Hmm, Why Should You Write for ILLUMINATION?
Why wouldn’t you? Is what I say.
Illuminators are inspired and in turn, are inspiring.
Inspiration blossoms, collaboration blooms, and waves of followers rush to new land called ILLUMINATION.
“Who are illuminators and how do I become one?” I hear you clamour.
Let me tell you a story …
Are you sitting comfortably? Let’s begin.
Once upon a time, in an alternative universe, there lived a monarch. He ruled his lands and followers with rods of titanium.
The rules themselves would be a life’s work to skim, and then another when you went back to read in-depth to make sure you fully understood.
Monarch Elvis, while greatly respected for his ‘all are welcome to the land of Tedium’, not many were keen on trudging through the libraries of rules. Nevertheless, millions of hungry readers flocked to stories from a select handful of scribes.
Some, more hesitant readers learned the rules from the stories written by the scribes and then ventured to scribedom themselves.
Others demanded more and quested for enlightenment from the magicians, for they had gleaned the magical formula of how to create gold from the telling of tales far-fetched or true and a myriad betwixt.
Beguiled by dreams of riches these readers might fashion themselves as acolytes.
With nothing to lose — with the exception of jail if they broke the rules — they could write and write until they stumbled upon the winning formula.
The cannier followers studied their idols and emulated their winning formulas until they found their own style and form of magic. Why read the rules when you can follow the celebrities?
Thousands fell by the wayside.
Thousands more unearthed joy from pouring every ounce of their angst, fear and confusion out onto parchment. They found fellow scribes who wrote about hopes and aspirations, kindness and mindfulness, and their feelings. Inventors, engineers, leaders, and great travellers and wise folks also joined the quest for distinction and success.
One gloriously sunny day, a ship’s captain barrelled into Monarch Elvis’s space and carved for himself a whole tome of scrolls. He set out to illuminate those who would read and scribe for his tome.
“What is his schema?” I hear you exclaim.
A new land of opportunity for those lost in the wild open spaces of reading, and writing about writing, rather than penning a million thrilling topics.
A land where polyglot and English as a second language is welcome in forms previously dismissed by the Monarch and his bright sparks, Algor and Rithum, and all the other tome owners.
The Captain sought out potential by reading the stories of the lost ones, adrift in a puddle of worthless applause with no compass to guide them (other than the unfathomable rules). Each one alone in the tens of thousands of the gold makers’ followers.
What did The Captain do that Monarch Elvis didn’t?
He complimented and praised the scribes’ stories. They blushed and responded.
He wanted to engage with everyone.
His own stories were of intriguing experiments, exciting experiences in the fields of abacus use and novel leadership never before heard of in Tedium.
All are welcome including wicked wizards and witches, providing they change their nefarious ways and cause no harm.
Tolerate no evil is one rule that will not be bent. Evil does often find a way to needle and inflict pain.
Using the Monarch’s rules against the Captain, an imp bewitches the ruler for a long day and night. Monarch Elvis is informed by his own team of master readers, after they read the appeals from hundreds of Illuminators against the banishment and for the honour of the Captain, and sees through the imp’s perfidy.
Concerned for his reputation the Monarch makes clear his rules and with a flick of his wand restores the light to the land of ILLUMINATION! Wondrous stories and heightened emotions flood the land.
The population explodes like the brightest chrysanthemum firework! Readers, writers, and poets from far and wide descend like bees sensing a honey pot to sign their names to become an Illuminator.
The Captain creates activities and challenges to help folk improve their skills. They dive in willingly, inspiring and being inspired, collaborating and enhancing each other’s abilities. Cheering and encouraging to spur one another onto greatness.
Word travelled across vast continents via all communication forms, not just the Monarch of Tedium’s and his favoured means, but all forms imaginable because the leader created bonds between rich and poor folks, experienced and novice, and everyone betwixt with his magic.
The End
It’s not really the end. It is the beginning of your writing life!
Karen Madej is usually an English Language Coach to French business people but currently, due to circumstances outside of her control, she is not doing too well in her ILLUMINATION writer and editor activities due to packing up her flat and moving nearer her call centre job. Normal service will be resumed in a couple of weeks.
These three articles are ones that I enjoyed reading. I hope you do too.
