How We Put Articles Together

Readers sometimes ask how a small team produces guides on subjects as different as podcasting, bathroom storage and Sicilian coastlines. There is no secret method, only a routine we try to follow every time. Here it is, step by step, including the parts that do not always go smoothly.

1. The question comes first

Every article starts with a question someone genuinely has. It may come from a reader's email, a conversation with a friend or a problem one of us hit at home. We write the question at the top of the draft, and it stays there until the piece is finished. If a paragraph does not help answer it, the paragraph goes.

2. Reading around the subject

The writer gathers material: official guidance, manufacturer instructions, well-regarded books, recorded lectures and documentaries, and the experience of people who do the thing regularly. We favour primary sources over summaries of summaries, and we note where sources disagree rather than picking the most exciting answer.

3. Trying it where we safely can

When a topic allows, we try the steps ourselves. Recording a test podcast episode, laying out a page of notes or planning a mock itinerary reveals gaps that reading alone misses. Anything involving electricity, gas, structural work, health or significant money is not something we experiment with; there, we describe the general picture and recommend a qualified professional.

4. Writing it plainly

Drafts are written for an intelligent reader who is new to the subject. We explain terms when they first appear, put safety notes before the step they concern and use tables or lists when they make a comparison easier to follow. We do not invent statistics, quotes or studies, and when we are unsure, we say so.

5. A second reader

Another member of the team reads every draft before it goes live. Their job is to be a sceptical newcomer: to ask what a word means, why a step comes in that order and where a claim comes from. Drafts usually change quite a bit at this point.

6. Publishing and linking

Once both people are happy, the article is published and linked to related pieces so that readers can follow a topic further. For instance, our guide on making a travel itinerary points to the one on travel photography, because the two questions tend to arrive together.

7. Coming back later

Articles are not finished when they are published. We revisit older pieces, check that steps still work and update details that have changed. When a reader reports a mistake, the original writer investigates, the second reader checks the fix, and the page is updated.

What stays out of the process

• Guarantees on behalf of any business we mention
• Claims of expertise we do not have

You can read more about the people involved on Meet the Masthead. If you think an article falls short of this routine, please tell us on the Write to Us page.