An NSF CAREER Checklist

Today I'm sharing an NSF CAREER checklist.

Dec 12, 2024

How do you get a book contract?

How do you get a book contract? Sample book proposal included.

Nov 27, 2024

Do you need a collaborator?

Do you need a collaborator for your next grant?

Oct 31, 2024

Ask for What You Want

Ask for what you want. How this lesson applies to grant writing.

Oct 17, 2024

Checklist for Polishing Your Grant

Here's a checklist for polishing your grant.

Sep 19, 2024

How to Ask for a Sample

How do you ask for a sample? Funded samples matter. They show you how people frame a vision for ideas, what the culture of the funder is like, how to write to review criteria, and more.

Sep 05, 2024

7 Tips for Writing More Fundable Grants

Here are 7 tips for writing more fundable grants.

Apr 25, 2024

Tips for Breaking Into Tech, From Dr. Lisa Ibanez

Top tips for breaking into tech, from Dr. Lisa Ibanez.

Apr 11, 2024

Moving from Academia to Tech: An Interview with Dr. Lisa Ibanez

What does it mean to move from academia to tech?

Mar 28, 2024

Responding to Reader Questions

I’m answering frequently asked reader questions.

Mar 14, 2024

How Do You Build a Community?

How do you build a community?

Feb 15, 2024

How many grants should you write at a time?

How many grants should you write at a time? The odds of getting a grant are not high. Should you work on more grants to increase your chances, despite the time and energy costs?

Feb 01, 2024

Dealing with Your Inbox

Emails are stressful. You can spend hours reading and responding, and still drop the ball on important emails. Never fear, I have a solution.

Jan 18, 2024

Apply for Awards

Apply for awards. You may not care about getting recognized for your work. But awards have additional benefits.

Dec 14, 2023

What's your problem?

Help funders prioritize you by naming your problem clearly. Boil your problem down into one line.

Nov 30, 2023

Getting Started with Grant Writing

Quick start guides for grant writing matter. Just getting started is a huge hurdle.

Nov 09, 2023

7 Tips for Writing Better, Faster

How do you write better, faster?

Oct 26, 2023

Highlighting Choices

Academia’s overwhelming because there’s usually no one “correct” path. But if you start looking, you’ll see there are lots of chances for forced choices.

Apr 18, 2024

Academic Job Interviews

What questions do you get asked during an academic job interview?

Sep 07, 2023

Post-Award Requirements

What can you expect after you get a grant? Explaining post-award requirements.

Sep 28, 2023

How Long Does it Take to Get an NIH Grant?

How long does it take to get an NIH grant?

Sep 14, 2023

Part II: Top Grant Writing Tips from Dr. Caitlin Martin-Wagar

Welcome back to Part II of my interview with Dr. Caitlin Martin-Wagar, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Montana.

Aug 31, 2023

Part I: An Interview with Dr. Caitlin Martin-Wagar

I’m delighted to share an interview with Dr. Caitlin Martin-Wagar.

Aug 17, 2023

What kind of help can you ask for?

I’m working on a K. Sometimes it feels awkward to ask mentors for things. What’s typical? For example, should I be drafting the letters of support?

Aug 03, 2023

Fail Big: 100 Rejections

We should all aim for 100 rejections. Rejection is the norm in our line of work. Most people don’t get most things.

Jul 20, 2023

Free Grant Writing Masterclass, May 3rd

Just a quick note that my free masterclass is next week on Wednesday, May 3rd from 3 - 4pm EDT (Boston time).

Apr 27, 2023

Grant Writing Tips from Hannah Darvin

I’m excited to share Part II of my interview with Hannah Darvin, a PhD Candidate in Art History at Queen's University in Canada.

Apr 20, 2023

An Interview with Hannah Darvin, Part I

I’m delighted to share an interview with Hannah Darvin. Hannah is a PhD Candidate in Art History at Queen's University in Canada.

Apr 06, 2023

How long is this going to take?

How long does the whole grant process take? Here’s my timeline for my first grant.

Mar 23, 2023

Don't Throw Away Your Shot

There are many “silly” reasons we get passed over for opportunities. Here's how to avoid them.

Mar 09, 2023

What happens if your plans change?

Question from a reader: I’m worried about trying to plan out work that happens in the future.

Feb 23, 2023

A Pre-Submission Checklist, Plus an Action Steps Worksheet

What do you need to remember to do before you submit your next grant?

Feb 09, 2023

Why Your Voice Matters

Your voice matters. A few types of voices control academia.

Jan 26, 2023

Will reviewers get why your work matters?

Will reviewers get why your work matters? Here's how to help reviewers...

Jan 19, 2023

The Grant Ideas Bootcamp

Just a quick reminder that I'm running a Grant Ideas Bootcamp in 2023. Start off the new year with new ideas.

