Sarah Donovan

Catholic | PhD Candidate studying 18th cent. extralegal violence in Atlantic World at W&M | Brockport & Lycoming alum | Writing center aficionado | Dog Mom

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

Hello everyone! I am once again hosting the @BATW_tweets writing group this Thursday (Nov 20th) at 12pm EST/5pm GMT. Send me a DM if you’re interested in joining us!

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

THANK YOU Henry Bouquet for writing Thomas Gage to say that “a connection Seems probable among that Sort of People” when comparing the Black Boys with the frontier inhabitants of Augusta County VA. I agree. A connection DOES seem probable!!! (It’s a good day in the archive 😊)

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

Our next #BATW2025 writing group session is this Thursday Sept 18th at 12pm ET (5pm BST)! Send me a DM if you’d like the link to join!

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

Just a quick reminder that the #BATW2025 writing group is next week August 21st at 12pm ET (5pm BST)! Send me a DM if you’re interested in joining us!

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

(I’m ok. I know I’m going to be ok, I’ll get the chapter done. I’m just frustrated…and that’s ok too)

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

Writing is supposed to be hard
Writing is supposed to be hard
Writing is supposed to be hard

I am so stuck on this section and I’m psyching myself out about it. Just trying to manifest rational thought back into my brain…

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

My weirdest piece of writing advice is to try writing from a totally different place. And I’m not talking about going to a different cafe…I’m talking about sitting on the kitchen floor and putting your laptop on a step stool.

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

Feels like a good time to once again say: ABOLISH THE FREAKING DEATH PENALTY

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

How dissertation writing is going today:

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

I have very strict rules for myself that I don’t work after 5pm or on the weekends BUT after overthinking this chapter for weeks, bending the rules and spending today writing was just what I needed. I have a clarity of mind that I haven’t in so long and I’m feeling much better

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

It’s an honor and a lovely surprise to receive this award. I know there were so many wonderful papers and panels at #BATW2024 and I am glad to be among them!

[Britain and the World @BATW_tweets]

We’d like to announce Sarah Donovan
@plottingpapist as our #batw2024 Best Paper Prize winner! “‘Doing their Mock Justice there’: The Whiteboys, the British Legal System, and a Transatlantic Language of Violence” was in a strong field of contenders!

Stay tuned for more.

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

Let’s write some historiography! (she says to the internet in an attempt to keep herself accountable)

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

I’ve written 500 words today! They aren’t neat or polished at all but they exist on the page and not just in my brain. And that’s definitely what I’d call a success! #DissertationWriting

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

@FunkyPlaid Thank you! I will definitely check these out!

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

Does anyone have any suggestions on a website or software where I can make a custom, color coded timeline? Thanks in advance!

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

I still can’t stop thinking about how wonderful and supportive the @pa_history community is. Can’t wait til next year!

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

I have been ✨stressed✨ this week, but I’ve also had some really great sessions with history students at @WMHistWriting and at the Graduate Writing Center. I love the sense of community writing centers bring ❤️

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

God bless my advisor for saying the same things over and over to me every time I meet with him: “just keep writing, you’re on the right track, it’s ok that it’s still amorphous, it’ll be a chapter by December”

Writing is messy and I’m glad I’ve got people reminding me of that

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

This literally keeps me up at night. I worry about this all the time

[Sarah Donovan @plottingpapist]

The first session at @WMHistWriting is in the books! And it was a great one! So excited to be repping not one but TWO writing centers this year!