Facebook Pixel
Join our Facebook Community

Group Writing Project: Write a ‘How To…’ Post

Posted By Darren Rowse 19th of March 2013 Writing Content 0 Comments

Update: the competition aspect of this project is over. I’ve listed all the posts submitted (and the winners) here.

Years ago here on ProBlogger we used to run ‘group writing project’ where I’d nominate a style of posts and then all readers would go away and write a new post in that style to practice their blogging… and then would come back here and leave us a link to the post.

The Project had a few benefits:

  1. first and foremost it gave us all a chance to practice a certain style of writing
  2. secondly it was an opportunity for bloggers to show off what they could do
  3. bloggers reported seeing more traffic arrive on their blog
  4. bloggers reported making great new connections with other bloggers

So… it’s time for another group writing project!

This week we’re going to do one of the most popular ones from the past – the theme is ‘HOW TO…‘.

Yes – your challenge is to write and then come back and share a link to a ‘How to…’ post. Update: I’ve since published a 7 step guide to writing How to content on a blog.

Please note – for this project to be of any real benefit to you as a ‘writing’ project it is about writing a new post – not just sharing a link to an old ‘How to’ post that you’ve already written.

Feel free to write a ‘how to’ post on anything that is relevant to your niche.

Prize

To give you a little added incentive to participate I’m going to put up a little prize for one participant who submits a NEW post (sorry but you’re ineligible if it is an older post).

One person who writes a new post and who shares a link to it in comments below before Friday 22nd March at midnight (US Eastern time) will be randomly drawn to win the full library of 6 ProBlogger eBooks (worth $250 if you bought them all separately).

Here’s How To Participate

Here’s how to participate and put yourself in the running for the prize (please note – one entry per person – not per blog and please only submit NEW posts).

1. Write a ‘how to’ post

  • Be as creative as you’d like – take it in any direction you want – it can be on any topic (keep it clean and ‘family friendly please), it can be any length, it can be serious, funny, it can be a list post, a rant, an essay, a pictorial or video post… etc
  • Give your post a good title. Once all the posts are listed it’ll only be your title that sets it apart from others. It doesn’t have to have the words ‘how to’ in the title – but if can if you wish.
  • Feel free to write your post in your own first language – I’ve previously included a number of non-english posts and am excited by the prospect of making this a multi-lingual project.
  • Please consider putting a link back to this post on your post so that your readers know you’re participating. You don’t have to do this – but it’d be appreciated to help grow the project.

2. Let us Know about your post

  • Once you’ve posted your How To post let us know about it by leaving a comment below. Please make sure you include your name, your post title and the URL to your How to post.
  • Comments must be received by midnight on Friday 22nd March to be included in the prize draw.

3. Surf Surf Surf

  • This is where the project has potential to get pretty cool. Surf the submissions received in the comments. Leave comments, make connections with other ProBlogger readers and enjoy reading what others have to say. By surfing each others links you’ll hopefully find some cool new blogs but also make some new connections (which may well lead to people visiting your blog too!

4. Link, Tweet, Share

  • There is no formal ‘judging’ of the ‘how to posts’ received as this is not a competition. Instead – I encourage you to surf through the links left in the comments below and not only comment but share those with your own network that you like the most. Link to them on your blog (you might even like to write a ‘top 5’ post), Tweet out some links to the ones you like or share them on Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn etc. Share a little love and you might find it comes back at you!
  • Probably the best part of the last group project was the amount of inter-linking I see happening between participating bloggers as a result of their posts. It’s obvious that people found new blogs through it and that the benefits of participating was way beyond getting a link here on ProBlogger me but flowed on to a lot of new connections and links between other bloggers.

5. Prizes

  • Over the weekend after this ends I’ll randomly draw a winner and announce them on the blog. Depending how many submissions we receive I may even try to compile them all into a list (although last time we had ALOT so that may be beyond me).

I can’t wait to see how this week’s project goes – your time to start writing starts…. now! Have fun!

Update: the competition aspect of this project is over. I’ve listed all the posts submitted (and the winners) here.

