Abstract

This presentation explores how research administrators can use trending storytelling strategies to help the researchers reach and engage with potential reviewers when writing a grant proposal. What are the “hooks” that will make the panel turn the pages and give the green light to the proposal? Drawing on the insights from narratology and sociolinguistics, we will highlight the key interlaced concepts that define how to approach proposal writing: the narrative structure and language of compelling storytelling, the emotional effect it evokes, and the intended audience. While the research application narrative structure maintains the reviewer’s interest through a set of dynamic events and resolutions, language evokes an emotional response from the reader, sustains the reader’s interest, and advances the post-story response or high-ranking of the proposal.
We first present the existing theoretical frameworks of storytelling and then measure them against successful proposals demonstrating the relevant types of storytelling techniques. By putting the researcher’s experience at the center of analysis, we suggest that storytelling strategies offer a set of advantages for writing a research proposal as they emotionally engage with the readers, create potentially powerful meanings, and make the proposal unique and distinctive. Ultimately, we will discuss the dialogic relationship at play while drafting the proposal and argue for the importance of questions advancing the narrative in developing the proposal while recognizing the value of the potential readers and evaluators.
The overall objective, aims, and details on methods and execution of a proposal need to be tailored for each call, but also and especially towards different reviewer/evaluator roles. Central information in the grant needs to present an engaging storyline to convince both specialists and generalists, as they are decision-makers in grant agencies. Specialists require in-depth technical information, while generalists focus on broader project impact and feasibility. By asking open-ended questions and probing assumptions, research administrators can support researchers in striking the right balance, ensuring that a grant application effectively communicates to a diverse panel of reviewers.
The presentation will be of interest to research coordinators supporting the application process in their home institutions.