Updated Submission Guidelines

ILLUMINATION-Curated: New Submission Guidelines 2023

SYNERGY: Submission Guidelines 2023

Technology Hits: Submission Guidelines 2023

ILLUMINATION Book Chapters: Submission Guidelines 2023

Readers Hope: New Submission Guidelines 2023

Submission Guidelines: Illumination Integrated Publications

ILLUMINATION Gaming: Submission Guidelines 2023

ILLUMINATION Videos and Podcasts: Submission Guidelines 2023

Publishing and Conduct Guidelines for the Lampshade of ILLUMINATION

We are excited to announce a new publication titled ILLUMINATION’s Nutrition, initiated by our editor, Surekha Chandrasekhar. The guidelines for this publication were formulated with care, and our curators have gathered relevant stories from ILLUMINATION to be featured there.

Nutrition: Curated Stories — Volume 1

This collection features well-crafted stories that will be highlighted in our new publication, ILLUMINATION’s Nutrition.

To ensure your contributions are published swiftly, we kindly ask that you submit high-quality content along with copyright-free images. Quality is paramount for us.

Boost Nomination

As of October 1st, our special publication, ILLUMINATION-Curated, has been designated as a boost nominating platform. A selection of well-crafted stories was chosen for boost, and we will compile them in an upcoming bulletin.

To shed light on our boost nomination strategy, we had an insightful interview with our chief editor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz. We hope the insights shared can guide you.

You may also refer to a comprehensive checklist previously shared by Dr. Yildiz to enhance your chances of being nominated for boost. This resource will be beneficial for newer writers aiming to improve the quality of their submissions.

Dr. Yildiz has also addressed common queries regarding increasing income from writing on Medium and other platforms.

New Communication and Collaboration Platform

Recognizing that some writers face challenges joining Slack, our editor and media coordinator, Aiden (Illumination Gaming), has graciously established a new Discord service as an alternative to our main Slack workspace. All registered writers are invited to join this new platform, with Aiden providing an article detailing the rules and joining process.

Update on ILLUMINATION Stats

We are pleased to report improvements across all metrics this month, except for the reported earnings of our writers.

Reading times have risen from 5.1 to 5.5 million minutes.

Views have increased from 4.5 to 5.1 million.

The average of unique daily visitors rose from 38K to 44K.

We are delighted to have welcomed 1174 new followers since last month.

Our Slack workspace gained an additional 574+ members.

Since last month, approximately 736 new writers have registered in our portal.

Currently, we have 145 volunteer publishing and consulting editors.

In future newsletters, we will provide updates and stats for ILLUMINATION-Curated, which is experiencing rapid growth similar to ILLUMINATION.

As we expand, maintaining quality and meaningful engagement remains crucial for enhancing visibility for our stories. Here are some key points to remember:

• We prioritize well-written articles that are free from language and image errors. Stories with inaccuracies may face delays in publication.
• To ensure fairness, we allow only one story submission per writer within 24 hours. Additional stories can be submitted to our smaller publications designed for specific audiences.
• If a submission does not align with Illumination's scope, editors may request a transfer to a more suitable publication to ensure our readers receive the best content.
• Writers who do not adhere to our publication rules may encounter delays as we resolve issues privately. Given time zone differences, this may take several days. Using our Slack workspace can expedite this process.

For questions or assistance, you can reach out to our chief editor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, on Slack, and he will direct your inquiries appropriately. It’s important to note that Dr. Yildiz, like all our editors, volunteers his time, and none of our publications generate revenue from writers.

Concerns About Income Loss

In late September, we received numerous inquiries from our writers regarding a noticeable drop in earnings despite steady statistics. While some speculated it could be a system glitch or a depletion of Medium’s funds, we have identified the root cause.

Editor Mike Broadly documented the issue surrounding income loss, providing insightful perspectives on the situation.

We understand the concerns raised by many writers about this decline. However, it’s essential to highlight that while financial aspects are significant, Medium provides writers with numerous benefits beyond mere income.

In response to this situation, our editorial team has published a story guiding writers through the changes. We encourage you to read this narrative, where we transparently communicate our position as editors.

We need more volunteer editors.

Our editorial team occasionally faces fatigue, necessitating more volunteer editors as our publications continue to grow. Some editors take vacations, while others may require breaks or face health challenges.

If you have the time and are interested in supporting our smaller publications as an editor, please reach out to our chief editor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, through our Slack workspace. Eligibility criteria for editorial roles are outlined in this article.

Our Slack group welcomes all contributors, boasting over 18K members. If you need access to Slack or have not received an invitation, you can request it through this online web form.

Editors play a vital role in the success of our writers and the satisfaction of our readers. They review content, publish it in a timely manner, and promote stories to our readers through various channels.

These volunteer editors are also writers themselves, so they understand the needs of their peers. Currently, 145 volunteer editors support over 24,000 writers within the Slack workspace, creating a substantial workload for them.

We believe that meeting our editors could be beneficial for writers. Therefore, we have initiated a program to introduce our editors' backgrounds and writing styles. New editor profiles will be added as time allows, and they typically use the same account on Slack for direct communication.

