Why a Manual: You Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Editor

My favorite thing about manuals is that, because I publish them myself, I don’t have to worry about an editor changing my writing style, correcting my slang or deleting anything.

Unlike with a book, your readers are very forgiving when it comes to style. Remember, they are buying your information, not the packaging. They expect your manual to be easy-to-read and understood, straightforward, and down-to-earth.

I tend to write my manuals the way I speak. I find my readers aren’t looking for style as much as they are looking for the answers to their burning questions, solutions to their weighty problems, and ideas they can implement themselves.

If you follow my system you will almost always publish your own manuals (lots more on that later) and you’ll never have to deal with the red pen of the editor of the publishing company. As a result, you can get your manual from concept to market in a fraction of the time it takes to get a book out. This is a huge advantage. Your audiences and customers want your ideas right now, not in the 18-24 months it takes to get a book out on your publisher’s schedule.