Patience: The ILLUMINATION Backlog Surpasses 2000 Submissions

Due to Medium's restrictive policies and lack of responsiveness, our publication—one of the largest on the platform—faces significant hurdles.

Unfortunately, I am feeling disheartened today as Medium has terminated the contract of our diligent editor and boost nominator, Aiden. I struggle to comprehend their strategy. While I do not expect my stories to receive boosts, the dismissal of a well-performing editor raises concerns.

I have decided to cancel my Friends of Medium subscription and will no longer recommend it to my audience. Instead, I will allocate that $10 monthly to support two writers on Substack. Based on my observations of their statistics, I doubt that my contributions are being fairly distributed among writers here.

I am considering closing my Health and Science publication and transitioning it to Substack shortly. I will share more details in a future post once I feel more optimistic. Below, you can find Aiden’s heartfelt open letter.

Transition from Boost Nominator to Curator of Non-Boosted Stories

This letter is directed towards my mentor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, Chief Editor of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications. Dr. Yildiz has created a work that every writer should engage with. As a writer and volunteer editor, I no longer see a path forward here. The platform has exposed me to scammers, censored my work, and now suppresses the contributions of accomplished writers without any transparency. Nevertheless, my passion for the community drives me to continue curating collections that highlight stories I appreciate.

A Story Reflecting 25 Years of Research Earned Just 77 Cents

Can a researcher achieve a six-figure income on Medium while focusing on niche subjects? Let’s explore this further.

I have compiled 169 collections, offering new readers a variety of topics to explore. Our team is managing a substantial workload, adding numerous new writers and publishing hundreds of drafts. However, I still make time to shine a light on some overlooked stories. Aiden, our dedicated editor, often features non-boosted stories that deserve attention.

Discover Aiden’s Latest Findings — Episode #190

This episode highlights favorite stories and community-nominated pieces tailored for the dedicated readers of ILLUMINATION Publications.

Daily Bonus: I have begun introducing boosted stories to attract more readers, as these stories are struggling to gain visibility. I will include previous months' collections in upcoming features to provide more exceptional story options. Our editors, nominators, and writers pour their hearts into these carefully crafted pieces. Personally, I have no boosted stories, but I enjoy reading and promoting them.

16–31 May 2024: Featuring Boosted Stories on ILLUMINATION-Curated

Below is a selection of our edited stories, albeit not boosted.

Gift: Curated Stories for Friends of Medium

My editorial team and I have dedicated over 300 hours to these exceptional stories for good reason.

Aiden has discovered a clever method to compile all his collections into a single narrative. I plan to adopt a similar approach for ease of access and sharing.

New Publication Announcement: Substack on ILLUMINATION

We are launching a new publication as part of the ILLUMINATION network, aimed at supporting Substack writers. I am proud to be part of the editorial team, and here are the initial guidelines.

Dr. Yildiz elaborated on our mission and approach for writers.

Every Writer Needs a Newsletter

This initiative emphasizes our commitment to supporting writers through extended collaboration.

I am quickly adapting to this new venture. I recently created my first Substack post, outlining the submission guidelines for my Health and Science publication. I am excited to be among the first contributors to this new platform.

Here’s my initial post: Finally Joined Substack: A New Chapter in Supporting My Readers. Following my contribution, other writers are joining this publication as well.

Practical Guide to Starting Substack

This guide offers actionable steps for writers looking to own their content and audience effectively.

It appears that our initiatives to introduce writers and conduct interviews are not reaching their intended audience. Our editorial team believes that connecting writers with readers through publication activities is proving ineffective.

Why Does Medium Block My Interviews for Influential Writers?

Recent inquiries from some writers have prompted ILLUMINATION editors to clarify that they cannot alter paywall settings. Here’s their illuminating story, and you are welcome to challenge this if you can.

A Big Tip from an Elderly Lady

This first significant tip from a reader was inspiring for me.

