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.
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Of course, we don't have to start a special list to discuss proposal
writing. We already have a list on which we can do that, and we already have
more than a dozen writers interested in discussing the subject, so let us
begin. The events that follow and the actions of the contributors to the
list will influence what we do in the future.
I have always thought it unfortunate that we have made it a practice to
speak of "proposal writing," as though the art of writing effective
proposals was a writing specialty that any writer could learn. Of course,
excellence in writing is a great boon to turning out the most successful
proposals, but the proposal is, after all, a sales presentation and is
therefore dependent on the proposal author's marketing skills. Can these not
be learned? Of course, they an, at least to some extent. But some writers
will develop and engaging and popular style, and some will not, despite the
writer's best efforts. There is simply an element of talent, instinct,
art,or other subconscious influence that may or may not exist, regardless of
conscious effort and the pursuit of rules.
That is apparent when one examines the strategy underlying a sales
effort. Brilliant strategies arise as art. There are keys to developing
strategies, but some marketers simply have a talent for sensing strategic
opportunity, while others do not. And that is what captivates me more than
any other aspect of proposal writing. To me, strategy development is the
true art of proposal writing. - Herm
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