Steps are a little trickier than a simple wall. You don't say your zone, but I'm guessing you have freezes in TN, in which case just putting them on compacted dirt will be a decision that you will regret in future years, as it slowly heaves out of place and gets more crooked with each year.

I'd recommend a book by David Reed (the art of stonescaping.) as I couldn't cover all the details. I'm sure you could get it at your local library. The important thing is to build your steps from the BOTTOM up, not top down.

Ditto to both of the above replies - I have no expertise beyond having built some steps last fall, and I bet you have climate issues to think about. Mind you, repairs are possible so you can just lay stones on dirt and then redo with gravel if necessary.

As for direction, I think starting at the bottom makes more sense intuitively, but it may depend on at which end you can more easily flex your level, because you can't be sure your total height will be as predicted (at least, we couldn't). Those are nice steps, callousedknees, here are the ones we built (or rather I have to credit DH because my back was knocked out of commission by the stone wall and he did most of this).

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Hi Stevedoug-
I am a stone mason just over in Asheville. It's always best to start steps at the bottom of your slope, as you get toward the top you can always choose the next stones you use to meet the final grade. You can also rent a transit at your local equipment rental and that will help you determine the exact hight you need to reach. I always dig a base below the frost line, around here it's around 6-8". Next put down a layer of small gravel on your subsoil, make sure you have hit packed clay. You can adjust the level of your step by adding or removing gravel. Give your steps a very slight downward pitch, this will keep water from collecting on them. Then just work your way up, packing gravel around the edges of the stones as you go. You can also over lap the front edge of the upper stone with the back edge of the bottom stone to provide greater stability. Good luck!

I don't have anything to add, except a picture of the steps I built. That's wooly thyme on the steps and elfin thyme on the rest of the path. If you follow the link, there are pictures of the steps being built. I'm no professional either.
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Here is a link that might be useful: More pictures

I am building steps next week (weather permitting). I typically take pictures of my projects as they progress.

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Here is the hill I will be adding random steps to. The steps are not going to be evenly placed up the hill but instead random to keep the hill informal and to draw the eye upward. You can see 2 flat stones I have placed on the hill in the areas I think I will be adding the steps. I will also add one more (higher).

I did the stack stone wall myself last fall. I was all stoned-out and just couldnt bring myself to complete the steps. Now spring is in the air and I am recharged and ready to tackle the project.

Wish me luck...

Good luck.

Judging by what you've done so far, I don't think you have much to worry about. It looks like you know what you're doing!

Not bad for a girl 'eh?

;o)

Wow---These photos are amazing and what beautiful creations!

And
ElementalStone's information is informative and I'm printing it out for our next project!

Thank you all!