For all the manuscripts I've submitted, many returned with nice notes from editors, most of my acceptances were "just how-tos." But how-tos are never "just how-tos". How-tos are the perfect lure for kids who enjoy using their hands more than they enjoy reading. You can get your hands dirty reading a how-to. Reluctant readers see lots of white space, short paragraphs. They find short sentences, pertinent language. A how-to gives them a reason to read and a tactile reward (ex. recipe = food!).

Writing a how-to is easy, you think. Try it! [There are good directions and bad directions. Remember all those wee hours on Christmas Eve struggling with "@#$%^& directions!!"? Kids need great clear directions!] So, how do you make a great how-to?

Take an idea. Write it down step by step. Think short, clear, concise, fun.

Find magazines that publish how-tos for children (arts, crafts, recipes, science experiments, games. . . .) Send for samples or go to the library and pull out 6 months worth of each magazine. Where does your idea fit? Rank the magazines from "best fit" to "maybe". Check publisher wish lists (ex. Children's Writer). If it's not a good match leave it off your list.

Read the Submission Guidelines.

While you're perusing magazines take note: What kinds of how-tos do they publish (art, crafts, recipes, hands-on science, magic tricks, games, etc). Which ones do they use the most? Do you see a recipe in every issue but only a couple of crafts and one game? Maybe they use more recipes, fewer crafts, and even fewer games so it's a good place to send recipes. Maybe they love games but rarely get game submissions worth publishing.

What makes the how-to in one magazine different from one in another magazine? Compare craft to craft, recipe to recipe. Look at content, tone, style, form, word count, humor. If you resubmit your article to a 2nd or 3rd magazine you may need to make small changes.

How many steps? How many different materials? How many tools? What kinds of tools and materials? Are the tools and materials kid-friendly, cheap, easy to find around the house? Recyclable? Can a child read it and make it himself or will he need adult supervision? Those are all questions you need answers for when marketing your how-to, and they’re usually questions best answered by a combination of careful attention to guidelines and reading sample issues.

What age is your craft for? Are you writing something fun for an adult to read to a child or something fun for a child to read and do independently? A craft for teens won't look like a craft for a preschooler with adult help. A craft for kids 6-12 won't look like a craft for kids 5-7. Motor skills, attention span, finished product appeal, need for adult assistance, age appropriate tools and materials vary. The age of your reader also determines vocabulary, sentence length, and word count.

Crafts that work well one-on-one with a child might require too much one-on-one adult supervision for a classroom or be too expensive. If you work with groups of children on a regular basis, check church or educational markets or any idea magazines published by the organization that sponsors your group (Scouts, 4-H, church).

Many magazines publish recipes, crafts and games to complement a theme, country, time period, season, or holiday. Check the magazine's theme list and special guidelines for seasonal submissions. Go through at least 2-3 years of each magazine to make sure they haven't recently published an article like yours.

Is your idea unique? Search the internet and craft books (children and adult). Again, you might find more markets.

What if your idea has been done before? Is there one thing you can change or add to make it unique? (In order to make a how-to unique, I’ve used a rubber band instead of string, a pocket instead of a paddle or scoop.) Can you change the age group? Can you make it holiday, season, or gender specific? Can you design your craft so it requires more than one person or teamwork? Can you make it a game?

Go back and revise your draft. Follow the format you found in the magazine you're targeting. Say what you need to say in as few words as possible. Keep the steps clear, sentences short, vocabulary strong and age appropriate. Make every word count. If you need extra words add humor, but say what you mean and mean what you say.

Put it away for a day or two. Then read your directions and do it. Revise again. Let an adult try it. Let a child try it. Does the final product look the way it's supposed to look? Use their comments to revise.

Some magazines want you to send a photo of the completed craft with the article. Use your best artistic skills, make the craft (or find someone else to). Take photos. If the photo will be published with the craft, follow their photo guidelines and make it as professional as you can.

At the point where your revisions change the words but don't clarify, simplify the process, or improve the result put it in the mail. A how-to is never "just a how-to." After all your hard work, you've created something so engaging and so much fun a reluctant reader might just forget he's reading. He might even come back for more!