Michael Mackey

Every week in this course, I’m reminded that writing is less about sounding impressive and more about sounding like yourself. After reading Zinsser’s chapters on clutter, simplicity, and voice. Plus the material from Modules 3 and 4, one theme kept coming back to me is how we live in a world filled with noise, and the only way to stand out is to be honest.

Zinsser argues that readers simply know when you’re faking it. Whether you’re trying too hard to sound academic, stuffing sentences with unnecessary filler words, or slipping into a “breezy” tone that talks down to people. 

He reminds us that the result is always the same: the writing doesn’t feel real. And when it doesn’t feel real, it doesn’t allow the reader to connect or fully engage. 

That idea hit home for me because so much of what I write, emails, presentations, class assignments, even LinkedIn posts, comes with pressure. Pressure to sound perfect. Pressure to sound smart. Pressure to sound like someone who “fits” in the business world, in order to get a job and be successful. But Zinsser basically calls that out. He says we lose our voice when we write for approval instead of communication.

The part that stuck with me most was when he said your voice should be something readers recognize across all topics. You can’t switch personalities or your writing styles because the subject changes. 

You have to speak in the same clear, honest voice for all topics. Whether you’re writing about sports, business, or your personal story, your voice must stay the same!

It made me rethink the way I write professionally. I’ve always tried to come across a certain way, I call it, “business polished.” But the truth is, the most engaging writing is usually the one that sounds the most human.

I saw this in our other readings too. Audience matters, but not in the “change who you are” way. Audience matters because you have to respect your reader. Their time, intelligence, and their attention. That means being clear, being direct, and saying something real. It also means avoiding clichés, filler words, and the meaningless phrases we all fall back on when we’re not confident in what we want to say. 

If there’s one takeaway from these chapters, it’s this, good writing isn’t about decoration, it’s about truth. And truth only shows up when your voice does.

Going forward, that’s the standard I want to hold myself to. Less clutter, less trying to sound like everyone else. More honesty, clarity, and confidence in the way I naturally write. Because if Zinsser is right (and I think he is), your real voice is the only one people will remember.