5 Essential elements for proposal writing plans
There are multiple terms used for the initial writing tools used in proposal development. Some use the term storyboard. This term comes from the movie industry in which the director blocks out scenes so she can visualize the action plot sequencing. Others prefer the term annotated outline to indicate the depth to which the flow of text is being developed. Writing plan is a generic term Lohfeld Consulting Group uses to refer to whichever method (storyboard or annotated outline) you select for a particular proposal development effort.
Regardless of the term and the form used, the essentials of the writing plan template include:
- Reference to the section being addressed
- Theme or lead-in statement
- Substantiating evidence
- Offer design strategy for text and graphics
- Bulleted details for the text
Writing plans provide the road map for the actual proposal. They give your writers a mechanism to organize their thoughts, gather evidence to support their claims, develop graphics ideas, and determine whether their proposed inputs are coherent, consistent, and complete.
Developing writing plans and pulling together critical elements needed to write various proposal sections before actually beginning to write final text gives your team an edge on the proposal effort, clearly directs your writing efforts, reduces frustration among proposal team members, and improves your ability to maintain the final proposal-development schedule. It also enables identification and resolution of internal issues that could change the course of the proposal.
By Brooke Crouter
Paperback or Kindle
10 steps to creating high-scoring proposals
by Bob Lohfeld
contributors Edited by Beth Wingate
Subscribe to our free ebrief
Teaming friends, frenemies, and enemies—12 tips to mitigate harmful effects
Did you know that contracting officers spend up to 20% of their time mitigating disputes between teaming partners? In an informal poll we conducted on LinkedIn last month, 40% of respondents classified their teaming partners as “frenemies” on their last bid.
Explore Further
- Advice (489)
- AI (14)
- APMP (17)
- Business Development (226)
- Capture Management (204)
- Complex Technology Grants Services (9)
- Favorite Books (5)
- Go-to-Market (27)
- Graphics (5)
- Lohfeld Books (2)
- Past Performance (59)
- Post-submission Phase (14)
- Pre-RFP Preparation (215)
- Proposal Management (285)
- Proposal Production (64)
- Proposal Reviews (29)
- Proposal Writing (88)
- Pursuit Phase (90)
- Research Report (2)
- Resources (59)
- Tools & Tips (311)
- Training (10)
- Uncategorized (218)
Sign Up for INSIGHTS and Download your FREE book
We'd love to help you with your proposals. Enjoy our complimentary Lohfeld Consulting Group Capture & Proposal Insights & Tips book with your FREE subscription to our Insights Newsletter.
GET YOUR FREE BOOK