Thread: hints on writing a tutorial??

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I'm getting ready to start making my stirring with and figure i might as well document the project as a tutorial so maybe someone like me who lacks mechanical skills can make one themselves or even improve on my method down the road. what I'm looking for is hints on how to write the tutorial so it is easiest to use. i already know some important stuff, but i'd appreciate input that can help me make it better from the start.

Stuff i already know and plan to do:
[1]Photos! Lots and lots of photos of every step from materials to finished product.
[2]list sources for materials--where i bought parts or how I made the parts myself
[3] clear instructions with pictures of tools used
[4] a chart with measurements and maybe a diagram

Stuff I want help on:
is it better to post each step in its own post or to do one giant post with the whole project?
Is it better to post steps as i go along or to wait until I finish and post the whole thing at once?
am I missing anything obvious?
am I missing anything NOT obvious?

anyone with experience writing tutorials or expereince using them please help me out here
Thanks!

I would recommend waiting until you finish the project before posting the tutorial. That way, if you end up changing a part that may not work correctly you won't have to re-write and make a correction.

And I would make the whole tutorial one long post to make is easier to find for those wanting to built the prop. Sometimes you have to split it into more than one post, because the forum only allows 10 pictures total in each post.

A couple of other tips:

Compress your pictures so they don't take up the whole screen. And keep them all in one album on your computer so you can find them.

Also, I write my tutorials as a "WORD" document. That way, I can type it a little at a time.
Then when I'm ready to post it on the forum, I just copy and paste from the WORD document.

I hope this helps!

Another idea is to put all your pics in an album and write the steps that go with it in the comments section of the picture.

I like the bigger pictures, so I can see the detail, especially if it involves wiring connections like to a wiper motor.

Write it in English...lots of folks don't speak geek, so if it's really technical, use words us illiterate folks can understand