The video below shows how hot dogs are made. I haven’t watched it and it’s likely you don’t have an interest in watching it either. There is a point here.
Who watches a video about how hot dogs are made? Throw out all of the people who watch out of curiosity and kids under 13 and you’d get people who want to know how hot dogs are made because they’re in the business of making hot dogs.
There is a big difference between the person who is interested in how hot dogs are made and the person who is interested in eating a hot dog. If the person who made the video about how hot dogs are made is in the business of selling hot dogs at baseball games, it’s probably a bad idea for a video. I’m guessing you’re not going to rush down to the grocery store and stip the shelves of hot dogs.
Why don’t people who eat hot dogs want to know why they’re made?
Magic.
Kind of.
Everyone wants to know how a magician does their magic tricks, but deep down you don’t really want to know. Because if you knew how the magic trick worked, it wouldn’t be exciting anymore. There would be no mystery behind it, just sleight of hand and a lot of practice. People don’t want to know that a lot of hard work went into it. They’d prefer the mystical explanation.
People who eat hot dogs don’t want to know how they’re made because it would ruin the experience of eating hot dogs, just like people don’t really want to know how magic tricks work. Sometimes we just want the end result and a little bit of mystery.
Now reread the post and substitute “hot dogs” with books, music, movies, athletes, writers, or any other creative occupation. It works the same way. Then why share how “hot dogs” are made instead of just making more “hot dogs” that people really want? That’s the question.
Kai Davis says
“Then why share how “hot dogs” are made instead of just making more “hot dogs” that people really want? That’s the question.”
It’s easier. I share how I make hotdogs instead of making hot dogs because it’s easier to talk about how to do it instead of doing it. Putting my money where my mouth is feels more dangerous than talking about it.
Ben Nesvig says
Definitely easier. The main issue with “how to” writing is when it isn’t done deliberately and instead is more so a form of procrastination (I may or may not have personal experience here).