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Tech Writing, White Papers, Editing, and More

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What kind of technical writing and editing services does Green Success Stories offer?

Technical writing involves taking complex material and making it clear and easy to follow. It helps readers understand what your solution is and how to use or implement it.

Documentation editing involves taking material others have written and making sure it is grammatically correct, organized well, clear, and engaging.

Green Success Stories offers technical writing and editing services that include:

  • Manuals
  • User Guides
  • Quickstart Guides
  • Online help
  • Help center content
  • Knowledge articles
  • and more

What about White Papers?

White papers are authoritative documents that explore the current range of technical solutions to an existing issue, and present an in-depth look at your solution (which typically shines in comparison).

They are excellent content tools that immediately place you in a position of thought leadership in your field.

Green Success Stories writes white papers that are well-researched, persuasive, and structured to inform and engage the audience effectively.

Here are the typical elements you’d find in a white paper from Green Success Stories:

1. Title & Subtitle

  • Clear & Engaging: The title is informative and compelling.

  • Concise Subtitle: Provides more context on the paper’s focus.

2. Executive Summary

  • A brief overview (1–2 paragraphs) that outlines the problem, key insights, and proposed solutions.

  • Designed for decision-makers who need a quick understanding.

3. Introduction

  • Problem Statement: Clearly defines the issue being addressed.

  • Context & Importance: Explains why this topic matters now.

  • Audience Relevance: Identifies who should care about this white paper.

4. Background & Research

  • Market or Industry Context: Provides historical or industry-specific background.

  • Data & Statistics: Supports the discussion with credible research, charts, and graphs.

  • Challenges & Pain Points: Describes the existing barriers to solving the problem.

5. Proposed Solution or Insights

  • In-depth Analysis: Explains how to approach or solve the issue.

  • Comparison of Approaches: If applicable, evaluates different solutions.

  • Real-world Examples: Case studies or examples that demonstrate effectiveness.

6. Benefits & Value Proposition

  • Why This Matters: Highlights the impact of the solution.

  • Stakeholder Perspectives: Explains how different groups (businesses, consumers, policymakers, etc.) benefit.

7. Call to Action (CTA)

  • Next Steps: Encourages readers to take action, whether adopting a solution, reaching out for a consultation, or engaging further.

  • Contact Information: Provides ways to get in touch for more information.

8. Conclusion

  • Summary of Key Takeaways: Reinforces main points.

  • Final Thought or Prediction: Leaves the reader with a compelling insight.

9. References & Citations

  • A list of sources to establish credibility and allow further exploration.

10. Design & Formatting

  • Clear Headings & Subheadings: Enhances readability.

  • Visual Elements: Charts, infographics, and tables break up text and add clarity.

  • Professional Layout: Consistent fonts, colors, and branding.

What does …And More mean. What other kinds of things do you do?

We’re very open to taking on writing and promotion projects of all different sorts. For example, you may need assistance with RFP work, or an email series, or e-learning, etc. Or you may have some variation of knowledge article (e.g., FAQ, sales sheet, etc.) that you need.

In addition, we are happy to introduce and promote content that you write. For example, if you’ve just put out a white paper, we’ll write an engaging introductory post about it, provide access to your content, and promote it on our media channels, tagging you throughout and garnering interest, publicity, and third-party validation for your efforts.

What makes your technical writing so good? What are the core principles of how you work?

Technical Writing from Green Success Stories is consistently clear, concise, and user-focused. Here are the core principles that define our high-quality technical documentation:

1. Clarity

  • Write in a straightforward, unambiguous manner.

  • Use simple, direct language—avoid jargon unless necessary.

  • Define all technical terms for a non-expert audience.

2. Conciseness

  • Remove unnecessary words—brevity improves comprehension.

  • Use bullet points, tables, or visuals to simplify complex information.

  • Avoid redundancy and get to the point quickly.

3. Accuracy

  • Ensure all information is factually correct and up to date.

  • Verify technical details, formulas, and processes.

  • Use consistent terminology throughout.

4. Audience Awareness

  • Understand the knowledge level of your audience (beginner, intermediate, expert).

