TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Michele Davis wondered: <<I have been asked by a manufacturing client
to create a white paper to attempt to secure a government contract...
I'm wondering if anyone knows any resources for creating this type of
white paper? I need information on methodology and layout.>>
First off, there's no such thing as "a" white paper. That is, there are
many different types of document loosely referred to as white papers
rather than a single archetypal white paper. Check the techwr-l
archives for repeated discussions of this very point.
Second, if the goal is to secure a government contract, you're not
writing a white paper--you're writing one of three things:
1. If the government is asking people to bid on a contract of some
sort, you're writing a response to a "request for proposals" or "call
for tenders".
2. If you're applying for general funding under a specific government
program, you're applying for a grant or loan.
3. You may also be writing a diatrive of some sort that provides
supporting information for 1 or 2.
In any of these cases, you need to consult the specification provided
by the government agency to whom you're applying. That's the only valid
source of instructions to guide what you'll be writing, and if you
don't follow those specs, you might as well watch prime time TV for all
the good you'll be doing your client.
--Geoff Hart ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca
(try geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com if you don't get a reply)
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