Writing your thesis isn’t just about putting words on a page. It’s about turning years of research into a coherent, original body of work. More importantly, it’s where you stop being a student and step into your identity as a scholar.

In my early writing phase, I felt buried under everyone else’s voices—my supervisor, reviewers, the “big names” in the field. I cited everything. I wrote like I was asking for permission to speak. And I lost sight of what I really thought.

Especially if you’re from a marginalized background or writing across disciplines, it’s easy to feel like you have to earn your place. So, you lean on citations and jargon hoping it makes your work “legit.”

The turning point for me happened when I asked myself a simple question:
“If I could say anything here, without judgment, what would I say?”

That cracked something open. I stopped writing to impress and started writing to express. Suddenly, my ideas felt real again. That’s when I found my voice.

Here are some practical tips to help You Own your research

·Ask the “no judgment” question before writing.

Write first for meaning, edit later for polish.

Let the literature support your voice, not replace it.

·      Respect feedback but defend your vision when needed.

·      Unplug during key writing sessions -no books, no distractions.

Keep a casual “voice journal” to capture authentic thoughts.

Your perspective is the most original thing you bring to your PhD. So don’t just write a thesis, own it!