Explain Like I'm Five · by Valeria López · 2026-10-06
What is a realistic first 5-week plan for explainers?
Would love to hear how other people handle this. I am especially curious about the version that works on a tired weekday, not just on an ideal Sunday.
I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 10 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.
Context: I am not an expert, just someone trying to make Explain Like I'm Five feel less intimidating. I wrote down what worked, what felt awkward, and what I would do differently next time.
28 sparks · 9 comments
Comments
Midnight Coder · 7 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. You will learn more from a simple version repeated three times than from a perfect plan you never start.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
Hope this helps!
Diego Quispe · 4 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. If two options look equal, choose the one that is easier to reverse.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
Source: mostly hard-won experience and comparing notes with people who stuck with it.
Siti Lim · 2 likes
My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. This is more useful on a tired lunch break than on a perfect day.
Ayesha Khan · 1 likes
This sounds sensible, though I would need to test it myself. The low-effort version is probably the keeper.
Kabir Khan · 1 likes
The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. I keep a note about questions for exactly this reason.
Sara Hosseini · 1 likes
My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. The 9-minute rule is underrated.
Mango Orbit · 0 likes
I am saving this for the next time I overthink explainers. This is where I would ask one more question before choosing.