Subscribe to White Paper World
I worked on white papers over 25 years, and I learned what works (and what doesn’t). To help share my knowledge, I published 50+ issues of my newsletter on this site. As of September 2025, I’m now posting my quick tips and insights on Substack. And I post when I have something useful to say—not…
Read MoreWhy are you always going on about AI?
You haven’t said this, but you may be thinking it. “Why all this stuff on AI? I thought this site was supposed to be about white papers?” You’re right. It is. So please allow me to explain. I’ve written about software my entire career. In the 1980s I played with Eliza—the program that simulates a…
Read MoreTips on using dictation software to write
Marketer or writer, you need to get text out of your mind and onto your screen every day. Most people do that by typing. If you’re fast, you might get 60 words a minute. But you can talk at something like 150 words a minute: 2.5 times that fast. That’s why I love dictation software:…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 58: April 10, 2025
Quick tip: To create a strong white paper, take a position! This just in: AI stole my book, again Inside That White Paper Studio I’m moving to Substack Quick tip: To create a strong white paper, take a position! 2-minute read. Great gobs of muck are piling up everywhere online: blog posts, emails, and comments…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 57: March 26, 2025
Quick tip: Get to know your designer This just in: Help deciding when to use AI What I’m reading: Sh@dy Charac†ers by Ke!th H*uston Coming soon: That White Paper Studio Read in 9 minutes. Listen in 15:45 minutes: Quick tip: Get to know your designer 3-minute read. When you’re working with a designer, do…
Read MoreQuick tip: Get to know your designer
When you’re working with a designer, do you just “throw your text over the wall?” Do you ever talk to the designer? If not, how can you expect them to figure out what you want to see? Every time I’ve taken a few minutes to talk to the designer, things have gone well. But the…
Read MoreQuick tip: In a problem/ solution, cover doing nothing
If you ask B2B salespeople, many will say their toughest competitor is not another company. It’s the prospect not doing anything. They doesn’t make any decision They don’t take your solution to their boss They dither, delay, make excuses, or stop responding And your salesperson’s best efforts lead to nothing. That’s why your white paper…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 56: March 12, 2025
Quick tip: How to turn off CoPilot in Word How to: In a problem/solution, cover what people already tried Slick or ick? Opinion from our design critique winner February book winner: Across two cultures with Rachel Lambert Read in 11 minutes. Listen in 17.5 minutes: Quick tip: How to turn off Copilot in Word 2-minute…
Read MoreWhite Paper FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
When I first started writing white papers 25 years ago, I looked all over for a FAQ. When I couldn’t find one, I decided to write one myself. Over the years, I’ve kept adding to it, until today when it covers 36 questions. This is undoubtedly the most detailed, most thorough FAQ on white papers…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 55, February 27, 2025
Quick tip: 6 reasons to use “styles” in your white papers This just in: Save your web sources, in case they disappear How to: Use the Wayback Machine February book giveaway: Is this report slick… or ick? Listen to this issue in 19 minutes here: Quick tip: 6 reasons to use “styles” in your white…
Read More