A Unique Perspective on the ILLUMINATION Reading Club
Written on
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Reading Club
We are excited to share that after a brief hiatus, we are back with the latest edition of the ILLUMINATION Reading Club! This collection brings together selected narratives from our talented writers at Illumination Integrated Publications on Medium, a haven for passionate readers.
New authors are always welcome to join us; please check our registration portal for inquiries and applications. Be sure to review the onboarding guide before submitting your work.
Photo by Thought Catalog from Pexels.
Dear readers and aspiring writers, our team has been diligently curating fresh stories and introducing new voices to our community. This past weekend, we compiled an exciting range of narratives to present to you. If you're interested in following our new contributors, their profiles are linked at the end of this post.
Last year, we launched the ILLUMINATION Reading Club initiative and have successfully shared eight editions of our curated collection so far, alongside our ongoing curation responsibilities. As a volunteer-driven effort, we are committed to fostering the ILLUMINATION writing and reading community. Today, we proudly present Volume 9 of our reading club, showcasing a mix of thought-provoking and memorable stories from our publications, aimed at giving newcomers a taste of our diverse offerings.
ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications embraces diversity and inclusivity, inviting writers from various backgrounds to contribute. Currently, we have over 27,000 writers sharing their work with us. Every voice matters, and we recently released our monthly newsletter highlighting our progress and plans for the upcoming year. This newsletter was shared via Dr. Yildiz’s tech account on Medium and is also available on Substack, so please help spread the word across your social platforms.
Monthly Updates from the ILLUMINATION Editorial Team: February 2024
In our latest newsletter, we discussed the increased workload our volunteer team has been managing. Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, our chief editor, penned a personal account of the challenges we face in meeting the demands of some writers who expect expedited services. While we wish we could expand our team to more than 30 editors per publication, the limitations of the Medium platform prevent us from doing so.
The video title is CT '24: Luanne Book Club - YouTube. This video captures the essence of our reading club and how it brings together stories from diverse writers.
A Rollercoaster of My Saturday: Challenges, Surprises, and Joyful Insights
As part of our ongoing efforts to showcase exceptional content, we recently released a collection of boosted stories. However, it's important to note that only a small fraction—less than 1%—of all submissions receive this recognition. A new anthology of boosted stories will be available soon.
Collection of Boosted Stories from ILLUMINATION Publications — Volume 4
You might wonder what happens to the remaining 99% of the published stories. Our goal is to ensure that readers have access to these narratives, prompting some of our editors to curate impactful selections for our reading list collection. If you missed earlier editions, you can find links to Club #2, Club #3, Club #4, and Club #5 on our site.
Our dedicated editors and curators also produce their own collections. In addition to the ILLUMINATION team, contributors like Mike Broadly, DHSc, Aiden (Illumination Gaming), and Elin Melaas regularly curate selections for our audience. Below, you’ll find links to their latest works, offering a glimpse into how we promote our writers’ stories and ensure that there’s something for every reader.
Look What Aiden Found Today — Episode #83
This episode features favorite tales from our community alongside community-nominated pieces tailored for avid readers of ILLUMINATION Publications.
Mike’s Favorite Stories on ILLUMINATION Publications — #56
Discover a selection of engaging stories that are sure to capture your interest.
Curation Service by ILLUMINATION — Volume 51
Explore our nominated and curated selections from passionate writers, tailored for our dedicated readers.
Elin’s Chosen ILLUMINATION Stories — #2
Check out these outstanding stories that are definitely worth reading.
Chapter 2: Our Unique Approach to Curation
At the ILLUMINATION Reading Club, we take a distinctive approach to curating content. Unlike many platforms that favor polished narratives from established authors, we strive to represent a broader spectrum of voices, including those from emerging writers. This ensures that our curated collection caters to a variety of tastes and preferences.
While we appreciate every contribution, it’s essential to acknowledge that not all stories can be featured in a single edition due to platform constraints, which limit us to approximately 100 stories at a time. Over the past three years, we have published over a million narratives, and our commitment to showcasing diverse talents remains unwavering.
We aim to provide a platform that resonates with a wide audience, inspiring all who engage with our thoughtfully curated collection. Our stories are shared across various social media channels, and we encourage writers to contribute their work to the Quora Space of Illumination-Curated.
Engagement and Community Involvement
We invite collaboration within our Slack Workspace, encouraging writers of all levels to connect with readers across diverse topics. Sharing links to your stories is welcome, particularly in the Reading Club channel.
We encourage active engagement with fellow writers' stories and urge you to nominate your favorite pieces in the #featured channel on our Slack workspace. Please provide a brief explanation for your nominations to foster community interaction.
Our volunteer editors consistently compile collections to enhance the visibility of our contributors' work. We take joy in introducing the profiles and stories of our writers through various methods.
For instance, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz has conducted interviews with numerous talented writers. These interviews provide insight into their unique perspectives and experiences. Here are a few recent highlights:
- Interview with Dr. David Mokotoff, MD
- Interview with Martin D. Hirsch
- Interview with Gill McCulloch
- Interview with Dr. Adelia Ritchie, PhD
- A Candid Peek into the Lives of Other Writers
Featured Stories for Reading Club Members
Explore our featured articles that provide valuable insights and perspectives:
- Less Spoken Nuances of DHEA Hormone by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
- Transitioning from Blogger to Published Author by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
- My Journey to Improve VO2max in My 60s by Mike Broadly, DHSc
- A Beginner’s Guide to Cancer by Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D.
- Finding Connection in Minecraft by Aiden (Illumination Gaming)
We look forward to continuing to grow our community and sharing stories that resonate with our readers. Join us in this journey of discovery and engagement!