I've become a passive writer, tentatively suggesting experiments that will probably work but too cautious to commit to a compelling narrative. Focused on qualified language.

This is why reviewers are so easily finding broken branches in the trees, because I haven't given them a forest to appreciate.

Glad this thread resonated. One thing I wanted to add is that this is especially frustrating because it's not a problem I have in any other arena. Anyone who's seen me give a talk knows I'm actually pretty good at storytelling. I hate that I can't tranfer that talent to grants.

@doc_becca Great point to remember and hope it leads you to the promised land

@doc_becca I feel much less comfortable with my writing when it’s too tree focused. I loved the MIRA for this reason

@doc_becca Been there with CIHR. I finally wrote the grant I wanted to read and that was the one that made it. Glad you realized it. Passion and big thinking translates I think.

@doc_becca I need this kind of realization...

@doc_becca @cd_fuller My rule of thumb is to "write it until I LOVE it". I have gotten every grant that I LOVED. Study Sections/reviewers did too. Keep fighting the good fight!

@doc_becca @boehninglab Unfortunately, this happens with all of the funding agencies. @NSF @NIH @doescience . One time I had a reviewer ONLY write, "I didn't understand it." This just killed me.

@doc_becca I think of research like hiking though a thick jungle where you don’t really know which way you are going. Just have to hope that the training we have gotten is good enough to get you to push through the weeds and get you to the other side.

@doc_becca That’s my way of saying, hang in there. You are not alone. You are an awesome scientist. Trust the process. Trust yourself!!

@doc_becca I’ve been doing some of my bigger idea thinking in private grant applications as opposed to NIH applications.

@doc_becca Glad to read your tweet, felt suddenly less alone in my struggle to get my first NIH grant funded.

@doc_becca @boehninglab Just back from a review panel. So much nit-picking & negativity. Reviewers seem to have also lost joy in science. Consequence of ridiculous pay-lines?

@doc_becca Once I determined the process was basically stochastic, I quit writing more of “the grant I thought I should write”’ and more of “this idea has me super jazzed” applications.

@doc_becca I know the feeling...