Why My Mentors Advised 80% Substack, 15% NewsBreak, 5% Medium

I share insights and strategies behind my new content marketing approach based on data-driven observations.

I addressed the topic of boosting and shared my experiences to spark discussion, as many writers exaggerate its significance in audience growth. I welcome your thoughts on this.

My Health and Science publication has made a notable impact, growing rapidly like its larger counterpart, ILLUMINATION. I wrote my first newsletter today, garnering thousands of views in May 2024. You can read about this in my first newsletter: Exciting Updates from the 1st Successful Month of Health and Science Pub on Medium.

I have begun curating health and science stories from the ILLUMINATION archives, and I hope you find valuable content there. Some stories were published prior to my joining Medium, and discovering those gems has been a delightful surprise.

Top 10 Stories Published on Health & Science Publication for Friends of Medium

Here are the most recent contributions for health and science enthusiasts.

• A Public Health Wake-Up Call for the Vaping & E-Cigarette Concerns
• A Sweet Deception: Unwrapping the Sugar Myth and the Truth Behind the Sugar Rush
• Rising Threat: The Growing Risks of H5N1 Bird Flu
• The Quiet-Quitting Epidemic: Why Are So Many Employees Quiet Quitting?
• Solving the Mystery of Atherosclerosis in Patients with Werner Syndrome

New Writer Interviews

Here are two new interviews featuring Matthew Bamberg, Sylvain Zyssman, Payal Koul, Abhishek Biswas, Øivind H. Solheim.

You can find more interviews in this collection.

If you want to be interviewed by Dr. Yildiz, feel free to comment on this story. Community Building: Featuring Interview Stories & Writer/Editor Profiles to Empower Creators.

Writer Introductions

Meet the following new contributors: Douglas Kwon, Lawson Wallace, Karen Goldfarb, Naya Monroe, MA, LCDC-I, Tejus Yakhob, Dr. ADAM TABRIZ, Jack Kammer, MSW, MBA, Joshua Mason, Seda Anbarc?, Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi, Jozsef Kovacs, Davor Katusic, Thomas Allen Moon, Sneha Nagre, Zondra Dos Anjos, Ani Vals, Ammara Hassan, Sridhar Pai Tonse — Leadgen Coach- Tech Startups.

We are weary of scammers causing undue stress.

Bravo, Digital Scammers: A Masterclass in Deception and Algorithm Exploitation

Part II: Bravo, Support Staff, Your Neglect Deserves a Standing Ovation

Invitation to Self-Curated Collection for ILLUMINATION-Curated

Here is a sample to inspire our writers for this generous activity.

Friend Links to My Sample Boosted Stories for Non-Members of Medium.com

Check out these self-curated collections from other writers.

March 2024: Collection of Boosted Stories from ILLUMINATION Publications — V6

Enjoy these boosted stories as promised. I heard in the attached narrative that boosted stories are not performing well.

Boosted Stories in March 2024

• The Answered Prayer — Shayla Renee
• Nuances of Serotonin Syndrome: Experts Warrant Caution for Elevated Serotonin Levels — Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
• A Movie Maker's Oscar Predictions — Aiden
• The Cardiology Procedure That Revolutionized Heart Attack Treatment — David Mokotoff, MD
• Do Morals Need Religion? Ask Your Pre-Verbal Toddler — Wayne Stelk, PhD

Here are some more incredible narratives from my reading list, including personal reflections and professional insights.

My Favorite Stories about Friends of Medium

If you are a friend of Medium, please share your thoughts with me.

• Listing Your Way to Success: Expanding Your Friends of Medium — David C. Wyld
• Have You Heard of This New Thing On Medium? Friends of Medium — Dr. Gabriella Korosi
• Announcement to Join Friend Of Medium — Bingfeng Sun
• Is There a Secret Club For Friends of Medium? — Tree Langdon

Enjoy the curated stories and feel free to connect with me about your experiences.