Creating a WikiHow: Behind the Screen

WikiHow is a community based website that allows its users to interact with, edit, and create “how to” articles. These articles can range in topic from “How to: Make a Milk Steak with Jelly Beans” to “ How To: Be Brave", basically if you can think of a topic, wikiHow has an article on how to do it. WikiHow is able to have a plethora of information due to the fact that it is not a privately run website. By allowing anyone with a computer to create or edit wikiHows it utilizes the wide array of people and in-turn the variety of information each individual possesses. 

While it is true that anyone can create a wikiHow, this does not mean that every wikiHow submitted will get published.The process for creating a wikiHow is a contradiction-- simple yet complicated at the same time. The first step is arguably the hardest one-- this step being, finding a topic to write about. Now, as simple as this sounds, it is surprisingly hard.It is a challenge  because wikiHow has so much information and such a wide array of topics that finding something original and relevant to write about is a feat. The trick to overcoming this obstacle is to brainstorm. Sit down and think of as many topics that you can feasibly write about as possible. Chances are one of the topics on this list has not been covered. If you are one of the unlucky ones who has every topic on your list covered, do not fear-- there is a trick to overcome this too. This tick is to make your version vary from the other ones. You can do this by adding or subtracting elements from your original idea to make it more unique. For example if you wanted to write about "How to make a protein bar" after one search you would find many pages have been written on the topic.By adding a component such as "How to make cookies and cream protein bars" or "How to make green tea protein bars" you can still create a post involving your topic of interest.

Just as "A whole is greater than the sum of its parts" a wikiHow page is nothing without all of the proper setup.  Words will not cut it in the wikiHow world. A wikiHow post must contain pictures to accompany the information you are providing. The process of obtaining photos is not always the easiest. You not only have to take photos, you also have to ensure that they are high enough quality for the web and that they are edited to fit the required space. If that wasn't enough, it is important to remember to make your photos aesthetically pleasing. Photos are important in conveying messages hence the saying" a picture speaks 1,000 words" If your images are low quality and poorly set-up the reader will not take your post seriously.

Notice how the photos to the left draw the attention of the reader while peaking their interest. If you post a bad quality picture the reader will not only be detracted but there is a chance they would not even read the article.  The photos you put to accompany are just as important as the words. With that being said, make sure your words and photos correlate. If your topic is pigs and you have

pictures of puppies, the post will not be taken seriously. It is also important that you cite where you got the photos and if you took them yourself-- it is important to reference that(in case it becomes famous one day)

Okay! So you have your ideas and you have planned out how to go about photographing the idea, now what? The answer is to figure out how you are going to create the wikiHow-- The thought involved in this can range anywhere from getting groceries for re-creating a recipe, factoring the weather into account for pictures to doing a practice run of the recipe or topic to make sure it is correct and well worded. Keep in mind that the wikiHow title and picture has to grab a readers attention. Making a title with a funny line or something that gets people interested will draw in a wider crowd of readers.

No wikiHow page is perfect. It is important to remember that after you have published your wikiHow post, a team of editors go through and make changes. With that being said, it is very important to be as thorough as possible when listing each step. Something that may seem like common sense to you, could not be to other people.

The other wikiHow pages on the website are a valuable resource. Using them as a reference makes the process as a whole easier. You can get a grasp of the syntax, expectations, coding, and many other things just by looking at other wikiHow's. When deciding what pages to use as reference, try to find something similar to the topic you are doing. . How to Make Chocolate-Chip Cookie Bars   and  How to Make-Chocolate-Oatmeal-No-Bake-Cookies are helpful references for making Green Tea Protein Bars.
In order to create a wikiHow page it requires some basic coding. This can serve as a challenge for people who have previously never coded before. WikiHow has "how to" pages that can help assist people on the coding process. As mentioned before, other wikiHow's are helpful for coding too. If you open up another page and click "edit" for the how-to, you have access to the coding behind the page. This can serve as a template for your own post.

Balancing time during this project is a must. It is easy to get overwhelmed if you don't manage time properly.  By creating a list of what needs to be done and how you are going to do it before you even start, saves you time and stress in the long run. Once you have the project scheduled out, you can utilize your time to the fullest-- taking photos on certain days, practicing the post and writing on other days.

Creating a wikiHow is a great accomplishment-- once published you are now an author on a national database. It is not an easy process to reach the point of being published but it is possible. If you focus on detail, are creative, have good photos and  use references when needed your article should be published in no time.

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