Embrace Failure
- Most grants get rejected.
- It is a success to submit a grant!
- Read the reviewers comments. Sometimes they're idiots, but often they're
not.
- If they give you references (even if you think they're idiots) read
the references. You might learn something.
- If you fail, you've got a written grant. You may be able to reuse
it. Look for another venue.
- If you've got collaborators that you worked with in writing (and it was
good) have a moan, debrief, and keep in touch.
- I'm not the best at collaboration, but grant writing is a
good way to build relationships.
- If you don't resubmit with them, they're still some who can review
for you, or you can chat with at a conference.
- Remember, we write (grants too) to learn. What did you learn from
this? Feedback is a grant way to learn both actual stuff and about
getting grants.
- Get back on the horse. You don't need to spend all of your time
writing grants, but if you haven't got one, you should probably
spend some of your time writing grants.
- Discuss the review with those you discussed the grant with before you
submitted. (That helps them learn too.)
