3 Simple Ways to
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PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

How to make a great Instructable

How to make a great Instructable
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This is a community edited Instructable that goes over the process of making an Instructable. It covers appropriate subjects; the mechanics of adding text, images, and files; and the level of quality expected in an Instructable.

You can start your first Instructable by mousing over "Submit" on the top navigation and clicking "New Instructable." Or, you can just click here!

If you're new to the site, welcome! This guide will help you navigate through creating an Instructable.

 
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Step 1Subject matter

Subject matter
The best instructables are written by people who are passionate about what they do and
want to share their knowledge. So, the best question to ask yourself about writing an Instructable is this: "Am I passionate, enthusiastic, and really excited about the project I am about to share."

Some good examples of Instructables written by passionate people:
3-D Scanner
Magnetic Acrylic Rubik's Cube
Dixie Cup Spherical Dodecahedron
Teddy Bear Remote Control
Dachshund wheelchair

We are also looking for people to write Instructables on some specific topics. Check out the Burning Questions if you are looking for something to write an Instructable about.

If you have a question, comment, idea, or request for collaborators, please post that in the forums. Instructables must include instruction.

Of course, there are some exceptions. If you did something that completely failed, and can teach others how not to repeat your error, that can make an excellent Instructable. Check How Not To for a good example of this.

Please do not make Instructables that violate our terms of service. Here is a brief, human-readable version of the TOS.

Instructables is rapidly evolving, growing, and becoming more and more exciting. Our vision for the project is captured in the about page, but I thought you might enjoy a more practical approach. So, here's a human readable terms of service (from here).

Please use Instructables to:

  • Document and show off how you built your projects.
Projects can be in any form -- half-finished (the documentation should be complete),
hot off your work bench, or fully debugged and ready to make a million units.
If there's instruction, if someone can learn from and improve upon your work, it's an Instructable.

  • Demonstrate how to do something.
This could include showing
how to change a car tire,
how to use a software product,
how to sail a boat.

  • Solicit feedback or help on projects.
Post useful comments and suggestions on other people's projects.
Work together with other users to improve on projects.
Post derivative projects that show your contribution or innovation to an existing Instructable.
We are working on tools to make this easier.

  • Market your project.
Did you make two widgets, but only need one?
Are you willing to cook your awesome recipe for others?
Are you the best at what you do and willing to share your service?
Let people know. We are working on tools to make this easier.

Please don't use Instructables to:

  • Advertise without any useful instruction.
    • Post projects that are inappropriate.
There's a "grayzone" that includes all the things you might think it includes: obscene projects, clearly unsafe projects with no warning or instruction, and projects that are previously copyrighted or rely solely on copyrighted or otherwise protected materials. If your project is in the grayzone, we may decide to un-publish or delete it.
  • Post comments that are mean-spirited or insulting.

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246 comments
1-40 of 246next »
Dec 14, 2011. 10:32 AMmikeasaurus says:
Here's an updated write-up on How to Write an Instructable (Oct,2011)
Mar 25, 2012. 6:39 AMrudedude119 says:
thanks for this i am new to making guides this will really help me
Mar 22, 2012. 11:22 AMwarlife says:
http://mp4-online.ru/ good
Feb 6, 2012. 6:35 AMmr_nani says:
hello,to all friends,i can not speake english very well.i want to help me all of your.i want the project that include ARM&avr whit maps and protel and proteuse picture and data sheet and pdf and clip project
Jan 10, 2012. 4:35 PMHaileySugar says:
Hi! I'm new to the site! How do I make a "Collaboration" with someone and also How do I do a guide? Can anyone set up the weekly challenges?
Dec 25, 2011. 9:20 PMdavidjjamess says:
This is easier and surely gives comfort to internet users. Thanks for sharing. Post like this offers great benefit. Thank you!
Apr 7, 2011. 6:51 PMgonzalezchica says:
I can't figure out how to do this part. I can't find how to do the "Steps", I can't even find the button for it. HELP!
Apr 8, 2011. 10:29 AMmikeasaurus says:
These instructions pertained to a previous iteration of this site, the method has changed slightly in the last few years.

Look up to the top-right of this page, there should be a yellow button named "submit". Clicking this button will bring up a new page with options on how you want to publish your project.

Let me know if you have other publishing questions.
Nov 17, 2011. 12:33 PMdiy_bloke says:
The yellow button brings me to a completely new to start instructable. Apparently it is not possible to do steps from the screen that I got to when I just started an instructable,

Some instructions should greatly enhance making an instructable.

This ofcourse is no criticism on you mikeasaurus as you are just trying to help.
I am just frustrated by the fact that I started an instructable, just by following the menu's. I then got to work in a screen that doesn't allow me to 'add' any steps and clicking the "Submit" button, brought me to a completely empty new instructable that had no relation to the one I had saved.
Well cutting and pasting then in the new instructable I guess.

