The Clinic
Welcome to the clinic, a place to get help and constructive criticism on your projects. Here's a brief intro on what it is, written by AngryRedhead:
"Some Instructables don't get the attention that they deserve. Many times the reason boils down to presentation, and if the presentation is off in one way or another, an Instructable might flop no matter how wonderful the project is. The presentation of an Instructable requires a certain set of skills which involve story telling, technical writing, planning, and photography. Even the most experienced technical writers and photographers still benefit from an edit or an outside opinion. As an author, it's difficult to see the flaws and errors because your thoughts and experience fill the gaps that might leave readers puzzled. It happens to every author.
If you feel you have an Instructable that isn't getting the attention that it deserves and you would like some ideas on how to improve its presentation, please post a link to it! We're not here to tear it apart or to tell you that you're the most horrible, stupidester person in the whole wide world. We're here to give you ideas for improvement and hopefully get you more attention and recognition for your project ideas. Think of this like editing or proofreading which is something everyone needs regardless of experience, intellect, and knowledge.
If you would like ideas on taking your idea to the next level and making it bigger and more awesomer, please say that you would like this extra advice. You can even post a link to an unpublished instructable if you like, but just remember, please check out the featuring checklist first since this will tell you all of the things that the best instructables have."
So... that's what this forum topic's for. There's a team of seasoned Instructables authors watching this topic, waiting to give you help!
"Some Instructables don't get the attention that they deserve. Many times the reason boils down to presentation, and if the presentation is off in one way or another, an Instructable might flop no matter how wonderful the project is. The presentation of an Instructable requires a certain set of skills which involve story telling, technical writing, planning, and photography. Even the most experienced technical writers and photographers still benefit from an edit or an outside opinion. As an author, it's difficult to see the flaws and errors because your thoughts and experience fill the gaps that might leave readers puzzled. It happens to every author.
If you feel you have an Instructable that isn't getting the attention that it deserves and you would like some ideas on how to improve its presentation, please post a link to it! We're not here to tear it apart or to tell you that you're the most horrible, stupidester person in the whole wide world. We're here to give you ideas for improvement and hopefully get you more attention and recognition for your project ideas. Think of this like editing or proofreading which is something everyone needs regardless of experience, intellect, and knowledge.
If you would like ideas on taking your idea to the next level and making it bigger and more awesomer, please say that you would like this extra advice. You can even post a link to an unpublished instructable if you like, but just remember, please check out the featuring checklist first since this will tell you all of the things that the best instructables have."
So... that's what this forum topic's for. There's a team of seasoned Instructables authors watching this topic, waiting to give you help!
















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Starting your first Instructable?
Then you need to read this how-to guide.
Thanks!
I added some additional pictures and a new cover picture. Please take a look and let me know what you think.
Water Bottle Carrier WCOA
Thank you in advance for your comments and consideration.
EZ
a direct link
and
a direct link
Thank you in advance for your comments
EZ
Most of the instructable was about building a wicking planter. Is that necessary for trench planting? More detail on the part about burying the plant would help. Are those pictures in process? Or is that what it looks like after you buried the plant? Again, a drawing of a hypothetical plant and what is clipped and buried would help.
The stem is spelled stalk not stock.
You would do well to update your instructable with photos when your abundant tomatoes start growing.
Just my 2 cents.
Here is the revised instructable Growing Horizontal Tomatoes.
Thank you
EZ
Again Thank you in advance for your comments.
EZ
http://www.instructables.com/id/Sheep-Heart-Key-Ring/
Like this:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Sheep-Heart-Key-Ring/
Hope this helps you get some good feedback!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Sheep-Heart-Key-Ring/
If you change a project to improve it, the changes are unlikely to be seen by the Community Team, especially if the project is a couple of months old, so you did the right thing mentioning it here.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Purple-Sweet-Potato-Rounds-with-Walnut-Fig-Jam-Tap/
I'm grateful for any help I can get!
3 min lighting studio- http://www.instructables.com/id/3-Minute-Lighting-studio/
portable solar usb charger- http://www.instructables.com/id/portable-Solar-Charged-USB-charger/
Canned drinks prank - http://www.instructables.com/id/Canned-Drinks-Prank/
clap switch (wall switch mountable)- http://www.instructables.com/id/Clap-Switch-wall-switch-mountable/
Thank you i am looking forward for the suggestions and comments please PM me
http://www.instructables.com/id/Spotty-changeable-paper-necklace/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-DIY-your-own-Magnetic-Stirrer-V2-better-th/
Please take a look here too.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-grow-great-crystals/
http://www.instructables.com/id/DSLR-Camera-Backpack/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Coin-IQ-Test-Prank/
Thanks!
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-fool-your-friends-with-a-TV-remote-Jammer-1/
It is my first one and I would like some feedback :)
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Driving-Simulator/
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-MP3-to-Cassette-or-Instrument-to-Cassette-Adap/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Root-Lamp/
Thanks
http://www.instructables.com/id/Super-Glue-Fingerprint-Lifting/
And see if you can get your own title image. The one you've got at the moment is good, but it would be better if it was your own. Perhaps you could compose and shoot a similar photo? Or at least credit the original photographer.
Thanks.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Creating-Animation-and-Games-Chapter-3-Lightcycle/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Powered-Clock-Hack/
Could you please check are these okay for the featuring? I have made some changes to all four. All comments are welcome.
Disc Golf Basket
Cardboard Coin Bank
Tripod Clamp
Cardboard Coasters
I entered my i'ble in the citizen sci contest as I really wanted the telescope for my deep interest in astronomy, but couldn't get it featured.
I now do not want to leave any thing, and want to do every possible thing I can to improve my i'ble.So, I in every respect I want to improve it.
