ABOUT STYROFOAM PRODUCTS

Tips for Writing Instructions

Many designers admit that writing instructions is their least favorite part of the job, yet your success, and the success of someone recreating your design, is based on the clarity and accuracy of your instructions. We hope the few tips we've listed below will help take the mystery out of writing instructions, and make it a little easier for you. Also, we ask that you review and follow our trademark guidelines when designing with and writing about STYROFOAM* Brand Products.

General Tips

• As the old adage goes, "Measure twice, cut once." Carefully measure every ribbon, fabric, etc., before you use it. Once ribbons are cut or bows tied, it's too late to go back and estimate how much you used.
• Take thorough notes as you design, so that you can accurately remember the steps to making the project.
• Don't take for granted that your audience knows as much about crafting as you do. If you primed a surface or prewashed a fabric before painting, be sure to specify this in your instructions.
• Many magazines will not reduce patterns, so your pattern pieces must fit within an 8-1/2" x 11" page. If your project has oversized pattern pieces, you may have a difficult time selling your project.
• Keep the instructions clear yet concise. A design with three pages of instructions may need more space than an editor can provide.
• If possible, have someone else read through the instructions to see if they can follow them.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread. Be sure you don't call for a black marker when you really meant blue and vice versa. And, don't count on spell check to catch your errors - if you've used the wrong word but spelled it correctly, spell check will not flag it for you.
• Corporations invest a lot of money in creating new products and promoting brand names. You should be familiar with each company's guidelines for using its trademarks. To review the trademark guidelines for STYROFOAM Brand Products, please see trademark guidelines.