Join our growing community of ‘How To’ writers
We’re an Oxford based publisher and early in 2009 we began making the complete contents of our books available for free on this website.
12 months and 250 books later we’ve been so impressed by the success of our model that we have decided to give writers (other than our published authors) the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise with our site visitors. Whether you are a freelance writer or - like our book authors - you are an expert who is passionate about your subject and wants to share your knowledge with others, this site offers you the opportunity to write articles and share your knowledge with the people who use our site.
On www.howto.co.uk you’ll be part of a writing community where you can share ideas; and part of a wider community where you can meet and share tips with people who have similar interests and are facing similar challenges in their lives. People who, just like you, have the desire to change their lives for the better - be it through starting a new business, growing their own vegetables, writing a novel, or moving to a new country.
So if you want to become part of a growing community of ‘how to’ writers, read on to find out a bit more about how to write your article. Then go to ‘User Login’ to register and start writing!
What kind of articles are we looking for?
We publish a wide range of articles that will interest our readers but we will also regularly list some specific article subjects that we are looking for.
At howto.co.uk we want articles that, like our books, will help people grasp opportunities, meet their goals and aspirations, and solve problems - in short, that will help change their lives and work for the better. We also want articles that simply tell people how to do things - for instance, how to save money - and which are generally helpful in meeting the challenges of everyday life.
Our articles can also clarify and simplify complicated topics, making them easier to understand.
We'd like you to write clearly using simple language and short sentences where possible so that your article is straightforward, accessible and easy to read.
Originality
The material needs to be original and must not previously have been published on the web or elsewhere - nor should you publish it anywhere else after it appears on the HowTo site.
Writing your article
First decide what you'd like to write about.
Before you start writing your article it might help if you first sit back and get an overview of your chosen topic. Imagine you have a few minutes to explain the subject to someone, and write as if you are speaking directly to your reader. When you've written the article it can help to read it aloud to yourself.v
Think about who you are writing for, and if relevant, what level of expertise you are aiming at. For example if you're writing an article about digital photography is it for a beginner with their first camera or for a more experienced photographer who would like to extend their skills?
Length
Ideally articles for the site should be between 300 and 500 words - but if you need more words to ensure that your article is interesting and informative please feel free to go above that length. Quality will always count more than quantity.
Please make sure you know the subject you are writing about - or that at least you have carefully researched it. We want our site to be authoritative and useful - a place where people can come for helpful and reliable information.
If it is accepted, your article will be edited but we will need to rely on you for the accuracy of the information.
VERY IMPORTANT
Your article must be original, i.e. not copied from any source whatsoever, including the internet. The penalties for copying (plagiarism) are severe and your contract with us will allow us to obtain damages from yourself if either we or you are sued for breach of copyright. You have been warned!
Please proofread (i.e. check) your article for spelling and typographical errors before submission. Don't rely on spellcheck as it can miss errors, such as 'form' instead of 'from'.
If your article is accepted
If we accept your article we’ll let you know as quickly as we can.
Articles will be credited to you as their writer if you so wish, helping to raise your profile in your chosen subject areas
Good luck with your writing - we hope that we will be adding your article to the site. And once you've had one article accepted we also hope that you will become a regular contributor.