In ancient Greece, tales of the gods served to inspire, caution, and educate mortals.
Today these legends can guide us to create white papers that ascend to the heights of Mount Olympus.
Here are five tips on how these timeless gods and goddesses can inspire us to create more effective long-form content.
3.5 minute read. 6 minute listen.
Greek postage stamp showing the goddess Athena and her symbol, the wise owl
White papers and Greek gods 1: Plan your paper as wisely as Athena
Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom and strategy.
Every move she made was deliberate. Every piece of advice she gave was insightful.
Her animal symbol was a fitting choice: the wise owl.
Among her many gifts to humanity was the olive tree. No wonder they named a whole city after her: Athens.
Just like Athena crafting a strategy, you must plan your white paper thoughtfully.
Make sure that you:
- Consider your audience
- Plan your argument step-by-step
- Give strong evidence for every claim
Just as Athena would lay out a masterful plan, make sure your white paper resonates with purpose and authority.
Theseus and the Minotaur, in Greek pottery style
White papers and Greek gods 2: Don’t build a maze no one can escape, like Daedalus
Remember the story of Daedalus and the labyrinth? Here’s a quick refresher.
The king of Crete asked gifted architect Daedalus to build an unsolvable labyrinth to imprison the half-man/half-bull Minotaur.
Eventually the hero Theseus determined to beat the maze and kill the Minotaur.
He unspooled a red ball of yarn as he went, killed the beast, and followed the thread back out of the maze.
What does this have to do with white papers?
Navigating a maze requires a clear path an explorer can follow. By the same token, a white paper requires a clear argument a reader can follow.
Just as Theseus needed his red yarn, your readers need a clear line through your narrative.
Make sure that you:
- Preview your main ideas at the start
- Define any new terms clearly
- Use headings and subheadings as guideposts
- Repeat the key findings at the end
All these hints will help any reader easily follow your argument and emerge with the conclusion you want them to reach.
A statue of Apollo in the Vatican
White papers and Greek gods 3: Blend many elements into an effective whole, like Apollo
You remember Apollo, who drove a fiery chariot—the sun—across the sky from dawn to dusk.
Did you know he had a side gig as the god of music and poetry?
Apollo had the gift of blending different elements into a pleasing presentation.
Consider how an opera blends several different mediums—music, lyrics, voice, costumes, sets, and lighting—into an engaging spectacle.
In the same way, your white paper must blend text, visuals, facts, rhetoric, and design into a harmonious whole.
In particular, you must:
- Develop a good mix of text and visuals
- Include bullets, pull quotes, subheads, and tables
- Introduce, develop, and sum up your key ideas
This way, your white paper will bring together many different elements to engage and enchant your readers.
Hermes the messenger of the Greek gods and today’s DC character the Flash
White papers and Greek gods 4: Deliver the message as swiftly as Hermes
Hermes was the messenger of the gods, known for the wings on his feet and his helmet.
He can inspire us with his amazing speed.
And he’s still with us today as the superhero, the Flash.
Remember, your goal is not to make people read a long paper right to the end. Your goal is to deliver a clear message to exactly the right recipient.
That means you must:
- Make your writing concise
- Avoid meandering into unnecessary details
- Deliver the key messages quickly and precisely
Let Hermes inspire you to write in a crisp style that gets the message across with no wasted words.
White papers and Greek gods 5: Give readers a flash of insight
As the king of the Olympians, Zeus ruled over his realm. His might was symbolized by his powerful bolts of lightning.
And just like a bolt from Zeus, your white paper must land with precision and illuminate your ideas.
In particular, you must strive to:
• Tell a unique story, not just “me-too” ideas
• Shine fresh light on confusing topics
• Build towards a flash of enlightenment
Like a strike of lightning, your white paper should transform a reader’s understanding of the topic and leave a lasting impression.
Let the gods inspire your next white paper
Greek mythology can still inspire us to write effective white papers today.
From the careful strategy of Athena to the flash of insight from Zeus, each mythic figure touched on here can provide a powerful lesson for long-form content.
By integrating these insights from the ancients, professional writers today can elevate our white papers to make them truly memorable.
So as you apply these timeless principles, may your white papers resonate with the wisdom, harmony, and enlightenment of the Greek gods.
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