Chapter 1: The Flaws of Formulaic Instructions

In my experience as a writer for various publications, I've noticed a growing demand for the conventional how-to articles, focusing more on the "how" than the "what" or "why." Honestly, I'm beginning to find this trend tedious and overly simplistic. Why is that?

Most of these articles end up as neat little lists or bullet points, largely shaped by Google's misleading approach to writing. Consequently, many readers are led to believe that learning can be distilled into a series of straightforward steps, which simply isn’t the case. In reality, many of these 7-step guides could be condensed into brief summaries of just a few sentences.

The main issue with these how-to articles? What works for me may be interesting, but it probably won’t yield the same results for you. Why not? Because my unique blend of experiences, understandings, and skills differs significantly from yours.

The way I figured out what works for me may have involved numerous attempts, each teaching me intricate details along the way. Sure, your journey could be quicker since I've laid out some guidelines, but don't be surprised if it takes you several tries to achieve the same outcome—most nuances are often omitted in these simplified instructions.

Even worse, when presented as a 7-step process, you might mistakenly believe it should work perfectly on your first attempt, leading to disappointment. If it fails, you may conclude the information is erroneous, even if it’s not.

Information ≠ Knowledge

Plus, just because something is effective for me doesn't guarantee it will be for you. Your circumstances—be it climate, market, business type, or even personal factors like age and experience—could be entirely different.

It's far more appealing to say "follow these 7 simple steps" than to suggest "read this book, figure it out, and try various methods if that doesn't work."

If I were to tell you that the best way to write is to sit down and produce 50,000 to 100,000 words, that likely wouldn’t be very useful for you. Yet, that’s how many authors manage to publish their work. I could break it down further, suggesting techniques like the Pomodoro method—writing in 25-minute segments with short breaks—but that still overlooks critical aspects such as developing story concepts, understanding narrative structure, and mastering grammar.

These details are too complex and lengthy to fit into a “7-step guide to successful writing,” which is why they often get ignored.

As humans, we tend to want quick and easy solutions, leading to the popularity of TL;DR formats. I once heard a first-year university student say, during a lecture, that if anything exceeded two sentences, she wouldn’t bother reading further. It took all my restraint not to laugh and point out that she was in the wrong place.

What was she expecting? A condensed version of her entire degree?

Unfortunately, this mindset prevails everywhere.

Not convinced? Check your analytics. Most readers spend less than half the time on a six-minute article than it actually takes to read it. They’re not interested in investing time to learn; they want immediate answers and will quickly move on to another source if they don’t get them—even if that information is inaccurate.

This is a significant concern. Once upon a time, people read to absorb knowledge, not just to gather information. The concise, formulaic 7-step articles diminish the depth of learning that writers have to offer. By doing so, they also limit the quality of information shared.

Perpetuating Clickbait Writing

Neglecting the deeper meanings and contexts behind our narratives isn’t wise or honest. Understanding the reasons and implications behind the advice allows readers to discern how it might apply to their own experiences. Omitting this context reduces the richness of the information shared, effectively turning it into clickbait.

If following a simple 7-step guide guaranteed success, we would all be thriving in our endeavors. However, that's not the case. True achievement stems from perseverance and understanding the intricacies of a subject while adapting it to suit your own style.

Claude Debussy once remarked, “Music is the space between the notes.” The same can be said for sharing knowledge. The essence of learning lies not in simplistic lists but in the surrounding context.

So, the next time you're tempted to dive into a "7 steps to success in (insert topic here)" article, remember that you may be misled. Enjoy the read, but know that it likely won’t serve you as you hope. Take what resonates, adjust it, and practice until you find your own way.

Best wishes,

Kristin Austin is the creator of a unique business revenue-building game and is currently drafting an e-book version to facilitate international distribution. If you're interested, you can also hire me as a habit coach to enhance your sales revenue.

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Chapter 2: The Impact of Misleading Guides

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