Breaking News: ILLUMINATION Publication Accepts Already Published Stories!

This is amazing news for Medium writers.

ILLUMINATION must be the place for all illuminating souls. Although they prefer drafts, they are the only publication I know who accepts stories already published.

I was always frustrated that publications needed unpublished drafts as one of the criteria to publish my work. I had self-published work I loved but wasn’t getting any traction and wanted to get more eyeballs… Enter ILLUMINATION Publication.

At first, I sent in drafts because I assumed that’s what every other publication needed. Then one day, I self-published because I was going through a mental breakdown and wrote for my own personal therapy.

Side note: I don’t consider myself a real ‘writer’. I write because I NEED to get rid of some of my excess energy or I’ll go nuts.

The next day, I sent my self-published damaged soul piece to ILLUMINATION, and to my surprise they published it. As weird as this may sound when they published that piece, it felt like crying on someone's shoulder and them reassuring me that it was OK. In the back of my mind, I thought they felt sorry for me until the next time it happened.

The next time ILLUMINATION Published my self-published piece, it was an extension to a popular story that I’ve already written but deleted, self-published, rewrote then republished through ILLUMINATION. (Welcome to my neurotic nervous energy :)

That story even got curated though ILLUMINATION- curated. It was my first curated piece:

I was floored that anybody would listen to my wacky ideas. I tend to keep my ideas quiet because I’ve been in situations where I am talking to a group of people at a party and they all fall quiet and RUN away from me to refresh their drinks.

To tell you the truth, I was slightly embarrassed by that curated piece. People saw me as a weirdo all my life. I’m constantly battling this insecurity when I send anything to any publication especially when a story gets no ‘claps’ or views at all.

I swear, baring your soul on a page for the world to see ain’t easy, especially when you doubt yourself with “imposter syndrome”.

I still thought ILLUMINATION published it because they felt sorry for me…They were probably thinking “that poor tortured soul let's give her a chance.” Maybe they are just as nuts as I am, LOL, I don’t know, but I definitely thought I was getting away with something.

Getting away with something

I thought I was getting away with my self-published stories being accepted and the ILLUMINATION Gods were keeping this a secret between us. Ha!

I stand corrected …Enter @lindoshandu:

Thank God somebody wrote was on my mind! I gave 50 claps and left a comment on Lindo Shandu’s story. I shared my best-kept secret that ILLUMINATION accepted my published stories.

Then all hell broke loose for a couple of seconds.

I wrote:

“I agree with you 100%. There is one publication that I know of that accepts already published stories but I fear to mention it because all this time I thought I was getting away with something🤣…I don’t wanna get caught but I’ll take the risk and tell you.

The publication is ILLUMINATION”

When one of the editors of ILLUMINATION replied, I was scared when I read her first words to her opening line "As an editor for ILLUMINATION...". I thought I was gonna be in BIG trouble:)

I felt like I was gonna be sent to the principal's office🤣like I have so many times in school for talking too much but Alas, PHEW!

When I continued to read what Britni Pepper wrote there was no need for worry, anxiety, and fear:

As an editor for ILLUMINATION I can tell you that we accept stories already published. Nobody's "getting away" with anything in that regard.

We prefer drafts for all the reasons already mentioned. Frankly, ILLUMINATION is big enough that even drafts…...

You can read the rest of what she said through Lindo Shandu’s article here because I want to support new writers.

Side note: Medium counts engagement on the comment section as ‘reads’. The more you comment, clap and read comments of writers on this platform, the more you support the writer. This translates to more money for them.

I was ecstatic that Britni Pepper shared the ILLUMINATION Slack group link in the ‘back and forth’ interaction of that comment.

I wrote: “I didn’t know ILLUMINATION had a slack space too, I would love interacting with other writers. How do I get on?”

Drum roll…the sacred link she shared: https://readmedium.com/an-introduction-to-illumination-slack-workspace-33e10b9e890c

I read somewhere that 2–3 minute read pieces perform best here on medium because people have short attention spans. I’m sure I’m over the 4-minute mark so I am going to close with appreciation.

Thank you Lindo Shandu for writing that soul-bearing piece. Thank you Britni Pepper for answering my comment, quelling my fears, and explaining how ILLUMINATION publication works.

Thank you, everybody else for reading this (If it gets any reads at all. Hi Mom…LOL)

This must be the place

Thank you ILLUMINATION, you are the only one I know of that does this which makes me feel understood.

If you know of any other publication that accepts published pieces, please let me know.

Edited:

Jesse Bramani responded:

Attila Vágó responded:

If you are not part of ILLUMINATION yet you can apply by using this weblink.

More from me

Since I’m not a real writer, I really don’t mind you giving me your honest opinion if you think my writing sucks🤣 I can take it. I learned through another writer how to send private notes and comments. I want to learn and grow as a writer.

So once and for all, can somebody tell me why the HELL nobody is clapping for this ‘Monetize Your Faith’ piece?!?…

Does it suck?

Is my idea too crazy?

Do I have the wrong tags?

Is it bad writing?

Or is it just me?

*This story is self-published so I could reply to Britni and Lindo without leaving a long-ass comment. Hopefully, ILLUMINATION publishes it, I’m testing my own theory at this point. (Shit I hope it works or I’ll feel like an ass)