When it comes to writing a competitive grant proposal, it’s less about knowing the “right” way to do things and more about avoiding common errors.
Why?
Because there are many different ways to be “right”. What works perfectly well for Project X is probably going to be less appropriate for Project Y.
Meanwhile, mistakes look the same across the board (more or less).
Avoiding the most common obstacles and pitfalls can help your grant stand out from the crowd in a positive way. For example, a competitive proposal is more about just having a good idea, although a lot of people tend to stop there.
Don’t get me wrong—a good idea IS necessary—but there are two more components that need to be factored in: an understanding of the funder and their requirements, and the ability to communicate clearly with your reader.*
I’ll be kicking off the new year by focusing on the latter side of this equation to help applicants develop more competitive proposals in 2025 (and clearer papers – these tips are applicable to most academic writing).
Pour yourself a cup of tea (or the beverage of your choice) and follow along at ACEingAcademia to check out how to avoid common errors in communication.
* Please note: Just providing information is NOT communicating with your reader. To borrow a quote from Simon Sinek, “Communication is not about saying what we think. Communication is about ensuring others hear what we mean.”