Conquer the Blank Screen of Death: How to Start Writing a Grant [Episode 77]

How Do You Start Writing a Grant?

You’ve found a grant that sounds like a great match. You’ve collected the ideas and are ready to begin. You open up a fresh Word document and sit down to write.

You stare at the page and your mind feels equally blank. Shudder.

Now what?

I’ve got good news for you: I never start writing a grant with a blank page, and you don’t have to either.

Getting Past the Blank Screen to Start Writing

Ever feel like you just hit a brick wall? Starting with a blank page when you know you must wax poetic for 50 more pages can be pretty intimidating. Especially when funding rides on it.

Writing a grant doesn’t have to be the equivalent of mountain climbing, though. These tricks help me get past the blank page hurdle.

1. First, I look at the elements required in the RFP (Request for Proposal).
2. Next I put them into a Word or Google document, numbered, along with the point value of each section.
3. Then I read through each question and type quick notes of things I want to remember to add later – important research points, a good quote from a client, a website link I want to use as a reference.
4. Now I have a framework instead of a blank page. I can go through and plug in project information from my notes with the client. Goals and objectives take shape. I can make a list of items I need to ask the client.

I am no longer wrestling with a blank page. See how easy that was?

Challenge Question:

What’s the hardest part for you about getting started with grant writing? Send me a message and let’s chat!

If you’re ready to explore this further, take my free quiz, “Do you have what it takes to be a grant writer?” People are always surprised at how many skills they already have. The distance isn’t as far as they thought. Let’s help you figure out how you can use your constraints to your advantage so you can help change your world.