Meet Lawson

My mentor and chief editor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, introduced me to Lawson over two years ago, and I was quickly impressed by his exceptional work ethic. As a fellow volunteer editor among 154 others, Lawson dedicates his time to support our expansive community of writers.

Having known him for quite a while now, I can attest to Lawson's caring nature as an editor and his captivating writing style. He brings a wealth of real-life experiences and unique viewpoints to our collective work. At sixty-three, Lawson lives with his wife, Olivia, just outside Columbia, South Carolina, where they met through Facebook.

Lawson’s writing journey began a decade ago, following years of dreaming about becoming a writer. His upbringing as the son of an Air Force enlisted man saw him graduate from high school at Yokota Air Force Base in Japan, which has shaped his broad and captivating outlook on life.

Lawson's personal stories are as engaging as his written pieces. Until he met Olivia, he was a lifelong bachelor. Their online relationship began in 2014, culminating in a personal meeting in 2016, which led to Lawson relocating to South Carolina in February 2017. They tied the knot later that year on September 10th.

Currently on disability, Lawson has the opportunity to focus on his writing passion, with a little help from his wife. His evolution from an aspiring writer to a committed storyteller, enriched by his fascinating life experiences, makes him a remarkable asset to our community.

Lawson's Transformation as a Writer

Initially struggling with self-doubt, Lawson's writing underwent a transformation once he joined ILLUMINATION. Before this, he found it difficult to produce engaging content. However, constructive feedback from fellow writers and editors helped him evolve into a writer whose stories resonate with many.

Lawson humorously reflects on how his early submissions may have tested the patience of our editorial team. Nevertheless, through persistence and a commitment to writing regularly, he learned the art of crafting engaging content. By submitting two to three times weekly, his work began attracting more readers and followers.

He embodies the belief that “No man is an island.” Lawson credits his growth to the supportive mentorship of his peers within ILLUMINATION, and he is eager to extend that same encouragement to new writers.

A common concern for Lawson, like many editors, is the challenge new writers face when selecting appropriate images for their articles, often leading to copyright issues. To assist him, please familiarize yourself with our photo handling policy, and he will greatly appreciate your efforts.

Lawson serves as a backup for Dr. Yildiz on our ILLUMINATION Slack workspace, addressing urgent inquiries and acting as a moderator in the #helpdesk-for-all-inquiries channel. If you experience delays with your stories or need assistance, reach out to us there.

Lawson's dedication and readiness to assist others make him a vital member of our community. Beyond Medium, he is expanding his influence through a Substack newsletter and a YouTube channel, where he shares insights about his writing journey and has gathered over 29,000 subscribers.

Meet Lawson Wallace: A Top Writer and Senior Editor

In a recent story on ILLUMINATION-Curated, Lawson shared his thrilling journey on YouTube, inspiring me to consider this platform as a new way to connect with a wider audience. Although the story didn't make it to further distribution, it has the potential to motivate many aspiring YouTubers. You can check out his inspiring piece here.

Lawson's ultimate aim is to gain exposure and secure writing opportunities that align with his skills. His determination and versatile approach make him an inspiring figure in our community. I am grateful for his support in my new Health and Science publication, which I recently introduced in a newsletter.

Spotlighting Lawson's Work

Here are a few remarkable stories from Lawson featured in my Health and Science publication. His approachable writing style is engaging and relatable, making it accessible to a wide audience. I encourage you to explore and share them on your social media platforms, as collaboration is key to success on Medium.

• The Intriguing Consequences of a Lack of Communication Between the Two Hemispheres of the Brain
• Don’t DIY It: Leave the Poop Swapping to the Professionals with Fecal Microbiota Transplantation!
• Unexpected Lessons from the Stroke That Landed Me in the Hospital
• Interpreting a Psychiatric Report: Contemplating Borderline Intellectual Functioning
• The Correlation between Agenesis and Avoidant Personality Disorder: An Investigative Analysis
• The Harrowing Night of My Experience with Sleep Paralysis
• Almost Three Years Ago, I Had Knee Replacement Surgery. It Taught Me Something Important
• “YOU’RE DYSLEXIC AND BRAIN DAMAGED”: HOW THESE WORDS SHAPED MY LIFE.
• Dyslexia Always a Learning Disability? At One Time It Might Have Been an Advantage
• This past Tuesday, My Wife Had What was Left of Her Upper Teeth Removed, Which Added Incentive for…

Additionally, Aiden, our editor and media coordinator, produced a YouTube video introducing Lawson two years ago. You can watch it below.

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to read about Lawson and the beautifully crafted stories he contributes. In previous editions, I introduced two other remarkable writers for my Health and Science publication: Dr. Adam Tabriz and Naya Monroe, MA, LCDC-I. Their introductions can be found linked here.

• Meet Dr. Adam Tabriz, MD on Health & Science Publication of ILLUMINATION
• Meet Naya Monroe on My Health & Science Publication of Illumination on Medium.com

If you're a new writer or looking to join our publications, be sure to check our onboarding pack and submission guidelines tailored to each publication's unique audience.

Discover More

Explore our collection of interviews and self-introductions from influential writers. These narratives provide valuable insights and foster a sense of community among our contributors.

• Meet ILLUMINATION Writers from Their Personally Penned Biographies

I look forward to welcoming you into our vibrant ILLUMINATION community on Medium. Join us in making a difference in the world of writing and storytelling!