the key spoke is deterimed how the wheel is drilled,put your key spoke in the hub flange facing you,from the outside in so you have the end of the spoke on the outside of the hub,the little round end of the spoke will be facing out[that is the way the first 9 on one side and 9 on the other side go,find the valve stem hole,look at the spoke holes in the rim,if the hole in the rim that corresponds with your hub flange put the key spoke in that hole,if the hole is the 2nd one from the valve hole put your spoke in there,now look down at the other side of the flange and put a spoke in that flange one hole behind you first spoke,put this spoke in the rim hole just behind your key[starting this way will make the 2 spokes next to the valve hole straight so its ezer to but in air]now cont 3 holes away from your first spoke and in stall the second spoke,do the same for the rest of the spokes on your 1rst side then do the same on the other side,you will now have 18 spokes in,twist the hub clockwies[shake the rim around so the spokes seat]now feed a spke from the inside out,go the opositedirection of the already installed spokes,cross over 2 spokes and under the 3rd spoke and install the spoke in the rim that matches the side your working on,keep repeating till the 3rd and 4th set are in,after you read this go to shelden brown and see his steps,hopfully my basic instructions will help you to under stand his better,once you get the hang of it its ez