I remember it like it was
yesterday—the countless hours spent crafting, revising, and agonizing over my
master’s thesis. The stress of meeting APA guidelines, the strict formatting
rules, the constant rewrites, and, of course, the final dreaded thesis
committee presentation where every sentence felt like it could be challenged.
It wasn’t just about proving I had mastered the subject; it was about proving I
could conform to a rigid academic structure.
The process was exhausting.
I found myself writing not with
creativity or passion, but with the fear of making mistakes. The pressure to
meet academic requirements—whether it was the right number of citations, proper
in-text references, or an abstract that read like it belonged in a scholarly
journal—became overwhelming. My words were not my own; they were shaped and
reshaped to fit into an approved framework.

And after all that work, after all
the sleepless nights and stress-filled revisions, what happened? My thesis was
approved… and then tucked away in a university database where only a handful of
people would ever read it. Well, I did publish a scholarly article in the
Journal of Studies on Alcohol, on the Verbal and Nonverbal Abstracting-
Problem-Solving Abilities and Familial Alcoholism in Female Alcoholics. Sure
you have read it. (LOL) Over the years, I
haven’t gotten anyone to read it unless they are a research nerd like me or
trying to fall asleep.
Fast forward to today, and writing
has become a completely different experience for me. I write my books, my
blogs, my courses, my rules, my way. There are no committees to please, no
approval boards to impress, no rigid formatting to follow. I write to teach,
to share, and to inspire—not to check off an academic requirement.
I choose the topics that resonate
with me. I tell stories that matter. I write in a way that connects with
people, not just to meet a scholarly standard. And the best part? My work actually
reaches an audience—real people who find value in what I share, instead of
being locked away in a library archive.
If you’ve ever had flashbacks of
your academic writing days and felt paralyzed at the thought of creating
content now, I get it. You spent years training your brain to write a certain
way, following strict guidelines, and now, the idea of writing freely feels
almost… wrong. But let me tell you, it’s the most freeing experience you’ll
ever have!
Here’s why you should shake off the
academic chains and start writing your way:
1. Your
Story Matters—No Approval Needed
You don’t need a committee’s permission to share your knowledge or experiences.
Your story has value simply because it’s yours. People want to hear real talk,
not research-heavy jargon.
2. You Set the Format—No
More APA Rules
Hate footnotes? Skip them. Want to use bullet points, short paragraphs, or even
emojis? Go for it! Your content should reflect your voice, not an
academic standard.
3. Done is Better Than
Perfect
Unlike your thesis, which had to be near-perfect to pass, your content doesn’t
need endless rewrites. Write it, refine it, and put it out into the world.
Someone is waiting for what you have to say!
4️.You Get to Make an Impact
Instead of your work being stored in an academic archive, your content can inspire,
educate, and help others. Whether it’s a book, a blog, or an online course,
your words can change lives.
5. Writing Can Be Fun
Again!
Remember when writing used to feel natural and enjoyable? Before the
endless red marks and citation stress? You can get back to that place and
actually enjoy sharing what you know.

✅ Write Like You Talk –
If you wouldn’t say it that way in a conversation, don’t write it that way.
Make your content conversational and easy to digest.
✅ Start Small – You
don’t have to write a book overnight. Begin with social media posts, blog
articles, or journaling to ease into your own style.
✅ Forget the “Rules” –
The only rule in writing now is that there are no rules. Your audience cares
about what you have to say, not whether it’s structured like a thesis.
✅ Think About Your Audience
– Who do you want to reach? Speak directly to them and share what you know in a
way that makes sense to them, not an academic board.
✅ Just Start Writing –
Perfectionism is a creativity killer. Your first draft doesn’t have to be
perfect—it just has to exist!
If you’ve been holding back on
writing because of your thesis or dissertation experience, it’s time to let
that go. Writing now is about freedom, expression, and impact. No
approval needed. No formatting stress. Just you, your words, and the people
who need to hear them.
Blessings,
Dr. Janice R. Love