Writer Bios in a Collection — Introduce Yourself

If you are a new writer, introducing yourself to the community can yield numerous benefits, as previously explained. Dr. Yildiz has outlined six compelling reasons for every writer to create a bio on Medium.

From the outset, we have encouraged writers to share personal bios in their stories. These bios have been curated and shared with our subscribers, enabling readers to connect with the writers more deeply. However, as the number of bios increased, managing them became challenging.

To streamline this process, Aiden (Illumination Gaming) has reorganized these bios into a more concise format. We understand that our readers are eager to learn about the writers they follow, so you can explore these updated bios in our new collection.

If you're interested in earning some income and enhancing your email marketing skills, check out an opportunity introduced by Aiden in a recent article that includes step-by-step instructions.

Practical Guidance for Absolute Beginners

1. How to Submit Your Stories to Publications

   Now that you’ve joined Medium and penned your first story, please follow these simple steps. Familiarizing yourself with this process will make it second nature. Many new writers have experienced delays due to not knowing how to submit.

   When drafting your story, click on the three dots in the top right corner of your screen. Select "Add to publication," choose Illumination or another relevant publication, and submit your story. Once your submission is in the publication queue, editors will review it for eligibility. If your story does not qualify, they will leave a private message for you to address and resubmit or transfer to another publication if it doesn’t align with ILLUMINATION.

   Please note that certain types of stories are no longer accepted in ILLUMINATION and ILLUMINATION-Curated, so make sure to review the new submission guidelines.

2. Use Copyright-Free Images and Remember to Caption Them

   A common issue is that some new writers forget to caption their images and inadvertently use copyrighted material. Violating copyright laws can lead to significant penalties.

   Several writers have faced hefty fines; our editors aim to prevent this from happening to you. Therefore, we kindly ask that you adhere to their requests, as they are in your best interest. Not every image can be used freely, especially those behind a paywall.

   If you're new to Medium, please review the Photo Handling Policy before you begin, as this is often the most time-consuming issue for our editors and can lead to delays in publication. Writers who do not comply with our photo handling policy will be removed from publications.

3. We Don’t Accept AI-Generated Content Except in One Publication

   Our publications do not accept content created by artificial intelligence tools, with the exception of our dedicated publication, the Lampshade of ILLUMINATION. Writers utilizing generative AI tools such as Jasper or ChatGPT can submit their content there.

Essential Resources for New Writers

We have compiled essential guides for new writers in a post titled "Starter Kit for Writers of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications." This collection aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for new writers looking to navigate the platform.

Please review the following guiding policies before submitting your stories. While we are flexible, these are non-negotiable rules aligned with Medium’s content hosting and distribution policy:

• Zero tolerance for plagiarism on ILLUMINATION.
• No defamation, discrimination, or hate speech will be published.
• Understanding the importance of Image Copyrights for writers and editors.
• Guidelines for publishing and conduct for the Lampshade of ILLUMINATION.

Helpful Resources for Beginners

You can find more helpful resources in Dr. Mehmet Yildiz’s content management collection, designed to assist new writers joining Medium.

Writer Introductions, Featuring, and Interviews

We introduce writers by creating profiles or conducting interviews to enhance their visibility. Recently, Dr. Yildiz has interviewed several writers, and you can read these engaging interviews through the provided links.

• Interview with Dr. Melissa Kalt, MD
• An Interview with Yogesh Haribhau Kulkarni (PhD)
• An Interview with Author Raymond M.E. Aguirre
• An Interview with Hakima TANTRIKA
• Interview with Dr. ADAM TABRIZ
• An Interview with Ayodeji Awosika

We have also initiated a program titled “Make Invisible Stories Visible” to boost views and read times for our contributors. Here are a few highlights:

• Meet Mark Sanford, Ph.D.
• Meet Psychologist Cedric Johnson, Ph.D. on ILLUMINATION
• Chosen Stories from Melinda Blau’s Unique Collection
• Chosen Stories from Sufyan Maan’s Collection

We’ve introduced several new writers whose work you can explore.

Writer Introduction

Recently, we welcomed several new writers: Thomas Allen Moon, Omni Essence, Sneha Nagre, Sridhar Pai Tonse (Leadgen Coach - Tech Startups), Zondra Dos Anjos, and Ani Vals.

You may also check out recent editorial introductions from our team.

• Editorial Bio of Karlene Joseph
• Editorial Bio of Elin Melaas
• Editorial Bio of Philip Writes
• Editorial Profile of Kurt Dillon
• Editorial Profile of Aiden (Illumination Gaming)
• Editorial Profile of Joanie Adams
• Editorial Profile of Nurma Komala-Hadi
• Editorial Profile of The Sturg
• Editorial Profile of Surekha Chandrasekhar
• Editorial Profile of Fahaz Hameed
• Editorial Profile of Mr. Jacob Morales
• Editorial Profile of Abraham Bamidele

We feature our writers’ profiles through the Illumination YouTube channel, and transcripts are available on our blog. For instance, our volunteer YouTube coordinator Aiden (Illumination Gaming) highlights writers on our channel. If you'd like to be featured, please contact him through our Slack workspace.