As I really really need to win the contest, please comment upon my work and tell me how to improve upon my piece of work, and make it worth being featured.
I would be grateful to you.
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-SAVE-YOUR-SUNFLOWERS-FROM-CRITTERS/
Please can you review this so that i can make it worth of getting featured please comment upon it-
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-SAVE-YOUR-SUNFLOWERS-FROM-CRITTERS/
I certainly wish to make some changes but need an opinion to find any loopholes i had missed.
Thanx
http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Astounding-Advent-Calender-in-a-Book/
I have consulted the many guides and advice to help get "Featured". I've since made many improvements (including the title, photos, motivations...); and I hope that you can help me bring it to the next level of Instructability.
Many thanks.
Please can you review this so that i can make it worth of getting featured please comment upon it-
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-SAVE-YOUR-SUNFLOWERS-FROM-CRITTERS/
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-CALCULATE-RESISTOR-CERAMIC-CAPACITOR-VALU/
Calculating resistance is quite a well covered topic and so any Instructable related to it (in my opinion) would need to be exemplary to earn a feature. A couple of things that let your Instructable down... none of your images are your own and you don't give credit to those that created them. The introduction to what a resistor is and does is very brief. The formatting of the examples in step 3 is very hard to read, perhaps a HTML table would improve readability?
Also remember that the featuring guidelines are highly subjective. Even if an Instructable meets all of the criteria it doesn't guarantee it will get featured, they're just guidelines. Often a wow factor or something new, clever or pretty will entice one of the community team or staff to feature it.
I made a few changes wat about it know-
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-CALCULATE-RESISTOR-CERAMIC-CAPACITOR-VALU/
Thank you very much and I will do my best to make it better.
Anyway thanx
Please can you review this-
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-SAVE-YOUR-SUNFLOWERS-FROM-CRITTERS/
http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Darkroom-Liquid-Light-Emulsion/
I made a few changes wat about it know-
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-CALCULATE-RESISTOR-CERAMIC-CAPACITOR-VALU/
It never got featured, but its still had some good views (I even got a comment for it in July, and its for a Christmas Ornament!!!)
If there's something I should change, I'd like to fix this soon since Christmas is just around the corner, and I had a request to make someone an ornament.
Personalized Ornament From An Old Bulb
James
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-CALCULATE-RESISTOR-CERAMIC-CAPACITOR-VALU/
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-MAKE-DANCING-LEDS/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Add-Headphones-To-A-Toque-Great-For-Skiing-Snowb/
Is toque a regional/Canadian term? I've never heard it before. Is it the same as what we'd call a beanie in England? Perhaps a more generic term like "winter hat" or "hat" might make title that more people would understand? "Snowsports Headphone Hat"? or something similar.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Powered-Clock-Hack/
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-TEST-YOUR-TRANSISTORS-WITH-YOUR-MULTIMETERS/
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-CALCULATE-RESISTOR-CERAMIC-CAPACITOR-VALU/
http://www.instructables.com/id/crochet-heart/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Fishtail-yarn-bracelet/
Being a guy I don't wear many wool bracelets, but I've never seen one like that, with high contrasting wool it'd look quite interesting compared to just a normal plait.
James
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-MAKE-DANCING-LEDS/
Other than that, I'm afraid that it somehow lacks that undefinable "wow" factor I (personally) look for in projects, especially from an experienced author such as yourself.
I hasn't been featured yet and I would like to know how I could improve it.
Btw do only featured instructables show up in the profile? I can't see it here: http://www.instructables.com/member/BrittLiv/
- Start by solving the sodium alginate...
- mix the Licor, the milk...
- Carefully pure the banana mixture into it
Individually, not a problem, but the effect sort of adds up.If words that sound the same are a problem, you might find this website useful.
The rest: the pictures are clear and well composed as ever Britt and the written English is better than a lot of native English speakers I know.
One final question, why didn't you make us cocktails when you visited? Tskk.
And you've got a beer ;-)
Adding the UV light pictures is a good hint, I will do so.
http://www.instructables.com/id/MACHINE-GUN-DOORBELL/
- the title doesn't match the description. In the title you describe it as a door bell but in the introduction there is no why or how and it says you're going to demonstrate how to make a machine gun noise.
- a video of your modification in action might interest people
- there are quite a few spelling mistakes.
There ain't much more that I can do, really, I mean it's not like I can install neon signs, searchlights, a ginormous inflatable gorilla, a fireworks display, host a rave in the parking lot.
New Title: 555 Timer Hacks: Cable Testers, Magnetic Stirrers, and Lego Grabbers Oh My!
link: http://www.instructables.com/id/Hack-Your-Snap-Circuits-a-Minimalist-Very-Few-Co/?ALLSTEPS
http://www.instructables.com/id/MACHINE-GUN-DOORBELL/
Let me know how to improve it to make it a featured instructable. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
http://makeprojects.com/Project/Hack+Your+Snap+Circuits+With+Frickin%27+Laser+Beams%21+Build+a+Laser+Tripwire+and+Alarm+Out+of+Snap+Circuits/2674/1
I will leave it active here on Instrucatbles for a few more days, but will delete it if there are no suggestions for improvements to make it a featured instructable.
I'll leave it up for a couple more days, maybe someone migh have some suggestions. Otherwise I will take it down. No point in leaving it up if no one is ever going to see it.
That is, people get sent directly to the project page by a search engine. Yes, featuring gets you an initial burst of views, and a dash of viral marketing doesn't hurt, but the real, long-term traffic comes when your project matches other folks' searches. My highest-hit project is over four years old, but still gets a steady stream of hits because its title and keywords happen to closely match a very common search-string.
If people want or need to see a project like yours, they will see it because they look for it, not because they have looked at the front page of this website.
Now, back to the paperwork :-(