Surprisingly audacious reflections of a humble writer

CALL ME ISHMAEL OR BOSSY

Some people may call me a know-it-all.

They misunderstand.  Truth is, I love sharing my knowledge with people.  And that could come across as bossy or pushy.  I like to write how-to pieces because people are hungry to discover ways to solve a problem or learn something new.

I'm not alone.  Lots of people write how-to articles.  Go ahead, and goggle "how-to" and you'll find

how to learn a language,
how to work with unprofessional people,
how to do laundry,
how to walk in heels,
how to make a car repair,
how to fix a toilet,
how to mend a broken heart,
yada yada yada it's all there on the Internet—anything your little heart desires to know.

Writers who want to build their bio can write a how-to article.  These pieces are not difficult to write.  It takes some research and good writing skills.  Here's how to get started:

• Read your favorite publications to see what techniques writers use to write a how-to article.
• Choose a topic that interests you and one that will address your audience's needs.
• Research the topic using reliable sources.
• Outline the piece keeping important points grouped together.   
• Begin the piece with a hook:  an interesting fact, a startling statistic, an inspiring quote. 
• Use a conversational tone. 
• Tie the ending to the beginning.  
• Have a second reader have a look at the article and check for grammatical errors.
• Edit the piece.  

I'm always thinking about new topics for a how-to article.  From my experience, I could advise writers on publishing with an indie press or finding marketing ideas.

But I wouldn't have to narrow my how-to topic to just writing.  The saying goes "write what you know."

Therefore, I could write about:

• trying to talk a police officer out of a ticket (it didn't work)

• playing racket ball in a dorm room (I don't recommend it)

• teaching a cat boundaries (don't waste your time) 

I've lived these experiences; therefore, I would have plenty to write about.

So call me what you will, bossy or pushy, a know-it-all, whatever.  It won't hurt my feelings.  My mission is to inform the hungry reader.

CWW is published twice a month.

À la prochaine!