About Darren Rowse
Darren Rowse is the founder and editor of ProBlogger Blog Tips and Digital Photography School. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Comments
  1. Here is my How to post on “How to Find the Perfect Traveling Companion”. Enjoy!
    http://www.reflectionsenroute.com/blog/2013/03/21/how-to-find-that-perfect-travel-companion/

  2. Hi, I’m Jo and I run a Bloggie Friday each week on my Travel & Lifestyle blog, ZigaZag. I’ve risen to the challenge and upped the ante a bit for the Problogger challenge – it’s quite a mega post ;)
    “How do I create a kick ass system to drive traffic to my blog?” I’d love you to add your tips in the comments too :)
    http://zigazag.com/how-do-i-drive-traffic-to-my-blog/

    • Johanna says: 03/24/2013 at 5:13 pm

      Thank you Darren for hosting this project. Within just two short days of surfing the other entries I’ve come across some awesome blogs, met some really ‘like minded’ connections who I know I’d hit it off with IRL too, AND as if that wasn’t enough, there have been some lovely comments and increased traffic to my ownblog. Thank you to everyone I’ve encountered so far, it’s been great meeting you.

  3. That’s a swell idea, Darren! Hope I’m not too late! Here’s my two cents for copywriters…
    http://sixinchesdeepblogger.blogspot.in/2013/03/how-to-write-swimmingpool-gasp.html

    Thanks.

    Warmly,

    Rajani

  4. Just published. Hope I’m not too late?

    “How to Save Money on Travel – 52 Ideas”
    http://www.ytravelblog.com/how-to-save-money-on-travel/

    Great group idea Darren. Looking forward to going through the posts and learning some new tips and ideas. Cheers – Craig!

  5. Hi all,

    What a great way to share and learn about so many great sites. Sorry I’m getting in pretty late Darren, but hopefully my post about How to Create a Killer Online Training Course fits in with the theme. If anyone is interested, you can find it here:

    http://trainingoutcomes.com/how-to-create-killer-online-training-courses/

    All the best everyone, I’m off to tweet all about this and check about some more great sites.

    Cheers,

    Shaun

  6. I published this how-to yesterday:

    How to Create GIF Images For Your Blog – Step-By-Step Guide http://www.howtomakemyblog.com/design/gif-images-guide/

  7. Hope I’m not too late to add a how-to post based on what I learned from reading posts from this project, plus my own experience. Lots of outstanding submissions! http://www.stickycommunication.ca/2013/03/how-to-write-a-how-to-post/

  8. How to dye Easter eggs naturally with plant colors – in English and German.
    A fun project for kids :-)

    http://bynumber19.com/2013/03/22/how-to-dye-easter-eggs-naturally/

  9. Thank you for this opportunity, Darren.
    I hope this is helpful for the creative people checking out these posts:

    Hate filing? How to herd those papers

    http://www.streamlinedsolutions.ca/2013/03/hate-filing-how-to-herd-those-papers/

  10. This is Peggy from Berlin. As food blogger with a recent failure in burning-in a cast iron skillet, I made a how to step-by-step prezi about the procedure from what I learned in attempt #2.
    The title is (in German) How To: Eisenpfanne einbrennen (How to: burning-in a cast iron skillet)

    http://www.multikulinarisch.es/813-how-to-eisenpfanne-einbrennen.html

  11. Hello, I am Pooh Hodges. I am a cat. I am delighted to have the opportunity to participate in Problogger’s Group Writing Project: Write a ‘How to…’ Post.

    I have written: How to be a cat.
    http://thecatwhowrites.com/how-to-be-a-cat/

    If my instructions are not clear, please contact me. I would love to help you. I can be reached at: [email protected]

    All the best,
    xo
    love Pooh

  12. I wrote a how-to post today called: “How To Make A Boutonniere in 5 Minutes”

    http://firstcomeflowers.typepad.com/blog/2013/03/how-to-make-a-simple-boutonniere-in-5-minutes.html

  13. Wow, really looking forward to checking out some of these articles. Here’s my contribution to the challenge:

    How to Banish Feelings of Overwhelm

    http://www.inspiredgiftgiving.com/how-to-banish-feelings-of-overwhelm

  14. I wrote about something I love – Hiking With Children!

    http://www.bowofbronze.com/amysblog/2013/03/how-to-hike-with-children/

    I enjoyed this group writing project and plan to go through and read other’s posts over the weekend. Thanks for the inspiration Darren!

  15. Here is my How To on Surviving the Snack Attack and making healthy food choices.

    http://www.butiwantcake.com/how-to-survive-the-snack-attack/

  16. Hello to All!

    I genuinely love this idea and the sense of community that it fosters, even more the extra push it gives us bloggers to write something new!

    I wrote: FAST Financially Now, FEAST Later on my blog about surviving my dream life in France.

    http://chezbabette.tumblr.com/post/46010211151/fast-financially-now-feast-tomorrow

    Thanks for reading and I look forward to reading all of yours!

