I’m answering frequently asked reader questions.

How do you build a community?

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?

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

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

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

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

How do you write better, faster?

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

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

How long does it take to get an NIH grant?

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.

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

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?

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Grants are often shrouded in secrecy. Many scholars go through graduate school without ever seeing a funded grant. Let's change this culture. It's hard to write something you've never seen.

This is the Scholar Foundations Newsletter. I'm sharing skills and advice for writing more fundable grants. Get ready to submit your next fundable grant.