"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut." - Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

The goal of the What Does Your Bookshelf Say About You discussion is to build a community of grant professionals who all share the love of reading. Reading is not only a hugely popular hobby, but it has been shown to improve writing skills, aid in developing new skills, and strengthen analytical thinking skills. All of these skills are central to success in the grant profession. Through this discussion, we want to demonstrate the benefits of reading including improving writing skills, strengthening analytical thinking skills, improving focus and concentration, and expanding vocabulary; encourage participants to read both professionally and personally; build a community of like-minded individuals; and identify book resources for grant professionals.

Presenter:

From a very young age, you would find me with a pencil in my hand and a book by my side. What started as a love of art, history, and literature in my teens grew into a love of research, fact-finding, and connection. As a young adult, I was introduced to books like Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, Skill with People, and How to Make Friends and Influence People that taught me personal improvement was only a book away. And, as I began my grant career, I filled my bookshelf with resources like Grant Writing for Dummies, Good to Great, and In the Trenches. I believe that books fuel lifelong learning.

 
Skill Level:
Advanced-Career

Learning Path: 
Personal Growth

GPC Competencies:
How to craft, construct, and submit an effective grant application

Practices and services that raise the level of professionalism of grant developers

Ability to write a convincing case for funding