  17. This is a How-To on setting up filters in Gmail. It is a part of a series of why email filters are useful if your class is 1:1 or if you’re attempting to go paperless with your students.
    http://iteachteacherstech.com/?p=130

  18. Phew!
    Finally got mine in and hope Darren wasn’t speaking about midnight in Australia! I’m in the US and it isn’t midnight here yet. Here’s mine and I will visit my fellow participants shortly: http://mirthandmotivation.com/2013/03/21/humor-how-when-to-avoid-making-eye-contact/
    Thanks Darren and I added a pingback to this page.
    Happy weekend all! :-)
    Elizabet

  19. Here is mine too:
    How to unlock your Mac’s potential and play all the games you want

    http://www.macgamerhq.com/guides/how-to-unlock-your-macs-potential-and-play-all-the-games-you-want/

  20. My cat wants to show you how to be a cat.

    http://thecatwhowrites.com/how-to-be-a-cat/

  21. I tried to post this last night, but my comment is not showing up, so I’m trying again.

    Here’s my “how to” post:

    How to Maximize Study Time & Master Any Subject
    http://inkwellscholars.org/maximize-study-time-master-any-subject/

  22. What a great idea, thanks!

    Here’s my post on How to Create a Profitable Business When You’re Broke and Dumb

    http://www.jenniferherndon.com/how-create-profitable-business-when-youre-broke/

    It looks like there are a lot of great posts here, I’ll be reading and sharing them over the weekend.

  23. Loved the challenge of writing in a different style!
    http://presentimperfection.com/?p=1530

  24. Thank you so much for this group writing project. Here is my “how to” post.

    Gluten Free Ground Beef Chili
    http://www.glutenfreehomestead.com/2013/03/gluten-free-ground-beef-chili/

  25. Looking forward to reading all the great advice everyone has posted, I’ll be an expert on everything! Here is my post on how to get your money back when you really, really want to:

    http://kathleencaron.com/how-to-get-your-money-back-4-easy-ways-to-get-the-refund-you-deserve/

    Have a great weekend everyone.

  26. It’s not midnight here yet so I’m hoping I’m making it in time here!

    My Post:

    How To Inspire Something Big With Your Blog – No Matter How Many Readers You Have!
    http://www.blogelina.com/2013/03/how-to-inspire-something-big-with-your-blog-no-matter-how-many-readers-you-have/

    Thanks for this opportunity, Darren!

  27. Love this! My “how to” home spa recipe is inspired by a beautiful eco-resort in Vietnam:

    http://asiaspaboutique.blogspot.hk/2013/03/bucket-list-vietnam-my-powerful-green.html?m=1

    Enjoy and have a great weekend!

  28. Hay there,

    You have to know I would love a Group writing project… would you look at all these lovely links… I am having a browsing fest…

    Here’s my post: Se7en + 1 Steps to Decluttering – Never Again… http://www.se7en.org.za/2013/03/23/se7en-1-steps-to-decluttering-never-again

    Looking forward to more projects!!! Hope you have a fun weekend!!!

  29. Hi there,

    I don’t want to comment twice but I think my comment might have been swallowed by hyperspace…

    I love the idea of Group writing projects… have you seen how many brilliant ideas have emerged… just love it!!!

    Here’s my post: Se7en + 1 Steps to Decluttering – Never Again… http://www.se7en.org.za/2013/03/23/se7en-1-steps-to-decluttering-never-again

    Looking forward to more writing projects!!!

  30. Same with me.

    HOW TO ENLARGE FACEBOOK PHOTOS WITHOUT CLICKING WITH MAGNIFIER

    http://www.kachiblog.com/2013/03/how-to-enlarge-facebook-photos-without.html

  31. Stephani says: 03/24/2013 at 5:48 am

    Thanks for giving me the incentive to blog again! This is an excellent group assignment.

    Here’s my post:

    Squeeze in Post-partum Exercise to Beat the Blues:
    http://pocketsofsunshine.com/2013/03/post-partum-exercise/

  32. Thanks for all your great information and enjoyed being able to participate!

    How to Grow a Countertop Vegetable Garden

    http://www.2coffeecups.blogspot.com/

  33. I completely forgot to put a backlink to Problogger into my post! I am so sorry :(. I am adding it right now. If it is any consolation, I recommend ProBlogger to my blogging friends ALL the time. :)

A Practical Podcast… to Help You Build a Better Blog

The ProBlogger Podcast

A Practical Podcast…

Close
Open