One of the human instincts that’s hardest to resist is the compulsion to offer advice. Sometimes advice is even welcomed or requested. Two of the most popular newspaper columns of all time were the personal advice columns of Dear Abby and Ann Landers.
Even when it’s neither wanted or asked for, it’s almost impossible to resist the urge to give it. But today we’re not talking about kibitzing. Today we’ll explore the art of writing advice.
Advice, at its very basic, is instruction. “If in this circumstance, then do this.” It’s a useful survival strategy for humans. We pass down knowledge. For some deeply buried reason, it gives us pleasure to pass on knowledge, to give advice. I’d be willing to bet that there’s some innate “package” that’s evolved inside our brains that continually whispers, “Look over people’s shoulders. Say, ‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you.’” A close second to the giving advice urge is the “I told you so,” response. That one is very difficult to silence.
To write good advice you must first clearly lay out the problem or situation and then offer instructions that can be carried out. Think of it as writing a user manual for, well, anything. And the best manuals specify a starting state, actions, and a result or end state. Your advice should do the same thing.
But instead of assembling a bookcase or operating the latest software program, advice has a fuzzier component. The starting state is almost always unique. And because of that, advice is typically less concrete than, “Next, insert flange C into slot 4.” Your advice should be generalized so that the recipient can shape their actions based upon paths of actions, not necessarily clear and unvarying steps.
For today’s assignment, write a short advice response to the following request for advice:
Dear Writer In Training,
My wallet is a mess! I can never find the bill I want when I need it and I never know how much money I’m carrying. Can you help me organize my wallet?
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