1. Write like you talk
Too many people think that using long words and convoluted sentences makes them sound professional and authoritative. They’re wrong. See if you can turn your writing into a conversation with the reader. Reading your written work aloud is a good way to put it to the test. If the voice you hear doesn’t sound friendly, straightforward, and passionate about the cause, try again.
2. Find out what makes your own writing flow
Avoid creating an exhaustive outline before setting pen to paper. Some excellent writers like to begin by writing in bursts and later weaving them together to discover a structure. This could be an onerous task. However, if you have your own style of getting your thoughts out, go with what works for you.
3. Be your own editor
When you are finished writing something, read it over with a critical eye. Look for issues like:
• overlong sentences. Any sentence that runs on for more than two lines can probably be chopped.
• boring or extraneous words. Eliminate every word that’s not necessary to the sentence. For words that cannot be removed, see whether they can be replaced with a more expressive alternative. Give your thesaurus a workout!
• potentially misleading word order. We all love to laugh at sentences that say “I love baking my family and my friends!” and the like—but some of your supporters may be less than amused if you announce that “volunteers help burn victim’s family!”
• passive voice. The passive voice is well named; it sounds as if the writer wearied off the cause long ago. Instead, use active statements that explain who did what.
4. Never, ever send anything out without a final readthrough.
Mistakes and typos can lurk in any document—even one that’s been read a dozen times. Ask someone you trust to give your written work a careful going over. Also, if you can, put every document aside for a few hours or days before you finalize it. You’ll be amazed at what pops out at you—or what new inspirations arise—with a fresh reading.
5. Lose the lingo.
After you’ve written a few grant proposals and attended grant writing trainings organised by NGOs, your head will be full of NGO jargons. Your organization’s own area of expertise is probably jargon laden, too. You’ll have to learn what the funders’ words mean and use them when funders or others won’t be happy hearing any other word—but don’t let them take over your entire vocabulary. Even the funders fall asleep when they read too much jargony stuff.
THANK YOU,NOW HOW TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL GRANT?
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