When you think of writing, what comes to mind? A creative outlet—or just another chore? Essays, reports, notes, emails… whether we like it or not, we write all the time.

But in a world full of words, how do you stand out?

That’s where voice comes in. And that’s what The Write Stuff project helped me discover.
Because now that AI can generate a full essay in seconds, your voice—the way you think and express ideas—is more important than ever.

What Even Is Voice?

Writing voice is more than just tone. It’s your perspective, your word choice, your rhythm. It’s the part of your writing that sounds like you. A strong voice makes your work recognizable—even without your name on it.

We studied the 6+1 Traits of Good Writing and focused on what makes writing feel alive. We asked questions like:

• What kind of writer do I want to be?
• How do I want people to feel when they read my words?
• What do I care enough to write about?

Reading helps a lot—especially when you pay attention to writers who make you feel something. But voice isn’t about copying. It’s about absorbing what works, seeing what others do, then putting your own unique spin on it. Pro tip: Read your writing out loud when you think you’re done. If it flows smoothly and sounds like something you’d actually say, you’re on the right track.

From Scattered Thoughts To Structured Ideas

We also explored something called the Zettelkasten method—basically, a system for organizing your thoughts like a second brain. It breaks down like this:

• 🪄 Fleeting Notes: Quick thoughts or sparks of ideas you jot down right away.
• 📚 Literature Notes: Notes on what you read or learn—written in your own words.
•  🌲 Permanent Notes: Fully developed atomic thoughts that can connect with others.

The more you use it, the more your ideas grow and connect naturally. I’m just starting with it, but I can already tell it’s going to change how I think and write.

The Final Product

To wrap up the project, we had to write something—anything. The point wasn’t to be perfect—it was to experiment. To try things out, take some creative risks, and explore what our voice sounds like when we really mean what we say. You can check out my piece here.

Through this project, I learned that writing with voice is more than just adding personality—it’s about expressing what actually matters to you. I discovered that you don’t find your voice all at once. It takes practice, revision, drafts, and the willingness to explore. The more I leaned into that process, the more my voice started to take shape. This was eye-opening because it made me realize that voice isn’t something I can just “find” overnight—it’s something I have to build over time, and that’s an exciting challenge.

I also learned that powerful writing doesn’t have to be flawless—it just has to be real. That shift helped me let go of perfection and focus on honesty, intention, and clarity. This matters to me because I want my writing to feel authentic and connected to who I am, rather than striving for an impossible standard.

Most of all, I’ve learned to write with confidence and purpose in my own voice—something I’ll keep building, sharpening, and bringing into every piece I write moving forward. Now that I understand how important it is to trust myself and embrace imperfection, I feel more equipped to take risks and keep growing as a writer.