How to how to

One of my favorite chapter headings of all time is “Coming face to face with a bird on a platter.” It’s found in a book that some readers might not expect be to find on my bookshelf: How to Carve Meat, Game and Poultry. I’ve had it in my possession for over a decade, but I’ve never put it to use for it’s intended purpose. Instead, it functions for me as a manual of writing when teaching is the goal.

I pulled it out today because all the “how to” blog posts that continue to propagate throughout the blogoshpere tend to leave me a little flat. They discourage me from even wanting to bother, so reminding me of an assignment I did in fifth grade titled “how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in ten steps.”

Unlike my description of putting the two slices of bread together with p and j in the middle, the descriptions throughout “How to Carve…” are both sensual (they recognize the physical engagement with the task at hand) and anticipatory (pointing out where the questions will arise and difficulties will be encountered).

So, for what it’s worth:

How to how to (in two steps…

1) Consider the larger purpose of your “how to” post: get the players into the sandbox.

2) Anticipate the unexpected instead of belaboring the obvious.

Step one requires a transmission of passion while step two requires intelligence.

I know you have what it takes…