Writing a Tutorial

A tutorial may seem like a very simple thing to write, but it can go horribly wrong if done incorrectly. So, here is a simple guide in how to write a tutorial.

Step 1: Find a Topic

Find a topic you think you can write about. It may seem like a simple thing to do, but you want to choose a topic which you are already proficient at. You do not have to be an expert to write a tutorial, although it is recommended. If you have beginner to medium level skills in your topic, you can write a tutorial on it, just keep it below your level!

Step 2: Start a Rough Draft

Start writing your tutorial out on paper or in your favorite word processor. Be sure to think through each step you write. Try to stay on a professional level, without sounding condescending. If necessary, include the difficulty level of your tutorial, the recommended audience, and any tools or materials required. Do not include anything off topic in your tutorial, if you cannot relate it to the tutorial, do not write it!

Step 3: Give Your Tutorial a Title

Give your tutorial a clear title. It would have been very confusing if this tutorial was called: “Steps, steps, steps”. If you do want to include something different in the title of your tutorial, you can do either of the following combinations:

“Steps, steps, steps: A Guide to Writing a Tutorial” or “Writing a Tutorial: Steps, steps, and more steps!”

Step 4: Follow Your Own Tutorial

Once you have completed the rough draft, read it though and start trying to follow your own directions. This will help to show you what steps you could be missing, things you need to elaborate on, and steps which need to be broken down.

Make the necessary changes to your tutorial, and you are now one step closer to having a finished product!

Step 5: Add Some Media(Optional)

Go through your steps one more time. Only this time take pictures as you go along and/or record a video. If you do take pictures make sure it is clear which picture goes with which step, you can do this by adding captions to your pictures. As you video tape or take pictures, follow your own steps directly, if you find yourself doing more or less than what was asked for in your tutorial, go back and revise it. If you do talk during your video make sure that your wording matches your tutorial’s so that confusion is avoided. Otherwise, include captions with your video to show which step is currently being completed.

Step 6: Read it One Last Time & Give Credit

Go through your tutorial again, if you added images or video, see how they work together with the tutorial you wrote, and make any changes necessary to make things flow and work together.

Finally, all you need to do is to credit all the sources you used in the creation of your tutorial, and post it here on Mibba!

Good Luck and Happy Tutorial Writing!