One obviously does need more than an advanced college degree for this
Nov 17, 2011. 1:00 PMmikeasaurus says:
This Instructable was written a few years ago, the site and interface has changed some since then. Here's an updated guide to get you started, let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!
Dec 14, 2011. 12:06 AMcriggie says:
Your link appears to be to some kind of heated shoe liners. Sorry - what was it supposed to point to?
Dec 14, 2011. 10:27 AMmikeasaurus says:
whoops, no! Here is where you want to go.
Sep 29, 2011. 5:40 AMKiteman says:
Surely a new version needs to be written then?
Sep 21, 2011. 6:03 PMHVahead says:
how do change the photo sizes???
May 2, 2011. 3:03 PMgonzalezchica says:
Do I have to make my instructable all over again (In step form) or is there some easy way to switch it over?
May 2, 2011. 3:16 PMmikeasaurus says:
There's no way to switch between Instructable types and keep the content you've entered. However there are some easy ways to solve this:
  • Copy the Instructable text into a Word document (or Notepad and keep all the html) then paste it back into a new Instructable in the format you want.
  • Open a new browser window with the desired Instructable type and copy and paste the content between the windows.
This would be the easiest method to change the Instructable type. Good luck!
May 17, 2011. 5:12 PMKnEx FrEaK 1 says:
How do you get to the part where u make steps
May 17, 2011. 5:14 PMKnEx FrEaK 1 says:
Nvm
Dec 12, 2011. 4:57 PMmagicgimik says:



Youtube Music Videos
Nov 17, 2011. 12:22 PMdiy_bloke says:
Sorry to say but this "how to instructable" is pretty bad.
How do I make 'steps'?
It is the basic of an instructable and I still do not get it
Nov 17, 2011. 12:57 PMmikeasaurus says:
This Instructable was written a few years ago, the site and interface has changed some since then. Here's an updated guide to get you started, let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!
Nov 3, 2011. 4:49 PMljones20 says:
I'm trying to make an Instructable, but every time I go into preview mode, it deletes my text. If I type text in one step, it changes the text in all the other steps. I am very confused, and any help would be appreciated.
Nov 6, 2011. 6:01 AMzerochance says:
I"m having this same problem. Spent hours yesterday trying to write an instructable, couldn't break it into steps, then lost everything that I had 'saved'.
Sep 29, 2011. 12:33 AMkidsshoesshop says:
Yes,I also can't find out the how to do this part.
Sep 18, 2011. 1:22 PMletapeta says:
Once published, can I go back to edit and/or add steps?
Jul 12, 2011. 5:34 PMmitch and sears says:
once ive saved it how can i get back to it pls answer back pls pls pls
Aug 17, 2011. 1:22 PMwilgubeast says:
Log in. Click "You" in the upper right hand corner of the page. Click "Instructables". Then marvel at your own creation. (If your project is unpublished, click "Unpublished". This is slightly less marvelous.)
Jul 28, 2011. 2:25 AMjeckk says:
great
Jul 19, 2011. 2:25 PMsway says:
safari?
Jul 12, 2011. 5:33 PMmitch and sears says:
pls answer back i cant find the history tab pls tell me where it is
Jul 9, 2011. 3:42 PMcolorex says:
'''test'''
Jul 9, 2011. 3:41 PMcolorex says:
~~TEST~~
Jul 4, 2011. 6:37 AMdevilbarney says:
Great! I'm using Chrome now and its awesome!!
Mar 30, 2007. 9:14 PMtwisted says:
once "published" how long will it take for it to apear on teh website? i pubished mine.... but i cant find it!
Jun 27, 2011. 12:35 AMmitch and sean says:
Yeah that's the same with me!
Jun 21, 2010. 8:21 PMmossimo3 says:
I have 2/4 that cannot be found on the website also! The first was "published" quite a few months ago if not last year and it still cant be found!
Dec 19, 2008. 6:51 AMLoneWolf says:
Yeah same here, it's driving me nuts that I can't find my instructable on the website
Jun 9, 2011. 8:36 AMWayfinderAli says:
I can't see the embed code. All I see are options to share on facebook, digg, twitter etc. What happened to the embed code? They seem to have gotten rid of that option. Please help! I would love to post my instructables to my blog!!
May 17, 2011. 5:08 PMKnEx FrEaK 1 says:
Hi
Apr 12, 2011. 11:06 PMVyger says:
I have been using Flock for some time now and it apparently integrates well with the site. I have not run into any issues. As a browser I think its very good. Its very stable, almost never gives me any trouble.
1-40 of 246next »

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Author:ewilhelm
Eric J. Wilhelm is the founder of Instructables. He has a Ph.D. from MIT in Mechanical Engineering. Eric believes in making technology accessible through understanding, and strives to inspire others ...
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