Collaborative Grant Writing Using Google Docs
If you are unfamiliar with Google Docs then please watch this video:
Here are a number of ways Google Docs can be beneficial, specifically in writing grants.
1) Work Simultaneously: It eliminates the need for people to work on their sections separately and then try to bring those pieces together.
2) Eliminate Version Issues: Eliminates the problem of someone accidentally updating an older version of the grant then having to redo these updates in the most recent version.
3) Simplifies Communication: You can view the document virtually in real time, thus eliminating the need to figure out how far others are on their sections.
4) Comments in margin: Being able to comment in the margins can be helpful, especially if you need a sentence or two from a collaborator in a particular section of the document.
Ok, I am guessing that if you’re still reading this post then you’re not using Google Docs to write grants. This isn’t very hard, but I will type slowly to make sure it comes out clearly.
1) Go to Google Docs and login
2) Create a document (left corner) (New -> Document):a blank document will now appear
3) Go to Share (right corner)
4) Enter the email addresses of those you would like to be able to access to the document. You can also email a link to those you wish to have access. (that’s it)
Some of you may be concerned about having an important document online– is it secure? The following has eased my mind:
1) Is your email better? In other words, are you sure that sticking with email documents is much safer?
2) According to Neil Fraser , an official rep at google, Google stores all of its confidential presentations, documents and spreadsheets online. Neil also makes one suggestion: "When using an unencrypted wireless connection or some other network you don’t really trust, use https://docs.google.com instead of http://docs.google.com. (the difference is the first has an "s" – https vs. http .