<ILLUMINATION-Curated: Updated Submission Guidelines for 2023>
Written on
2024 Update
Our lead editor, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, recently shared insights into our strategic alignment with Medium's vision, aimed at fostering writer success.
Strategic Adjustments on Medium in 2023: My Adaptation Journey
Reflections on unconventional methods throughout my writing, editing, and publishing evolution…
Dear Writers,
ILLUMINATION-Curated stands out as a unique publication that has highlighted exceptional stories from talented writers since 2020. This platform is dedicated to showcasing the narratives of seasoned and accomplished authors.
In this article, we aim to clarify common inquiries stemming from our earlier announcements.
Numerous new writers are eager to join this publication and seek to understand the selection criteria. This particular publication focuses solely on experienced writers, meeting the expectations of our dedicated readership.
Roughly 80% of our applicants fall into the intermediate category, making them significant contributors to ILLUMINATION. We distribute tasks evenly between Readers Hope and ILLUMINATION-Curated to manage both ends effectively.
> We begin absolute beginners at Readers Hope, allowing them to reach a wider audience through ILLUMINATION and special publications such as Synergy, Mirror, Book Chapters, Technology Hits, Gaming, and Videos/Podcasts. We then select writers who consistently submit exceptional stories to ILLUMINATION-Curated.
Given the high volume of questions reflecting our community of over 25,000 writers, we find it essential to address these in an updated submission guideline.
Initially, we restricted story submissions to a select group of writers with a proven history of delivering valuable content. However, we have broadened this opportunity to allow more writers to gain visibility among a wider audience. We envision ILLUMINATION-Curated as a motivational framework for writers' growth, setting a target for them to aspire to.
Writers affiliated with ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications will enjoy the privilege of submitting directly to ILLUMINATION-Curated.
Yet, we maintain specific prerequisites to ensure the quality and relevance of submissions.
First and foremost, all submissions must adhere to Medium's distribution and boosting guidelines, just like any other publications we manage. Furthermore, content should resonate with the sophisticated audience of this publication.
We embrace diversity and variety; thus, there are no restrictions on topics, provided the stories comply with Medium's policies and our core values. Currently, we cover over 100 subjects, focusing on substantive and meaningful content for our readers, with plans to expand as our writers and audience suggest.
We do not censor content as long as it meets Medium's guidelines.
Since Medium now mandates paid membership for the Partner Program, we will also consider stories from members for this publication to uphold our high standards. However, our other publications still welcome non-members.
> Aside from the Lampshade of ILLUMINATION, we do not accept AI-generated content. Our AI writing policy is available for review.
In addition to Medium’s distribution criteria, ILLUMINATION-Curated has set specific standards to enhance publication quality.
We prioritize high quality but do not demand perfection. We believe every writer can improve through constructive feedback from readers, editors, and peers. Our goal is to offer our subscribers a rewarding and enjoyable reading experience.
Summary of Submission Criteria:
- Clarity and Readability: Your writing must be straightforward and easily comprehensible. Employ simple language and avoid jargon.
- Self-Editing for Clean Submissions: Ensure your work is thoroughly edited before submission. Your piece should be devoid of grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
- Reader Value: Your writing should be informative and engaging, offering something new or valuable to readers.
- Reader-Centric Approach: Focus on what the reader wants to know and how best to convey your message.
- Rigorous Content: Research your writing thoroughly and back it up with evidence. Show readers why your perspective is valid.
- Honesty in Writing: Maintain truthfulness and accuracy in your narrative without misleading the audience.
- Exceptional Reading Experience: Organize your content well to provide a pleasurable reading experience.
- Proper Formatting: Ensure your submission meets the formatting standards, including font, size, and margins.
- Relevant and Appropriate Images: Include images that relate to your topic and suit your audience. Please review our photo policy.
Before submitting your stories to ILLUMINATION-Curated, we highly recommend using this checklist to ensure your work aligns with our standards, delights our readers, and enhances the visibility and income of your stories.
Submission Checklist:
- Identifying the Audience:
- Did I write this story with a specific reader in mind?
- Is the story aimed at a particular or broad audience?
- Is the writing level appropriate for the intended audience?
- Value for the Reader:
- What insights does this story provide?
- Are key takeaway points included?
- Are these takeaways relevant and impactful?
