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How to Read a Scholarly Article
without drowning in it At first glance, reading scholarly articles might seem simple, but it can actually feel confusing. Dense writing, new terms, and lots of citations can make it hard to get started. Often, the real challenge is your mindset, not just understanding the content. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Try to develop a… →
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From Raw Sources to Real Insights
How I Turn Archival Material Into Usable Notes You have your archival materials and sources ready, and now you’re prepared to write. To simplify the writing process, step back and review your archival materials with your main research question in mind: turning your primary sources and notes into a coherent narrative or argument is essential.… →
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Inside the Archive
How I Approach Research Entering an archive always feels like crossing into another world that is part sanctuary, part maze. There’s a quiet thrill of possibility, the sense that something extraordinary might be hidden in the next box. The familiar overwhelm of fluorescent lights, strict rules, and the sheer volume of materials all remind me… →
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Do you have 15 minutes?
A review of Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day During a meeting where I was struggling to write my proposal, my PhD advisor recommended that I read Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day by Joan Bolker. She’d never steered me wrong before, so I ordered the book as I walked back… →
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What to Expect in 2026
A Guided Year of Scholarship and Creativity I wanted to keep my welcome post separate from my “What to Expect in 2026” post. I believe introducing the blog and outlining what to expect are two distinct topics. Typically, the “What to Expect in 20xx” would be announced at the end of December or early January.… →
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Tips I Wish I’d Learned Earlier
Reading Bird by Bird at the Right Time I picked up Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott a few years back when I visited BookPeople, a fantastic bookstore in Austin,while passing through the city. I proceeded to leave it on my “to be read shelf” for a couple of years. When I decided on books… →
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How Undergrads Can Reset Their Semester Without Starting Over
Academic Reset Momentum slips fast in the first weeks of a semester. You start on a roll, then there’s a tiny slip. If you haven’t slipped up, this post may not be for you. Most undergrads don’t need a full restart; you need a reset that feels doable. A reset begins with taking stock of… →
Wendi Kavanaugh 