  • Adjust complexity accordingly—don’t assume too much or too little.

  • Provide context where needed without overwhelming the reader.

5. Logical Structure

  • Follow a clear, organized layout (e.g., introduction ? process ? conclusion).

  • Use headings and subheadings to break up information.

  • Present steps in sequential order for easy follow-through.

6. Precision & Specificity

  • Avoid vague language—be precise in instructions and explanations.

  • Use numbers, exact measurements, and detailed descriptions.

  • Prefer active voice (“Press the button” vs. “The button should be pressed”).

7. Accessibility & Readability

  • Use plain language that is easy to read.

  • Write for scannability—use short paragraphs, bullet points, and bolded keywords.

  • Follow usability principles to ensure the document is easy to navigate.

8. Visual Aids & Examples

  • Use diagrams, screenshots, or tables to complement text.

  • Provide real-world examples to make concepts more relatable.

  • Label visuals clearly and reference them in the text.

9. Consistency

  • Maintain a uniform writing style, tone, and formatting throughout.

  • Use a style guide (e.g., Chicago, AP, or an internal guide) for standardization.

  • Ensure consistency in terminology, abbreviations, and symbols.

10. Revision & Testing

  • Proofread and edit thoroughly for grammar, clarity, and coherence.

  • Have technical experts review for correctness.

  • Test instructions or processes with users to identify gaps.

What are your qualifications?

Take a look at our CEO’s LinkedIn profile for more detail.

Qualifications:

  • Experience
    • Decades of technical writing and editing experience
    • Software, Hardware, SaaS, Startups, Fortune 500s
  • Education:
    • BA, MA, MSW
    • Tech Writing Training Program
    • Network Administration Training
    • Terra.Do Climate Learning for Action Fellowship
  • Skills
    • Strong experience presenting complex technical information to a broad audience, including clients and leadership executives.
    • Detail-oriented with ability to grasp and succinctly articulate technical information, as well as demonstrate the ability to write and edit for clarity and understanding.
    • Exceptional copyediting skills and familiarity with academic publishing standards for grammar, usage, citations, and punctuation.
    • Strong experience with narrative structure development and content editing, particularly in coordination with multiple authors.
    • Advanced skills in technical writing tools, including use of advanced formatting, templates, and citations.
    • Professional work practices – communicative, work delivered on time, easy to work with

Do you do “fractional” Tech Writing and Editing?

Gladly. Upon arrangement, we will agree to be your Tech Writer or Editor for a set commitment of hours (recurring or one-off).

Do you have any samples?

Sure. Here’s a page with Tech Writing Samples.

How much do you charge?

The answer depends on the nature and extent of the work effort.

  • For technical writing/editing, the price depends on the complexity and size of the work effort. We’d be happy to discuss this with you by email, in a Zoom call, or as in response to an email or our contact form.
  • For fractional work, the cost is $650 per day, with the typical retainer of 1-2 week engagements (individual or recurring). Flexible arrangements are certainly available.
  • For blogposts/knowledge articles, the pricing is similar to our green leader profiles and green case studies ($600 for 1, discounts for more).
  • For introducing and promoting your content, the pricing is similar to our green mini case studies ($200 each, discounts for more).

Why would we need this?

Climate tech companies must come across as professional to get their message heard and their products used.

Great technical writing wins you devoted users, and likewise significantly lessens the stress on customer success teams – they get less questions, and can easily point to existing answers.

But we already have someone doing writing…

Great!

There are often times of heightened activity where you need some extra help to meet deadlines and cover a large amount of content. We’re great at pitching in and ramping up quickly.

Similarly, you may find that you need more tech writing done, but not enough to hire a full time writer. That’s a great example of when fractional hiring would work well.

Likewise you may want to have an editor’s eyes give a careful review of existing documents. Especially if the writer is great at technology but struggles to make it clear in writing… or similarly, if the writer is not a native English speaker, and may struggle with getting their point across. We speak tech and have lots of experience making material from non-native speakers come across perfectly.

OK! Let’s Do This! How Do We Proceed?

Excellent. Let’s talk more about the details. Use any of the following contact methods: