Earlier this month I received feedback and critique on my latest screenplay from the professional screenwriting website which currently hosts my screenplay. The professional’s thoughts on my WIP (work in progress) were beyond my wildest expectations. They enjoyed my screenplay so much I was awarded another month of free hosting and another free evaluation.
After years of researching, plotting, and problem-solving, I was hopeful, but not confident my narrative would capture the hearts and minds of others, especially in the industry that is hard to break into. After reading the comments about my character and his journey, I was on cloud nine and excited to take the professional feedback and put it to use in polishing and perfecting my passion project.
My screenplay isn’t perfect, but it has tremendous commercial potential for a worldwide audience and tackles a lot of current issues in this “high-octane” inspirational cyber terrorism spec. Proofreading and a little dialogue polishing are my main focus now.
While there is still a little work to be done, the encouraging words inspired and motivated me to take action. I am focused more on the story and even stopped procrastinating and doing what needs to be done to get my story and its message where it needs to be for a sale and production.
Encouragement
Personally, I struggle with a lack of self-confidence since I wasn’t able to finish college after sustaining my brain injury during my junior year. Although I did eventually take professional writing classes and was mentored by others in the industry, I still question my calling and writing ability.
So any word of encouragement affirms and energizes my writing chops. Encouragement is defined as, “The action of giving someone support, confidence or hope.” At this stage of my writing journey, I can use all of the support I can get.
Life is hard and I don’t know anyone who couldn’t use a little bit of encouragement. Some of the benefits of encouragement are; it provides awareness, creates belief, builds confidence, improves attitude, and it promotes action. If you are struggling with anything in life, I hope this post lifts your spirits and encourages you.
As writers, we have the tools, means, and opportunities to encourage others with our words and that is what I try to do with my writing. We each need to harness the power of our words.
Power of words
The irony of being wordsmiths is we understand the power of our words, yet the writing life can be so overwhelming, we ourselves need words of encouragement to keep writing.
Being a writer is both hard and enjoyable in a weird kind of way. The reward doesn’t always outweigh the risk for most of us. Striving for publication is like reaching for the stars a lot of times.
We can see them and know which way to go, but there’s no guarantee we will ever achieve our writing goals. In times when we fall short of the stars, we need encouraging words ourselves.
We must believe that our words can bring hope or change to the lives of our readers. One of my writing mentors is the first to cheer me on during times I feel like I cannot go on.
She uses her words to encourage her readers and other writers to use the power of their words to encourage others. Below are some of the tips to help us encourage others with our words.
- Acceptance
- Awareness
- Determination
- Joy
- Love
- Passion
- Sacrifice
- Servanthood
- Transparency
- Willingness
As writers we have an opportunity to do more than just make a living, we can make a difference in the world we live in. Inspire others to be positive. Give others hope. Educate others about what we have learned on our journeys. Motivate others to press on through the pain.
Motivated
Motivation is a psychological stimulant that affects our minds and bodies positively. During those early days in the hospital after my accident, I lacked the motivation to even live. My life was over as I knew it.
Neither my body nor my brain will ever be the same as they were before my accident. It doesn’t matter how severe an injury to the brain is, the slightest injury to the brain can affect the body for the rest of a person’s life.
The main thing that kept me going during those dark days was the encouragement from my friends and family who came to visit me in the hospital and during my time in rehab.
Recently, a childhood pastor who came to see me while I was in a rehabilitation hospital almost 30 years ago again left encouraging words on my Facebook page about how proud he was of how I was using my words and story to uplift others.
Recovering from a T.B.I. is just as much mental and psychological as it is physical. Below are some of the ways brain injuries affect our brains, even years after the injury.
- Sensory sensitivity
- Depression
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Problems sleeping
- Cognitive impairment
- Fatigue
- Hormone dysregulation
Motivation is a key to staying positive while living with a TBI. Traumatic brain injuries are life-changing events with no guarantee of improvement. Mental abilities can become impeded or severely limited.
With such a negative outlook, it is clear why survivors need to hear the power of an encouraging word!
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 MartinThomasJohnson.com and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
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