Uncategorized – Strategic Grantsmanship

The Narrative Thread: What Reviewers Are Actually Tracking as We Read Your Grant Proposal

Narrative coherence in grant proposals is not about style—it is about strategy.

When writers talk about “narrative” in grants, it is often misunderstood as storytelling in the literary sense. Reviewers are not looking for drama, flourish, or creative voice. What we are tracking—often subconsciously—is whether the proposal maintains a coherent narrative thread from beginning to end.

This narrative thread is not ornamental. It is the mechanism that allows reviewers to follow logic, evaluate significance, and maintain confidence in the investigator and the proposed work.

Freelancer’s Guide to Cybersecurity

Learn best practices for securing your freelance business’s data without breaking the bank.

Concerned about the cybersecurity of your freelance business? Join me in San Diego at AMWA2019 to learn about best practices to protect your (and your clients’) data. But hurry–this session requires registration, and it sold out quickly last year. (For details about this session and to register, visit the conference web site.)

AMWA Conference 2019
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
November 8, 2019, 7:15 – 8:45 am
San Diego, CA

For freelancers and small business owners, data protection can be something they don’t think about until tragedy strikes: a new hard drive fails, viruses and malware attack, or data is taken for ransom. This can be heartbreaking when personal data is lost or destroyed—e.g., emails and photos—but the loss, destruction, or theft of data can be devastating for a business managing ongoing projects and clients’ confidential data. In this roundtable session, we will cover the basics of data protection by defining the universe of potential problems, then discuss best practices for securing data without breaking the bank.

Presented by Kelly Byram, MS, MBA, ELS of Duke City Consulting.

Should I Resubmit?

Seasoned PIs know that resubmissions generally have a much higher success rate than new submissions.

Seasoned grant seekers know that thick skin and abundant tenacity often separate the funded from the unfunded, and resubmission is just part of the process. Of course, getting comfortable with the concept of the sunk cost fallacy and being willing to walk away from untenable (read: unfundable) proposals is also a skill that will optimize your return on your valuable time.
Continue reading “Should I Resubmit?”