What Do Proposals Propose? What Do Projects Project?

Abstract

I submit to you, dear reader, a proposal: for the length of this essay, we՚ll think together about proposals, in relation to projects. I՚ll write out some ideas and, if you like, you can have a read through them, entirely at your own pace. We՚ll look at the idea and category of grey literature, a bit of critical history of the proposal–project and end with a further proposal: a way of thinking about the much maligned, common practice of proposal writing as a creative practice. A creative practice, no less, that potentiates means of rewriting, rethinking and recomposing knowledge practices, and the probable futures these can create.