purpose driven writing

Recently, I received another rejection letter from an agent and to be honest, rejection never gets easier. But, disappoints are part of life. Living with a disability has taught me a disabled life is still a life. There are currently nearly 5 million lives that have been lost to Covid-19 in just a year and a half.  My disability has taught me a few hard lessons.

• It is okay to have disappointments and setbacks.
• Don’t let these keep you from living.
• Grow and learn from disappointments and setbacks, so you can be wiser and stronger.

I have spent over half of my life learning to adjust to my new normal every day. My new normal has made me the person I am. For some, it may be hard to accept, but I have learned the art of giving up to get better. I have learned there are times to fight and there are times you just let go; either way, life will go on. We just have to find our purpose in it.

Purpose Driven Writing?

Most people search for purpose in life, we want to leave a legacy—our mark on the world. Purpose gives us a goal, it helps keep us motivated in life.

Over the years I have done a lot of soul-searching and purpose seeking. I am quickly approaching the 25-year mark since my accident.  From the beginning, I knew that I was fortunate enough to be alive and able to have the physical abilities I have. But, if I’m honest deep down inside I still question why.

Not understanding and knowing one’s purpose can lead a disabled person straight into depression. Motivation and purpose are critical to people with a disability living a satisfying life. One study shows that adults with learning disabilities are 46% more likely to attempt suicide.[1]

The sad truth is we feel that we are just stumbling through days pointlessly. Purpose is vital to living for all of us. The writing life can seem just as meaningless if we don’t know what we are writing for. Writers need to understand why they write to help keep them motivated to write. Below are a four tips to help you find purpose in your writing:

1. Identify your main reason for writing.
2. Know your target audience.
3. Identify your sources of writing inspiration.
4. What message do you want your readers to take from your writing?

I can’t help but think some of you may be asking what about financial gains? Since very few writers can earn a living from solely writing full time, financial gain isn’t a top motivating factor. Most of us right for the sake of writing, and I don’t mean the physical activity but a specific purpose behind it—to create.  I’d hope that my writing is less about what I can get from it, but more about what I can give. As our writing motto goes, “Always think reader first.”

Sometimes living with a disability feels like I am helpless and tend to focus on what will help me, but deep in my soul, I hope to help others and hope I can fulfill that purpose. Helping others to press on through the struggle, depression, and pain of their disability. When we know our life has a purpose, it gives life more meaning. We know what we have to offer to the world.

For Others?

The purpose of writing is communication and if what we write is not read, that purpose is not fulfilled.”

Dean Koontz

I cannot help but think of Christian author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada, who became a quadriplegic in 1967 after a tragic diving accident. Although Joni is paralyzed from the waist down she has spent over 50 years helping other persons with disabilities. She has not let her disabilities keep her from giving back. She doesn’t use her disabilities as an excuse to keep her from staying motivated or keep others motivated. Likewise, I try to encourage others with disabilities to not use their inability as an excuse, but instead, let it become the motivation to make progress. Living with a disability shouldn’t take away our purpose in life, but actually, give us more of a reason to live.

We all have a different motivation for writing, or else we wouldn’t keep going or be able to take another rejection. The above mentioned rejection letter is my second in as many years. As much as I know I need an agent in this industry, I also know I am not writing for an agent, I have a different audience in mind and motivation to keep writing for them. 

Nearly ten years of seeking publication have taught me that writing is a passion. And we each have a unique purpose is for that passion: entertaining, inspiring, or enlightening others–neither of which focuses on ourselves, we are thinking reader first.

Regardless of how long you’ve been writing or seeking publication, take the time to do some soul-searching to understand why you write–this is the heart of purpose-driven writing.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJonhson.com  and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

[1] https://www.healio.com/news/psychiatry/20170629/attempted-suicide-rates-much-higher-in-adults-with-learning-disabilities