic. These steps are very precise and explain every single detail. This way writers can ensure their readers are performing the task exactly how they intended them to. This is the most time-consuming part of the project. In order to make sure the readers understand the article, the writer must first write the steps, and then follow said written steps. This puts the writer in the readers point of view. If the writer cannot follow their own instructions, then they need to be changed. This can be done by re-writing the step, or removing it entirely. Repeat this process every time to make sure it is just right. Something important to remember is that writers must follow wikiHow’s coding system. The coding system is just simple *’s and =’s, but if the article is not formatted correctly, that could throw readers off.

Another way in which writers can best communicate their article is to attach links to other possibly helpful wikiHow's. For example, in “How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Pancakes,” a link to “How to Make Pancakes,” is provided. The article calls for readers to use their favorite boxed mix, but the link to “How to Make Pancakes” gives readers the option to follow a homemade pancake tutorial, and then come back and follow the rest of the original article. This also helps to make articles shorter. Long winded articles could turn readers away as they may look too daunting or time consuming.

 After writers finish their article, it will go under review of wiki admins. This is another form of communication. Admins read what writers are communicating to their audience and sometimes tweak certain things. This is admins communicating back to the writers. Writers will see the edits and will understand why the edits had to be made. This makes sure the article is as efficient as possible.

Overall, creating a wikiHow article is time consuming. It is not a simple “fill in the blank.” There are many types of communication that need to work together in order for the article to flow properly and efficiently. While it may seem daunting to put together at first, it’s easy to get the hang of. Writers will most likely wait longer for it to be reviewed and edited than it took for them to write the article. However, this is a good thing. The wiki admins are combing through the article to make sure it is 100% web ready. Writing wikiHow's is an enjoyable experience even with some of the frustrations it brings. It is a meticulous task, but through practice the process becomes easier. Writers will understand how to write articles in the best way so the articles don’t have to go through multiple revisions. This could even help people become better writers and more detail oriented in tasks outside of wikiHow articles. Once writers have set a standard for themselves, there is no going back.