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So far we’ve talked about two types of books – fact and time based. Our system works for one but not for the other. Well, actually yes it will work for both — but it’s not the best technique for the other and I only want you to use the best system!
Now, when I first thought about creating a system I believed there were only those two types.
I was wrong!
Yup, I admit it. There are two types that I don’t usually write.
Today I’m going to discuss sequence based books and tomorrow I’ll talk about collections.
So what is a sequence based book? Well, first of all, it probably doesn’t really exist in it’s pure state. It is a presentation, however, which appears frequently in technical writing.
So what is it already?
It’s a process based presentation; in other words, a how to book dealing with details. Which is why it seldom exists in pure form. Why? Because even technical manuals need to deal with summaries and explanations. It’s a book which is organized to presentt:
- Step One – do this
- Step Two – do this other thing
- Step Three – when you finish do another bit
- Step Four – if you haven’t finished go back and repeat step one.
- and so on and so on and so on.
Quite frankly, words are seldom the best way to present process or sequential based information. Flow diagrams are a much better way of describing that information and should be included whenever you are describing a sequence.
So obviously the Content Mapping system isn ‘t the best way to design this type of book right? Wrong!
Remember my comment on sequential books not existing in pure form? Typically you find a sequential sausage being buried (literally) in a fact based corn roll. Can you tell I haven’t had supper yet? Ah, corn dogs … oops back to books.
The trick is that the majority of the book’s organization is argument or fact based with sections being sequential based. Therefore the Content Map system is the best way to design the whole book. Where sequential elements appear they can be documented either on a seperate sheet or in a spare blank part of the map sheet. The sequence diagram can then be referenced within the content map.
This is the same technique I used when writing How To Write Your Own How To Book in 24 Hours or Less. I sketched the process in one corner of the map and then used a topic tag (actually a group of them) which referenced the sketch.
So is the Content Map the best method for sequential books? Yes, because most sequential books are actually fact based books with sequential pieces.
However, the sequential pieces are best described using a flow diagram. And that applies to both designing and in presenting within the book.
After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
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