There are three basic steps to building a topic list for Wikipedia: the first is to search Wikipedia to make sure it doesn't already have a list on the subject. The second step is to hunt down every word you can find on the subject, from your own memory, books, web directories, dictionaries, etc. Surround each term with double square brackets, and save the page.
Because Wikipedia has become so extensive, don't be surprised if most or even all of the links turn out blue (those are live links, each leading to an article on Wikipedia). Dead-end links are red, but don't remove them, because they show what articles Wikipedia is missing — anyone can click on a red link to create an article on that topic. The third step is checking each live article in the list for links to related topics. When you find one, add it to the list.
What is the difference between WikiProjects and portals?
WikiProjects are groups of editors who team up to collaborate on developing and maintaining articles or other features or aspects of Wikipedia. There is a Portals WikiProject, for example. WikiProjects are linked to from article talk pages with WikiProject banners like {{WikiProject Politics}} for example, but not from within articles.
Portals are mainly for readers, providing an alternative doorway into a subject, and can be linked to from articles using the {{Portal}} template in an article's See also section. There may or may not be a WikiProject and a portal on the same subject.
By the way...the WikiProject Portals is currently redesigning and revamping the entire portals system, and could use all the help it can get. New participants are welcome.
