What are Bill Carmody's signature techniques for writing long reports?

Start with strategy, not typing: Know your audience, what they care about, and the outcome you want from the report. If you are not clear on “why,” do not start writing.

Use a structured process: Choose a focused topic, research, craft a thesis, outline, draft, revise, then proofread carefully for grammar and typos.

Architect the report for skimming: Title page, table of contents, page numbers, clear headings and subheadings, citations, and references so people can jump to what they need.

Write the executive summary last: Then use it to clearly summarize key findings, alternative/contrarian views, and a concrete recommendation with next steps.

Pre-sell the report: Share a draft or key findings with core influencers and decision makers before broad distribution to build buy-in.