Style guides are essential aids for writers and editors who produce publications and online help projects—but a style guide isn't the whole story.
Many writers and editors swear by a style guide when organizing, editing and writing publications. Well-known style guides include the Chicago Manual, the AP Style guide and the Microsoft manual for electronic and technical publications. Many corporations adapt elements of these to produce their own, distinctive style guides.
But does a style guide do everything you need as you plan, create and manage a publication or help project? Probably not--and that's why you may need more comprehensive publication guidelines.

Why write publication guidelines?
Publication guidelines can save time, money and hassles for writers and editors over the long term. They're a comprehensive solution that documents all aspects of a publication or project that someone will need to maintain and update it.
They can help future contributors and others taking over, or updating a publication--especially if the new writers don't have expertise in help authoring, publication management or other editorial tasks.

They are especially helpful when contractors know they will pass along a project to an in-house documentation team—-or, what's probably a worse situation--to the developers. They are invaluable to contributors if the project must be turned over before it's finished. They save money over the long run because editors and writers don't have to reinvent the wheel and spend extra time duplicating research. They also make it easier to organize publications, because they can include items outside the scope of a style guide.

Want to save money and headaches with your projects?
Visit the Communication & Creativity blog entry on publication guidelines at http://timmantyla.wordpress.com/2008/07/08/publication-guidelines-are-more-useful-than-a-style-guide for ways to streamline your company's communications and save yourself headaches down the road.