Start with a sheet of good quality charcoal paper.  Charcoal paper is a very specific paper.  If you have a pad that says "Good for pencil, pen, pastel and charcoal" or some such, It is probably NOT good charcoal paper.   Charcoal paper is sold only as "charcoal paper."  It has a special "tooth", a fine abrasive-like texture, not to be confused with weave or small bumps impressed into the paper.  The best charcoal paper is  often sold by the sheet.  It is relatively expensive.
Cushion this sheet by taping it on top of at least three sheets of lesser paper.  Newsprint is fine for this padding, the purpose of which is to eliminate any  frottage (pattern of the drawing board rubbed through).  Tape all the edges.
Using the side of a piece of a stick of vine charcoal, apply tone to the entire sheet.  Lightly rub the tone so that the texture is softened and the charcoal is more or less evenly distributed on the paper.
With a shaped tip on a stick of vine charcoal, execute a contour drawing of the scene.
With a kneaded rubber eraser, lift the charcoal off the paper in those areas where you want higher (lighter) values.  Add charcoal to those areas needing lower values.  Smear and lightly rub to create a variety of textures.
When you are finished, it is necessary to "fix" the charcoal dust to the paper or it will transfer to anything it touches and your drawing will soon "disappear."  Read the instructions on the container and spray several light coats of "fixative", a special lacquer specially formulated for this purpose.  No. it is not the same as hairspray.

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