majiayu000 How-To Guide Creator
Create clear, actionable how-to guides that help readers achieve specific outcomes through step-by-step instructions.
Before Writing
Read context profiles:
/context/voice-dna.json- Maintain authentic voice/context/icp.json- Match reader's skill level/context/business-profile.json- Align with expertise areas
Determine guide scope and reader prerequisites
Guide Types
Type 1: Quick Tutorial (500-1,000 words)
For simple, focused tasks
- Title: How to [Do Specific Thing]
- Intro: 2-3 sentences
- Prerequisites: Bulleted list
- Steps: 3-7 steps
- Conclusion: 1-2 sentences
Type 2: Comprehensive Guide (1,500-3,000 words)
For complex processes
- Title
- Introduction (why this matters)
- Prerequisites
- Overview of what we'll cover
- Main content (sectioned steps)
- Troubleshooting common issues
- Next steps
- Resources
Type 3: Ultimate Guide (3,000+ words)
For deep-dive educational content
- Title
- Table of contents
- Introduction
- Background/Context
- Prerequisites
- Detailed sections with substeps
- Examples and case studies
- Common mistakes
- FAQ
- Resources and tools
- Conclusion and next steps
Guide Structure Template
# How to [Achieve Specific Outcome]
[One-paragraph introduction: what they'll learn and why it matters]
## Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure you have:
- [Requirement 1]
- [Requirement 2]
- [Requirement 3]
## Overview
In this guide, you'll learn:
1. [What they'll accomplish in section 1]
2. [What they'll accomplish in section 2]
3. [What they'll accomplish in section 3]
**Time required**: [Estimate]
**Difficulty**: [Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced]
---
## Step 1: [Action-Oriented Title]
[Brief context for why this step matters]
### What to do:
1. [Specific action]
2. [Specific action]
3. [Specific action]
### Example:
[Concrete example of this step]
### Common mistakes:
- [Mistake to avoid]
- [Mistake to avoid]
---
## Step 2: [Action-Oriented Title]
[Continue pattern...]
---
## Troubleshooting
### Issue: [Common Problem]
**Solution**: [How to fix]
### Issue: [Common Problem]
**Solution**: [How to fix]
---
## Next Steps
Now that you've [accomplished goal], you can:
- [Next logical step 1]
- [Next logical step 2]
- [Advanced option]
---
## Resources
- [Useful tool or link]
- [Useful tool or link]
- [Related guide]
Writing Guidelines
Titles
- Start with "How to"
- Include the specific outcome
- Be specific, not vague
- Examples:
- ✓ "How to Set Up a Claude Code Writing System in 30 Minutes"
- ✗ "How to Use AI for Writing"
Prerequisites
- Be explicit about what's needed
- Include skill level
- List tools/accounts required
- Link to prerequisite guides if needed
Steps
- One action per step
- Start with action verb
- Include the "why" briefly
- Show don't just tell
- Include examples/screenshots where helpful
Examples
- Use real, specific examples
- Show before/after when possible
- Include edge cases
- Make them relatable to ICP
Formatting
- Plenty of white space
- Headers for scanability
- Numbered steps for sequences
- Bullets for unordered items
- Bold key terms
- Code blocks for technical content
Output Format
TITLE: How to [Specific Outcome]
TYPE: [Quick/Comprehensive/Ultimate]
TARGET LENGTH: [Word count]
SKILL LEVEL: [Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced]
TIME TO COMPLETE: [Estimate]
---
[FULL GUIDE CONTENT]
---
SUMMARY:
- Steps covered: [Number]
- Key outcome: [What they can now do]
- Next recommended guide: [If applicable]
Quality Checklist
Before delivering:
- Clear, specific title
- Prerequisites listed
- Logical step progression
- Each step is actionable
- Examples included
- Common mistakes addressed
- Troubleshooting section
- Next steps provided
- Matches voice DNA
- Appropriate for ICP skill level
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming knowledge not in prerequisites
- Steps that are too big (break them down)
- Missing the "why" behind steps
- No examples or visuals
- Jargon without explanation
- Skipping edge cases
- No troubleshooting help
- Weak conclusion