Happy Birthday ILLUMINATION

Summary

The author expresses deep gratitude and appreciation for Illumination, a publication that has played a pivotal role in their writing career, offering support, recognition, and a platform for diverse content.

Abstract

The article titled "Happy Birthday ILLUMINATION" is a personal tribute to the publication that has significantly impacted the author's writing journey. The author recounts how Illumination was one of the first to accept their work, providing a home for their articles amidst a time when Medium's landscape was less welcoming to new writers. Despite the author's varied interests and whimsical writing style, which sometimes deviates from popular niches, Illumination has consistently supported their work, offering editorial assistance and sharing their articles on social media. The publication's supportive editors and inclusive approach have been instrumental in shaping the author's writing and giving them the courage to pursue their dreams. As Illumination celebrates its birthday, the author reflects on the growth they have experienced alongside the publication, which has introduced series and curated collections, allowing the author to explore different writing whims while still having a supportive platform for their work.

Opinions

Illumination is acknowledged as a foundational support system for the author's writing, providing a sense of belonging and acceptance.
The author values the personalized support and feedback from Illumination's editors, which has been crucial in their writing development.
Medium's shift from compensating popular publications to the current model is noted, but the author emphasizes that their motivation for writing has never been primarily about money.
The author feels that their imaginative and sometimes unconventional writing style has found a welcoming home in Illumination, which embraces a wide range of content.
Illumination's role in helping the author gain visibility and recognition is greatly appreciated, with the publication's social media sharing efforts highlighted as particularly supportive.
The author expresses gratitude for Illumination's adaptability and growth, which has allowed them to evolve as a writer and continue to publish diverse content.
The author is optimistic about their ongoing relationship with Illumination and looks forward to many more years of collaboration and mutual growth.

It Was Never About the Money

Personally, Medium was the place I had been searching for to publish my writing for the world to see. With a name no one knew and imagination too big for some people’s liking, I never really fit in with traditional publishers like newspapers and magazines. My passion has always been fiction, and while time runs short, the more I age, my imagination never seems to.

I wanted a place to put my thoughts, after publishing for my own viewing on MySpace and other social media channels, I loved the opportunity to put my work in front of unknown eyes. Medium allowed me that outlet and Illumination supported that dream.

The Support Is Amazing

Not only have they always had an extensive range of articles and stories, but Illumination also has an essential support system behind it. Editors would not simply deny your submissions. Support has always accompanied an article if it isn’t accepted immediately, and they are always more than willing to assist you if you have editing or proofreading problems.

As you can probably guess, for a person who never self-published before public eyes, this is what helped me form my writing into what it is today.

Am I a big wig on Medium? No, that has far more to do with me than any publication; with many breaks, having children, self-publishing my books, and more, a lot has happened since I started. As always, Illumination has always been there for me when I returned.

They Help You Get Recognized

Over the years, Illumination not only included me in their articles, but they also shared my stories on their social media channels! Not only did they help me get seen, but there were times they were the only ones who saw me. My only claps and comments are sometimes from the Illumination team or the results of their sharing.

They Support Your Whims

My writing has never fallen under a niche. Sometimes what I think is newsworthy is not when debated by the masses. My overactive imagination makes people who only follow a specific niche — well, angry, I believe. As the writer who sometimes can write a book about conspiracy or science then turn around and write a poem about a world she made up in her head, I don’t blame them.

Illumination has always had a home for my whimsical ramblings, anxious theories, and everything in between — for that, I am very grateful.

Illumination Has Grown With Me (or I have grown with them)

As the years have passed, Illumination has not only grown but also branched out. Series, curated collections, and much more, have let me grow substantially with them. I have been able to follow my every writing whim and still have a home for my work.

I do write for other publications, but if I am weary about the subject matter or I feel as though I don’t have a catchy title, etc. I know that Illumination will not only accept my work, but they will support it and even help me get it seen.

Happy Birthday!

While I will never be able to thank Illumination and everyone that comes together to make it so amazing as much as I feel the need to; I do want to thank you, everyone, and wish Illumination a very happy birthday.

Without this publication, I would not be where I am today, nor would I have the courage to pursue my dreams as a writer and publish my books.

I look forward to many more years of reading and publishing with you!