Writing a Proposal
- Thread starter stuff_it
- Start date
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
Just get down on one knee and ask.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
An "education & employment" forum proposal, not a knobbin' and sobbin' proposal.
It's intended to get me some writing work.
Start by writing some words
spanglechick
High Empress of Dressing Up
Are there not online guides for this kind of thing? Unless urbs have written exactly this kind of thing, advice might not be relevant.
Is it a general solicitation for work, or is it in response to a specific request?
Is it a general solicitation for work, or is it in response to a specific request?
spanglechick
High Empress of Dressing Up
Also, when you say writing work - do you mean copywriting? Do you have a portfolio of stuff you can show people?
Supine
Newt Member
Sure your going for the right line of work?
discobastard
Well-Known Member
We write probably 5-10 proposals a week and there is a structure that we use to make very clear points about why they should buy our services. It makes it easy for the client to see what you'll bring and crucially gives you a clear structure to write to so you don't drone on and on and lose them (and yourself) in unnecessary detail. Also as a writer it shows you can structure things logically and efficiently.
- Outline the issue or problem (or what you think they need)
- A brief headline summary of three things you can bring to the table
- Detail on thing one
- Detail on thing two
- Detail on thing three
- A brief summary of why these three things will give them what they need
- Short summary of next steps - ask for action (what you need from them)/what will happen on commission/kick off
It is good if you cover different aspects for the three things. I don't know the nature of your proposal but here's some that I am making up as I go along:
1) Intellectual - why what you will write will meet the needs of the brief (your experience of the writing topic etc)
2) Commercial/reputational or whatever the outcome needs to be - why what you will write will make them money/make them look good/add value to the educational forum
3) Practical - how you will go about it/project management - i.e. you'll be low maintenance/produce high quality work that will mean they don't have to spend much time editing/project managing
Do it right/keep it concise and this should make it easier for them to buy you as a writer.
Hope that is helpful. You are welcome to send me more detail and I would be happy to try and shape it a bit more.
db
ETA: I work in a very commercial environment but I believe clarity is important in any discipline. This should deliver that and also makes your life a lot easier.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
What type of writing work?
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
I don't think they want anything particularly long or formal - in fact they've specifically requested that I keep it short and sweet.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
Blogging mainly, but also published materials such as brochures, possibly website re-writes, and maybe some ghostwriting of influencer articles. It's for a solicitor, but they specifically want a 'clever non-lawyer'.
Top stuff. This is very similar to the short proposal template I've been using. Good point on adding the further actions.
How important are specific dates? Should I use time frames instead? e.g. "Phase one will take two weeks", rather than "Phase one will run from 6th April to the 20th April".
Gromit
International Man of Misery
How do you finish?
Supine
Newt Member
Full stop
discobastard
Well-Known Member
Hi stuff_it - it depends I guess whether they give you a specific assignment and any dates for it really. They rarely state a specific day for a final presentation/deliverable, usually they say something like 'final report w/c 22nd May' or 'end of May'. Do you have a written brief for a specific piece of writing?
If we get a specific week stated we just work things back from there and put each week into a a Gantt chart (I often split weeks into two so you have some granularity), but if there aren't specific dates or you don't know when you will be starting then this also works:
It's good to use a visual like that and is actually quite easy. Or you could put it in a table too:
- Kickoff and specification meeting: w/c 24 April
- Review of existing literature: w/c 24 April and w/c 1 May
- Present literature review: Monday 8 May
- etc..
But what the plan does is at least show them what is involved and the various tasks that you need to undertake in order to do the job properly. And obviously just make sure you are not committing to any ridiculous timelines.
Another thing we do is put in review and edit dates. It is good to specify gently how many edits they get, i.e.:
- Deliver draft 1: 18 May
- Feedback on draft 1 received: 25 May
- Deliver revised draft: 28 May
- Feedback on revised draft: 2 June
- Deliver final edit for proofing: 6 June
Apologies if some of this is really obvious, it's just stuff I've learnt over the years, usually the hard way
Like I say, happy to look at anything if that would be helpful, but no pressure at all.
Last edited:
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
Thanks for this.Hi stuff_it - it depends I guess whether they give you a specific assignment and any dates for it really. They rarely state a specific day for a final presentation/deliverable, usually they say something like 'final report w/c 22nd May' or 'end of May'. Do you have a written brief for a specific piece of writing?
If we get a specific week stated we just work things back from there and put each week into a a Gantt chart (I often split weeks into two so you have some granularity), but if there aren't specific dates or you don't know when you will be starting then this also works:
View attachment 103235
It's good to use a visual like that and is actually quite easy. Or you could put it in a table too:
So it really depends on what they have asked for. If it's not clear, then it is worth saying something like 'the following is an indicative timeline based upon the assignment as we currently understand it, but if there are any specific internal deadlines we would be happy to rework the above project plan'. Or you could get in touch and ask them if they have a timeline/deadline in mind such that you can put something together which meets their needs (which will probably make you look good if they haven't specified anything).
- Kickoff and specification meeting: w/c 24 April
- Review of existing literature: w/c 24 April and w/c 1 May
- Present literature review: Monday 8 May
- etc..
But what the plan does is at least show them what is involved and the various tasks that you need to undertake in order to do the job properly. And obviously just make sure you are not committing to any ridiculous timelines.
Another thing we do is put in review and edit dates. It is good to specify gently how many edits they get, i.e.:
It's important to do this so you don't get stuck with endless change which suck up your time (and money if you could be doing something else). If we are doing films we often state that there is a three stage edit process, first edit, revisions, second edit, revisions, final edit. And also, to state that any edits/comments are compiled by a single individual and presented to you that way (rather than the nightmare of receiving wide and varied comments from four separate people, some of which contradict each other).
- Deliver draft 1: 18 May
- Feedback on draft 1 received: 25 May
- Deliver revised draft: 28 May
- Feedback on revised draft: 2 June
- Deliver final edit for proofing: 6 June
Apologies if some of this is really obvious, it's just stuff I've learnt over the years, usually the hard way
Like I say, happy to look at anything if that would be helpful, but no pressure at all.
It's not a specific piece, rather it largely consists of ongoing work writing blog articles, with some other stuff like rewriting the static content of the website possibly included in the future. This is all super helpful, and I've saved it all for future use. Nice one, ta.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
If it's ongoing blog posts on legal articles, it might be worthwhile taking a current court case - for example the Brewdog ip stuff- and writing a sample post covering the key legal aspects, so they have an example of your writing style.Thanks for this.
It's not a specific piece, rather it largely consists of ongoing work writing blog articles, with some other stuff like rewriting the static content of the website possibly included in the future. This is all super helpful, and I've saved it all for future use. Nice one, ta.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
He hasn't asked for a sample, so I'm not sure it's that relevant. He seemed more focused on getting the working relationship right - bearing in mind that he's seen my non-legal writing skills, in the form of my entire website.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
A website is very different to what you say he wants you to do though. Don't be surprised if he asks for a sample at some point - summarising legal cases so a lay person can pick it up quickly is a type of writing that takes be a bit of practice. It's very different from writing a website.
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