>>The effort I put in on the front end resulted in a quick, easy decision on the backend.<<
Some years back I ran a small writing group for elite professors (Harvard, Brandeis, MIT, etc.). Several of the participants were on committees that gave grants, and from them I learned the importance of putting in effort to understand the goals of the grantor and to answer every single question on the grant application with an eye to their point of view. Too many applicants wrote from their own point of view and thus failed to connect effectively with the granting group's goals. Therefore this one tip put one far, far ahead of other applicants.
Jessica, your post is helpful and so encouraging. I appreciate the way you laid out the process—I really thought those grants were for big writers and big projects. Now I have something else to add to my dreaming.
>>The effort I put in on the front end resulted in a quick, easy decision on the backend.<<
Some years back I ran a small writing group for elite professors (Harvard, Brandeis, MIT, etc.). Several of the participants were on committees that gave grants, and from them I learned the importance of putting in effort to understand the goals of the grantor and to answer every single question on the grant application with an eye to their point of view. Too many applicants wrote from their own point of view and thus failed to connect effectively with the granting group's goals. Therefore this one tip put one far, far ahead of other applicants.
This is great, Jessica!
Jessica, your post is helpful and so encouraging. I appreciate the way you laid out the process—I really thought those grants were for big writers and big projects. Now I have something else to add to my dreaming.
Hi, Lynne--Thanks for saying so. Happy researching to you!
A generous share. Thank you, Jessica--and Lit Mag News! This could make a real difference in an aspiring writer's life.
I hadn't even begun to think about grants... that changes today!
Oh excellent! I'm glad to have given you an idea.