I can't speak to grant writing, but when I write fiction, recently I've been helped by the idea that it doesn't have to be good, it just has to be done. Get it down, then go back and fix it up. It might mean that I eventually rewrite the whole thing, but at least it gives me a starting point. Try writing the grant proposal from front to back, without quitting just because it seems as though it's no good. Then use that as your jumping off point to decide what you want to focus on, how you want to present it, etc.

And lock away the coffee, chocolate, and Net access until you're done ... it might be good to give someone else the key. *smile*

The way I motivate myself to write nonfiction is to talk about my topic ad nauseum until I get a little focus/direction. I sort of just talk around an idea, taking it all kinds of places, until one seems right, and I feel like getting it down on paper. I have to confess though, that when I feel directionless and unmotivated I usually just turn to cooking or knitting (and chocolate) until I get my groove back. Good luck with this!

I don't really know either. Alot of those kinds of things I do at the last minute before the deadline is due because the deadline itself forces me to finish it. Otherwise, I try to look at other proposals I have written and use a previous application as a template for the current one. Sometimes I can practically use the same proposal over and over again by just rewriting it a little bit. Also by reading an old proposal it often gets me started because I can easily see mistakes in my old stuff. If you don't have another proposal to look at, look for anything you have written about your photography to see if there is something to build on. Sometimes stealing one sentence from something else I have written is enough to get me started. Also, I have used this to remind me about things to include in a proposal: http://www.foundationcenter.org/learn/shortcourse/components.html Sometimes just itemizing the important points in an outline format helps get me going. Hopefully some of this info helps. I definitely understand inertia!

I think at some point you have to jump in - and do it. I'm still at the point of inertia (with my writing goals, been doing housework goals, I think, in a way to avoid writing). I guess like they say, the hardest thing is just to start.