So, you have made up your mind to pursue a career in research or academia? But, you are completely lost where to start? How can you fit into this grave and daunting field where everyone has publication lists longer than yours? Hopefully, you read this post when you still are preparing to write a postgraduation thesis. I’m not saying if you read it later, then it won’t be helpful, but it would help you find your spot in this (sometimes brutal) field if you read it sooner than later.

1. Advice for a research newbie: Find your voice
So, you have made up your mind to pursue a ​career in research​ or academia? But, you are
completely lost where to start? How can you fit into this grave and daunting field where everyone has
publication lists longer than yours? Hopefully, you read this post when you still are preparing to write
a ​postgraduation thesis​. I’m not saying if you read it later, then it won’t be helpful, but it would help
you find your spot in this (sometimes brutal) field if you read it sooner than later.
If you have just woken up to the field of ​research,​ then let the ones who have been here for a while
tell you how vast (almost infinite) the extent of this field is? ​Research​ is driven mainly by human
curiosity, and I guess we all know that curiosity existed even when the Garden of Eden existed. So, I
guess the first research was Eve trying to find out the effects of biting an apple on Adam. Jokes apart,
the first thing that hits you in the face about ​research​ is that there in unending chattering of a huge
crowd of authors.
Intimidating, isn’t it? How can you manage to make a place for yourself, you ask? How can you make
your voice be heard and the rest of the people in your field listen? It’s easy. Find your own voice. You
have a unique and authentic voice so let it be heard, and people will listen. Although I understand how
finding your own voice in academics might appear a tad bit confusing because no one actually can
give a simple answer to questions about voice. You might end up leaving with many more questions
than what you had arrived with.
“Voice” is described as the sound made by the larynx and uttered through the mouth as a speech or
song, but I am not talking about that voice. The voice that I am talking about is best defined by the
novelist Francine Prose in a Los Angeles Times article “​Voice is the result of every major and minor
choice an author makes​, ​from decisions about point of view, tone, style, diction, vocabulary to
decisions about which details to include or omit​ and ​even whether a sentence should end in a period
or an exclamation point​.”
This is by far, the most comprehensive yet most precise definition of voice that I have come across
yet. The complexity of the nature of a researcher’s voice has led to most ​researchers​ refraining from

2. talking about it. But, is it a good idea to ignore it? At an age when the publication list of most
researchers ​is longer than the years you have been in research and your chances at a job depends on
yours, can we afford to ignore talking about your voice?
I know you must be wondering if there is even a place for your voice and the answer is a simple,
uncomplicated “Yes, of course.” Although during your graduation you are taught to duplicate the style
of a well­known ​published author​, you must focus on building your credibility as an ​academic
writer​ in your discipline using your own voice.
I understand ​academic writing​ is far more limited than creative writing. The specific conventions in
your discipline and then the requirements of the ​target journals​ probably makes you feel locked in a
tower, but there are ways to work around all these high and mighty walls and yet follow all these
conventions. These conventions exist to inculcate structure and uniformity in our writing structure and
not to crush our writing style. The book “​Stylish Academic Writing​” by Helen Sword shares many
ways of effective writing and how to articulate your arguments with precision and conviction.
You do not have to share your personal views or information that is not related to your topic to find
your authentic voice because it is not about personal revelation. It is rather about revealing your
professional identity through what you write. It is about professing your professional beliefs. It’s
about finding common ground between your point of view and the conventions of your field. You
cannot ignore the requirements of your ​target journal​ or your ​target audience​ if you intend to get
published. Plus, your language usage will basically mold your professional identity and you voice lets
the world know of your concerns, commitments, and expertise.
For example, will you place your original claims and insight after the long list of acknowledgements
or will you place it front and center? Will you confidently talk about your understanding of ​previous
literature​ or will you cover your insights with the well­known author’s findings? Will you hide
behind the words like “may” or “might” or come out and state your beliefs with conviction?
You have a clear choice at how you wish to appear in front of your colleagues or your ​target
audience​. The small choices you make while ​writing your research paper​ will eventually build your
voice among the scholars in your field so be mindful, particularly if it’s your first impression. So,
untangle the web of specialised language, conventions, and vernacular expression and use it to
strengthen your voice.

3.
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