Dec 29, 2022

Generate Your Next Grant Idea

You need a great idea to write a fundable grant. But it’s not always clear how to develop great ideas. Where do you start? What makes for a good idea? What’s fundable?

Dec 15, 2022

2022 Holiday Planning

Here are my top picks for scholarly books this holiday season.

Dec 01, 2022

How to Talk to a Program Officer

Speaking to program officers is a key grant writing skill. But what are you supposed to ask, what will you learn, when should you reach out, and what’s the right way to approach these conversations?

Nov 17, 2022

The Inside Track

One of the fastest ways for you to learn how funding systems work is for you to serve as a reviewer.

Nov 03, 2022

Understanding Reviewer Psychology

Understanding reviewer psychology is a key to getting your grants funded. But how are you supposed to get this inside knowledge?

Oct 06, 2022

When People Tell You to Quit

Here's a quick start guide for anyone looking to get started with grant writing.

Sep 22, 2022

Graduate Student Funding Opportunities

How’s a graduate student supposed to find grants? This is one of the most common questions I hear about grant writing.

Sep 08, 2022

Test Your Grant Writing Skills

It’s really hard to write clear grants. You have a lot of dense information to convey. And limited space.

Oct 20, 2022

The Hidden Curriculum of Grant Writing

The hidden curriculum is a barrier to your success. This is especially true in grant writing, where insiders have strategies that make it easier for them and their trainees to secure funding.

Aug 25, 2022

How do you know if you're on the right path?

Writing grants can be lonely. You’re in your own head. You’re making decisions about how to invest your time. How do you know if you’re on the right path?

Aug 11, 2022

Deciding to Pursue a New Grant

As scholars, many of our choices are taken away by terrible job markets and fickle funders. One place to regain control is choosing where to spend your time.

Jul 28, 2022

How Long Does it Take to Write a Grant?

How long does it take to write a grant? It’s hard to find an answer to this question. Most people will tell you, “It depends.” This classic academic answer is true, but it’s not helpful.

Jul 13, 2022

Your Investment

Doors to my online course, Grant Writing Fundamentals, are closing soon. Maybe you’re on the fence, and you’re wondering if the investment is worth it. Here's data to help you make your decision.

Jun 23, 2022

Questions about the Course

I talked about how my Grant Writing Fundamentals course can help you gain control over your scholarly career. But you may have some questions! Here are answers to common questions.

Jun 21, 2022

Fast Track Your Grant Writing Skills This Summer

Enrollment is now open for my Grant Writing Fundamentals course. Fast track your grant writing skills this summer.

Jun 16, 2022

Free Masterclass on Grant Writing

Join me for my free masterclass on June 15, from 1pm - 2pm EDT (Boston time). I’m covering the recipe for fundable grants.

May 27, 2022

Boost Your Grant Writing Skills

Fast track your progress by learning strategies from people who’ve gone before you.

Jun 02, 2022

Is Grant Writing Worth the Trouble?

Learning how to write a grant is hard. Even worse, the chances of your grant being funded are low. Success rates across funders worldwide hover between 10 - 20%. Is all that hard work worth it?

May 23, 2022

Be Consistent

Here’s a simple strategy for standing out in grant writing: be consistent. Consistency is a cornerstone of good storytelling.

May 12, 2022

What Are the Stakes?

You may be making a key mistake in your grants: failing to explain the stakes. You need stakes if you want reviewers to champion your work.

Apr 11, 2022

What's Your Hourly Rate?

How much should you be paid for one hour of your time? If you’re like most scholars, you probably don’t know. Or, you charge $0 per hour of your time.

Mar 07, 2022

When to Pursue a New Grant

New grant opportunities usually appear when you’re stretched thin. That’s research life. How do you decide if it’s worth pursuing a new grant in the midst of chaos?

Nov 03, 2022

Why Your Frame Matters

You may be introducing misleading frames in your grant. This is one of the fastest ways to annoy reviewers and keep them from loving your work. Here's how to avoid this problem.

Feb 07, 2022

Develop a Grant Success Mindset

How do you find motivation after failure in grant writing? My advice is: develop a grant success mindset.

Jan 11, 2022

Finding the Right Grant Opportunities

Here’s a secret about grant opportunities. It’s not enough to find opportunities. You need to find the RIGHT opportunities.

Dec 06, 2021

How Do You Create A Phenomenal Job Talk?

Today’s topic is job talks. This may seem a little off-topic from grant writing. But job talks and grant writing are two major ways you get people to invest in your ideas.

Nov 04, 2021

Why You Need to Talk to a Program Officer

In grant writing, one of the most important things you can do to move the needle on your success is talk to a program officer.

Oct 14, 2021