Writing a guide from scratch
Follow this process when you are writing a guide from scratch or making major updates to an existing one. The goal is to help you spend time where it matters most and avoid writing a full draft before we align on direction.
You are always welcome to draft independently. But in most cases, collaborating through this process leads to stronger guides and fewer revision rounds.
Read the contributor style guide for voice, tone, and how we phrase recommendations—it pairs with every phase below.
At a glance
Section titled “At a glance”- Exploration: confirm topic fit and contributor context
- Outline: align on scope and structure before full drafting
- Drafting: write in template, then iterate with review
- Publishing: finalize, publish, and distribute
Phase 1: Exploration
Section titled “Phase 1: Exploration”What happens: You share the guide idea or update you have in mind.
What we ask for:
- Your experience with the topic
- Why this guide is useful for our audience right now
- Examples of public writing where you explain complex ideas clearly
Goal of this phase: Confirm that the topic and framing fit what we can publish.
Phase 2: Outline
Section titled “Phase 2: Outline”What happens: We send an outline template and collaborate on the intro and section flow.
Why this matters: It is much easier to adjust direction at outline stage than after a full draft is written.
Goal of this phase: Lock the scope and structure so your drafting time is well spent.
Phase 3: Drafting
Section titled “Phase 3: Drafting”What happens: We share a Proton Doc template that matches site formatting (checklist items, how-to sections, and alerts). You submit a first full draft, then we run expert review and feedback rounds.
Typical focus during revisions:
- Accuracy and evidence
- Clarity and plain-language framing
- Recommendation strength and trade-offs
- Consistency with our style guide and page structure and formatting docs
Goal of this phase: Get to a publish-ready draft that is clear, practical, and trustworthy.
Phase 4: Publishing
Section titled “Phase 4: Publishing”What happens: We finalize copy, publish the guide on the site, and share it through our normal channels.
All guides are currently published anonymously.
What helps drafts move faster
Section titled “What helps drafts move faster”- Start with the risk and who it affects
- Make your primary recommendation obvious
- Name trade-offs directly
- Keep language plain and actionable
- Flag any areas where you want extra editor feedback