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I’m not an expert on writing ‘How To’ books.  In fact, Do I Need to Use a Dragon? will probably be the only advice book I write.  (Get it now as a 99 cent eBook by clicking on the title!)  Still, there are some things I considered and noticed in the way I wrote my advice.  It may be helpful for someone else who wants to try to teach others how to do whatever activity they’re into.

1. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!  I mentioned this on Monday, but I’m going to repeat it.  Whatever advice you’re giving, you need to have at least tried to use it.  If you are only giving suggestions that were given to you, but you failed to put into practice then you’re kind of lying.  You’re passing on information that you haven’t tested out yourself.  Even if it failed, you can still mention trying it out and point out what went wrong.  A reader might be able to use the advice that failed you because they learn from your example.
2. Tailor your jargon and explanations for the skill level of your audience.  The more industry words and catchphrases you use, the less likely you’re going to help a novice.  They won’t know what you’re talking about and can be intimidated.  You can counter this by explaining the phrases, but that can turn into the ‘How To’ version of an info dump.  If you’re routinely defining words then you might be aiming your book at the wrong audience level.
3. Be careful using asides and examples into your own fictional works.  Spending more time talking about your stories then the craftwork can feel right.  You’re showing examples and authors tend to go on at length about their own creations.  From the outside, this can look like gloating or a sales pitch.  Selling copies of your other books is secondary at best.  You’re real goal with a ‘How To’ is to teach the reader some tricks on how to write their own books.
4. Resist the urge to go on at length about ‘show, don’t tell’.  This is more of a personal pet peeve, but this phrase has been plaguing me since high school.  Many people will hear it and spout it as criticism without knowing what it means.  They won’t factor in the writing style, which might be more telling than showing.  For example, third person present tense like I use tends to get this criticism a lot.  If you must use this cliché chestnut of advice then try to give it some nuance and explanation.
5. Try to have some organization to the book.  I might be saying this more to pantsers, but I don’t really know how that kind of author would tackle a ‘How To’.  I could be entirely wrong in thinking that they’ll grab a topic and just go then move on to the next one on their mind.  Guess that still works as long as there is some kind of organizing before publishing.  This way, the reader doesn’t feel like they’re jumping around the topic of writing.  For example, I went with categories of Author, World, Characters, and Quest to help organize Do I Need to Use a Dragon?
6. Be honest and open.  Don’t be afraid to reveal some of your mistakes and embarrassing moves.  Similar to designing a fictional character with flaws, you need to make yourself out to be human.  You are the only character of a ‘How To’, which means you can’t make yourself out to be infallible and perfect.  If you talk as if you’ve never made a mistake or learned something the hard way then a reader might think you’re hiding something.
7. Use beta readers whose opinions you trust.  This can be a very personal book because you’re exposing your thoughts.  Getting people to read it beforehand for clarity and consciousness may be crucial.  The danger comes form having someone read it and them disagreeing with every piece of advice you have.  This can cause an author to give up entirely on the project, which means any good advice they have will never see the light of day.  So, pick beta readers who understand that you are voicing an opinion that they might not agree with, but you still want to say.  They will help you clarify your advice for the audience instead of change the advice entirely.