- Readability:
- Is the story logically structured for easy understanding?
- Have I used clear and accessible language?
- Editorial Standards:
- Would I accept this story for publication if I were an editor?
- Have I utilized tools like Hemingway Editor to assess my writing?
- Coherence:
- Does the introduction connect effectively with the conclusion?
- Can I enhance the introduction's appeal?
- Engagement:
- Is the content engaging, or does it seem dull?
- Have I employed lively vocabulary and metaphors to enrich the reader's experience?
- Conveying Messages:
- Would the reader grasp the intended messages within the story?
- Are the main points clearly articulated?
- Accuracy and Credibility:
- Have I verified information from credible sources?
- Are there sufficient citations for any borrowed content?
- Honesty and Readership Alignment:
- Is the story presented sincerely and authentically?
- Does the content align with its intended purpose?
- Reader Experience:
- Does the overall mood of the story match its content?
- Is there a risk of negative reactions from readers?
- Formatting, Clutter, and Unnecessary Elements:
- Are paragraphs kept concise for readability?
- Are sentences well-structured and free from clutter?
- Title and Subtitles:
- Are titles and subtitles formatted clearly?
- Is capitalization in titles appropriate?
- Images and Captions:
- Do the images complement the content theme?
- Are copyright-free images utilized?
- Addressing Ambiguity:
- Is the story understandable for the target audience's comprehension level?
- Have vague expressions been eliminated?
- Tags and Visibility:
- Are relevant tags applied to reflect the story's messages?
- Is at least one publication tag used to improve visibility?
- Final Checks:
- Has a final spell-check and grammar check been conducted?
- Is the story devoid of spelling and grammatical errors?
- Quality Assurance:
- Has the story been reviewed for typos?
- Have any typos been corrected?
- Accuracy in Numbers and Lists:
- Are the numbers and bullet points accurate?
- Are bullet points consistent?
- Verification of Web Links:
- Do the web links direct to the correct addresses?
- Disclosure of Affiliate Links:
- Are affiliate links clearly stated at the beginning and end?
- Are these links relevant to the story's theme?
- Adherence to Platform Rules:
- Does the story comply with platform or publication rules?
- Has special attention been paid to avoid hate speech?
- Seeking External Input for Controversial Topics:
- Have trusted editors reviewed the story for potential issues?
- Have editor recommendations been incorporated?
- References and Citations:
- Are appropriate references provided for cited content?
The details of this checklist are outlined in a resource created by our chief editor, Dr Mehmet Yildiz. This comprehensive version also includes strategies for enhancing the likelihood of boosting and writing viral stories, helping you grow your audience more swiftly and increase your content's income.
New Writers: Boost Your Chances with This Checklist
A thorough checklist and guide for aspiring writers and bloggers planning to write on online platforms based on Medium…
Enhancing Story Quality Before Submission
Improving your stories is a continuous process, and there are several practical approaches to consider. Here are some effective tips.
Understand Medium’s Distribution Guidelines: The first step is to thoroughly read and understand Medium’s curation guidelines, which our guidelines are based upon.
Study Curated and Boosted Stories: Analyzing curated, high-quality, boosted, and viral stories can impart valuable lessons in style, presentation, and content.
We have curated numerous volumes with hundreds of top-tier stories across various topics. You can utilize keyword searches to locate stories from these collections.
> Some notable collections include Outstanding Stories and Illumination Reading Club by ILLUMINATION-Curators, Hand-Picked Articles by ILLUMINATION Amplifiers, and Curated Collections by ILLUMINATION.
Learning from fellow writers' experiences is invaluable. We have compiled various resources to assist in enhancing your storytelling skills, which you can find in the attached list created by our chief editor, Dr Mehmet Yildiz.
Writing, Content Development & Marketing Strategy Guides
Engage in Peer Reviews: As the creator of your work, you might be biased in your evaluation. Thus, seek peer reviews for fresh perspectives on your content. Peer reviewers often excel in spotting errors that authors or automated tools might overlook.
Utilize Language and Editing Tools: Employing language and editing tools in your writing can significantly enhance your work's quality. Grammarly can assist with grammar and spelling checks, while Hemingway Editor can refine your writing style.
