Recently, we experienced flooding rains in the community I live in. The rains covered the roads to the point the sidewalks were flooded too. As I sat on my front porch and watched, vehicle after vehicle would plow through the ponds of standing water.
Even 4 x 4 trucks had a hard time staying in their lanes. Once in a while cars that had no business driving through the flooded streets would jump the curb onto the sidewalk.
As I watched, I wondered if the roads would dry up enough for me to go biking the next day. I learned soon after my accident how my disability affected my reflexes and eyesight. This only makes it harder for me to stay in my lane when biking. Whether biking on a road or off-road, it is crucial to maintain your lane.
- You have more control.
- You’ll have more power to move forward.
- It is much safer.
Because of my disability, the above three factors are very important to me. They are crucial to persons living with disabilities. We each must know our abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and limitations after suffering our injuries.
Disabled or not, each of the previous factors shape our lives and even put us in the right lane for our careers.
Stay In Your Lane?
As I mentioned in my last post, each of us has our skill sets for writing, these skill sets help determine the lane or direction we each should be going with our writing. As creatives, we each have specific topics and fields we’re interested in writing about.
I am a firm believer that our best writing comes from what we have the most passion for; not just what we already know, but also what we enjoy researching and learning about. My past experiences give me a unique perspective on subjects I’m drawn to and I’ve learned to navigate those lanes.
I’m sure everyone reading this post has specific subjects they are uniquely qualified to explain and write about from their perspective—congratulations, you’ve found your lane.
In the content or the copywriting community, this is called niche writing. If, by chance you are unsure, here are a few tips from Writersedit.com to help you find your lane.
- Identify your area of expertise.
- Think about what you’re passionate about.
- Look for opportunities in that market.
- Look for the areas where the above points intersect.
- Seek Clients in the niche/market.[i]
Once you find your lane and understand what you’re good at writing, stick with it for the most part. As creatives, we find a certain amount of satisfaction in producing content we are passionate about, even if we are not paid for it. Isn’t it all about the art?
But, it is okay from time to time to explore other options just to dip your toes in other waters, but if you are like me your true joy comes from what you’re passionate about.
When I was growing up my father warned me not to be the Jack of all trades and master of none. When I work with other brain injury survivors, I encourage them to concentrate on what they can do and give it everything. In the long run, that’s where they’ll make the most progress and it will save them a lot of grief over other failures. Our abilities are what matter more than our disabilities.
What Matters Most
When I was younger I lived recklessly…dangerously, I was all over the place chasing whatever made me happy. It was my disability that put things in perspective and taught me what matters most.
My disability focused my attention on being healthy and safe. If I push myself too far, I know the consequences won’t be good. I don’t believe in cutting corners. Perhaps that’s a little OCD, but I know it’s better to focus on what matters to us if we want to reap the benefits.
- Clear and thorough communication.
- Brand identity.
- Unique voice/perspective
Once you know where
you want to go with your writing, it’s easier to focus and to stay in your
lane.
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 Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
[i]Bradshaw, Claire. https://writersedit.com/freelance-writing/find-ideal-freelance-writing-niche-5-simple-steps/
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