The How-To Article:  Passport to Publication

by Karen O’Connor

              “Write without pay until somebody offers to pay; if nobody offers within three years, sawing wood is what you were intended for.”  (Mark Twain)

              With these words in mind I started down the prickly path to publication, sure of only one thing.  I’d never make it as a woodcutter.  My writing had to pay. Within two years I collected checks for forty articles while my saw collected only rust. There is no mystery to it. This well-worn road is the how-to article. So if you’re still waiting to shout those three little words, “I sold it,” consider writing the how-to piece.

                 Combine friendly, practical advice with a crisp, conversational style and you'll have a sure sale.  My first article and more than half since were of this type--everything from a light juvenile, “How to Have a Backyard Campout”—to a more serious piece for parents, “How to Discuss Death With Your Children.”

                People everywhere are looking for help: how to lead a more meaningful life, how to repair their own appliances, how to handle teen-agers, and everything in between.

Personal Experience

                 Look into your background, education, and hobbies for ideas.  If you’re a classroom teacher, as I have been, you may have suggestions for students.  Here are a few of mine:  “Study Less But Learn More,” “How to Make Better Use of Your Time,” and “How to Earn Your Summer Fun.”

                If knitting, woodworking, surfing or animal training is your field, share your corner of the world with adults in a how-to article:  “Puppy Health--Tips From a Dog’s Best Friend,”  “What Our Teenagers Really Need,”  “How to Make Hot Pretzels.”

Research

                 What you don’t live through you can look up--in books and magazines and on the Internet. Careful research will yield a crop of fine ideas that you can turn into articles like these from my file:  “How to Communicate With Your Baby,” “How to Deliver Smashing Customer Service,” and “How to Write for Children and Young People.”

Interviews

                If you can reach an authority on a particular subject, so much the better.  Quotes and real-life anecdotes from a specialist enliven how-to articles and give them credibility in the eyes of an editor.  I once spoke with a licensed podiatrist and then wrote an article for Baby Talk, titled “How to Care For Baby’s Feet.”  A spin-off, “How about Becoming a Foot Doctor,” sold to Young Miss (now called YM). 

                 Perhaps you have a friend, neighbor, or acquaintance who’s an expert in cabinet-making, kite-flying, baking from scratch, or making miniature doll houses.  Tap his or her knowledge, add bits of research, and you’ll have a well-rounded, informative piece to submit to an editor.

Other People

                 Remain alert.  Listen to conversations.  Meet people. Ask questions.  Some call it eavesdropping, others may consider you a snoop, but you’re simply being a professional writer.  I’ve turned many table topics into publishable how-to articles.  “Are Your Children Over-Programmed?” resulted from talking with a group of mothers about our society’s addiction to shuttling kids from one activity or sport to another with little time to relax.

                “How to Be a Court Reporter,” came about after I talked with a court reporter working on a case for an attorney friend. “All About Caged Pets” was a natural after my daughter received a hamster for her birthday.

              The how-to piece is the spice of a writer’s life.  It’s fun to read and satisfying to write because you are offering genuine help about a specific area of interest in people’s lives.

              Religious, juvenile, and trade publications, house organs, and general periodicals are all in the market for the how-to.

              Keep these points in mind when writing the how-to:

1. Start with a snappy opening, dramatization or anecdote and an eye-catching title, including the words “How to” or some other clue about the help you’ll provide.

2. Narrow your article to one subject and keep it short--usually 1,000 words or less.

3. Offer practical guidelines that show your reader in a point-by-point method—if possible—how  to build a bird house, save  for retirement, raise a pet rabbit, or relax with meditation.

4. Keep the prose moving to a smooth, satisfying finish, tying all loose ends together at the end.

The how-to article is your passport to publication.  Follow the suggestions here, and you’ll never have to saw wood—unless you want to.

 *****

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--KOC
©2000 by Karen O'Connor

Karen O'Connor is an award-winning free-lance writer and professional speaker who lives in San Diego California. Her latest book, Squeeze the Moment: 31 Days to a More Joyful Heart (WaterBrook Press, 1999) was named Best Book of the Year (how-to category) by the San Diego Book Awards Association.  And in 1997 she was named Writer of the Year by the San Diego Christian Writers Guild. Karen also coaches aspiring writers and speakers.  You can contact her through her Web site: www.karenoconnor.com.