Additionally, performing plagiarism checks is crucial to ensure your content is original. Several free tools, such as Grammarly’s plagiarism checker, Chegg, Copyleaks, PlagTracker, and Plagiarisma, can help in this regard.
Submit as a Draft: For your convenience, we kindly request that you submit your contributions as drafts, even though self-published stories are permitted. This approach benefits you as published drafts will display the publication date once live.
In time-sensitive scenarios requiring expedited attention, we are open to considering exceptions. Please inform us via a private message when submitting your work, or reach out to Dr Mehmet Yildiz and other editors on the Slack Workspace.
Collection of Boosted Stories from ILLUMINATION-Curated
Exciting news for ILLUMINATION-Gaming, a new boost-nominating publication…
Conclusions
ILLUMINATION-Curated is dedicated to presenting memorable, insightful, and relatable stories from skilled writers. We aim to amplify the voices of all writers striving to delight our readers.
We hope these guidelines offer the necessary information to embark on your journey with us. Please feel free to leave a comment for inquiries or connect with us on our Slack workspace.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We eagerly await your valuable contributions, as our readers look forward to the infusion of new voices and content, enriching our growing community.
> For guidelines regarding ILLUMINATION, our largest publication, refer to the link authored by Suzanne E. We will compile all submission guidelines into a single story soon.
Updated Guidelines for ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications
- 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
Here are Medium’s Quality Guidelines regarding boosting.
ILLUMINATION-Curated has been selected as a boost-nominating publication. An inspiring story by Ariel Meadow Stallings, featuring ADEOLA SHEEHY-ADEKALE, has been published.
In this series, explore these inspiring stories that may offer valuable insights into content development on the Medium platform: - How Google data scientist Cassie Kozyrkov found success (and a fulfilling creative outlet) on Medium by Jon Gluck - How Kaki Okumura’s Medium essays led to a book on health and human psychology by Harris Sockel - How Thomas Smith successfully launched a new AI publication on Medium by Jon Gluck - How Devon Price redefined ‘lazy’ and turned his Medium essay into a book by Harris Sockel
Finally, Introduce Yourself in a Story
Our editor Aiden (ILLUMINATION Gaming) has recently compiled writer bios written by the writers themselves in a collection.
Meet ILLUMINATION Writers from Their Personally Penned Biographies
Discover the contributing writers of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications on Medium, through their own words.
We encourage all writers to share a bio introducing themselves to our readers.
> Curated Writer Bios
Meet Editors of ILLUMINATION-Curated
Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Dr John Frederick Rose, Dr. Preeti Singh, Dr Michael Heng, Brian E. Wish, PhD, Arthur G. Hernandez, EP McKnight, MEd, Paul Myers MBA, Bill Abbate, Brooklyn Muse (editor), Britni Pepper, Jennifer Geer, Joe Luca, Josh Balerite Acol, Lanu Pitan, Julius Evans, Michael Patanella, Judy Musgrove ~ Blogger, Entrepreneur, Writer, Jussi Luukkonen – your curiosity guide, Maria Rattray, Ntathu Allen (she/her), Sumera Rizwan, Tree Langdon, René Junge, Kurt Dillon, Neha Sandhir S, Aiden (ILLUMINATION Gaming), Agnes Laurens, Mike Broadly, ILLUMINATION, and ILLUMINATION-Curators.
Some of these editors have profiles that you can explore in the attached list.
Invitation to New Writers
ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications are inclusive and diverse, supporting over 25,000 contributors. Writers of all levels, from absolute beginners to highly accomplished ones, engage our readers with their educational and captivating content.
To join our vibrant publications, please submit a request via this link. We will assist you in gaining visibility and achieving success on Medium. Please mention the publication name along with your Medium account ID in your request.
ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications include: - ILLUMINATION - ILLUMINATION-Curated - ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR - ILLUMINATION Book Chapters - Technology Hits - SYNERGY - Readers Hope - Illumination on YouTube - Illumination Gaming - Lampshade of Illumination - ILLUMINATION’s Blog - EUPHORIA by Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Get Notified About New ILLUMINATION-Curator Publications
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Please review our onboarding pack before submitting any stories to ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications. We only accept submissions that align with Medium policies and our guidelines.
Master Copy: Onboarding Information for New Writers
Welcome to the information pack for new contributors of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications on Medium.