You can find sample YouTube videos showcasing our top writers in the collection titled "Meet Top Writers of Medium on YouTube."

Curating and Amplifying Stories for More Visibility

Due to a demanding workload, our editors have not been able to create new curated collections recently, but they did manage several last month. Our curation strategy has evolved; we now select nominated stories and compile them into shorter volumes.

Here’s our first volume detailing our approach.

Previously, we curated and shared thousands of well-written pieces with our readers through blogs and social media, reaching about a million published stories across Illumination and its sister publications.

• Hand-Picked Articles — 2023 #47: Chosen by the content curators of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications for avid readers.
• ILLUMINATION-Curators has also launched a new initiative called the Reading Club. Check out the latest version: ILLUMINATION Reading Club #7.
• ILLUMINATION Amplifiers began featuring book chapters submitted by our published authors. Here’s the latest version: Hand-Picked Book Chapters #02.
• Curated Video and Podcast Stories on Medium #3.
• Curated Stories from Illumination Gaming Publication #2.

Last year, we posted 280 collections from the ILLUMINATION Amplifier account, while the Illumination team published 138 collections, and ILLUMINATION-Curator produced around ten collections featuring outstanding stories from experienced writers.

The latest collection from ILLUMINATION: Curated Collection #188.

Writing Challenges and Prompts

Numerous writers have taken on writing challenges, with the 100-Day Writing Challenge gaining popularity. Some writers have also attempted to produce 1000 short forms in 100 days. If you enjoy short forms, feel free to submit one to each publication. However, our current focus is on quality over quantity.

Consider sharing your story links, concerns, and aspirations as part of these unique challenges. Many readers enjoyed participating in "The Proust Questionnaire."

These challenges could attract new readers to your stories, and we look forward to reading your contributions.

Publications Created by Our Writers

Dr. Yildiz has assisted several writers in establishing their own publications and gaining visibility. Publication owners have made significant strides in attracting loyal readers. Check out the guiding story: "Compelling Benefits of Personal Publications on Medium."

ILLUMINATION has compiled the publications of our contributors in a post titled: Why Writers Need Personal Publications: Invitation to introduce your own publication to the audience of Illumination Integrated Publications.

Sample Topic Collections

We create collections that feature exciting stories from various writers tackling popular subjects. Here are some curated by our chief editor:

• The Power of Freelancing for Writers
• Business Collection: A Mini MBA Bundle
• Health & Fitness Collection
• Mental Health Collection
• How to Love and Relate
• Do You Want to Become an Entrepreneur?
• The World Needs Passionate & Compassionate Leaders
• Education and Learning from Many Aspects
• Featured Stories About Writing from the Top Writers of SYNERGY
• NFT Story Collection on ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications
• How Storytellers Articulate Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain
• Top Stories About Artificial Intelligence
• Top AI Stories on Technology Hits
• Collection of Featured Stories
• Stories on ILLUMINATION-Curated — All Volumes
• Technology, Business, Leadership, & Self-Improvement Stories
• Reading List #3 — Technology Hits
• Top 100 Trending Stories: at ILLUMINATION-Curated
• Testimonials for ILLUMINATION
• Sample Book Chapters: Discover 70+ published authors on ILLUMINATION Book Chapters

Let’s Welcome New Writers Joining Us Recently

Thank you for joining our publications! Let’s explore the profiles and stories of the writers who have recently become part of our community.

[Here, you would list the names of the new writers as provided.]

Access to Archived Onboarding Packs for New Writers

Last month, we initiated the creation of short onboarding packs to introduce new writers and enable previous writers to explore their content. This effort aims to foster collaboration, enhance visibility for stories, and support the growth of new writers. You can access the welcome packs through the following links:

• New Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #1
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #2
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #3
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #4
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #5
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #6
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #7
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #8
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #9
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #10
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #11
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #12
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #13
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #14
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #15
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #16
• Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #17

Invitation to New Writers

We welcome all ethical writers to join us. You are free to join or leave at any time without obligation. Our objective is to provide you with a platform to showcase your stories.

To become part of our vibrant publications, please submit a request through this link.

We will assist you in gaining visibility and succeeding as a writer on Medium. Please include the publication name along with your Medium account ID in the request. If you are new to Medium, you can join through this link. Readers can access thousands of stories, and writers can monetize self-published content.

ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications include:

• ILLUMINATION
• ILLUMINATION-Curated
• ILLUMINATION’s MIRROR
• ILLUMINATION Book Chapters
• Technology Hits
• SYNERGY
• Readers Hope
• Illumination on YouTube
• Illumination Gaming
• the Lampshade of Illumination
• ILLUMINATION’s Blog
• the personal publication of our chief editor EUPHORIA.

Remember, supporting your peers as writers is crucial for mutual growth. Collaboration and meaningful engagement are key success factors on writing platforms. Here’s some guidance for beginners.

How Peer-to-Peer Recognition Improves Writers’ Lives

Our chief editor, Dr. Yildiz, has penned numerous stories to guide new writers. You may find valuable insights in his writing collection.