ILLUMINATION Writers

Interview with Karen Madej

Featuring creative writers of ILLUMINATION

Purpose of the Story

In this story, I share with you an interview that I conducted with Karen Madej 💛. I met Karen before ILLUMINATION.

I discovered her talent when I got the first and best comment on one of my earlier stories related to simplicity vs complexity.

Karen joined ILLUMINATION with my invitation and has supported our publication as an editor and writer since day one.

I enjoy every piece written by Karen as her stories are full of insights, real-life experiences, and more importantly humor.

Karen is one of the stars of ILLUMINATION. Let’s explore!

Tell us a bit about your background, Karen.

I started at the bottom of the ladder in British Telecom at the age of seventeen as a clerical assistant. I left at the age of forty as a project manager. Since then I’ve been in sales, factory work, waitressed/supervised in a French restaurant, lived on a desert island then left and became an English language teacher in Prague. That last decision was my best were earning a living was concerned. I’d still be doing it if it wasn’t for this pesky pandemic.

Why do you write on Medium?

I’d tried blogging on Blogger in 2009 and then WordPress a year or so later. I knew I loved clicking that publishes button but dabbling with Adwords marketing was expensive and ineffective for me.

When I found Medium a few years ago I reckoned it was a place I could write and maybe earn a little pocket money. But at the time the Medium Partner Programme wasn’t open to people who lived in the Czech Republic, nevertheless, I set up a Stripe account.

I noticed MPP was available in the UK in December 2019 and made up my mind to fill the off-peak English coaching season with writing on Medium.

What are your values as a writer?

Sharing my life experience in the hope it resonates with people. Discovering my sense of humour in writing is something that I value, especially after all the rants I’ve written over the years. I mostly love to entertain with fictional stories or practical tips based on what I’ve learned works for me on Medium and in Illumination. I very much enjoy writing poems on any topic!

What are the top three books that have affected your life?

The Talisman, by Stephen King. The darker side of my reading passion is more than covered by the King of writing and The Talisman stands out in my memory to this day. I can’t wait for the TV show!

Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg. During my creative writing course years, Writing Down the Bones was recommended reading and gave me so much knowledge due to the very relatable style of Natalie Goldberg. I think, ultimately, I’m aiming for something similar to her style.

“The author’s style is refreshingly informal. This book is highly recommended to readers who would like to develop their ability to write, and to those who would like to know how to use writing as a Zen-like activity to help them on their personal journeys toward self-discovery.” — New Age Retailer

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis. I’m in love with magical worlds and this passion started with my first love, Narnia.

What are your hobbies?

I’m a Netflix fan and watch BBC dramas, American TV shows in pretty much any genre that the story grabs my attention but my favourites are Supernatural, a dark fantasy, which I have watched the whole new season of every June during my birthday week for fourteen years. Anything sci-fi is at the top of my list. Watching movies and shows is for relaxation.

My other main hobby is power walking on the flat and up hills for hours several times per week. I’ve finally invested in a second-hand vibration plate after I read about yours, Dr, and thoroughly enjoy toning my muscles for ten minutes every evening in front of the TV.

I love photographing the incredible life I see in nature and the colours of landscapes and sea views.

How do you connect to your readers?

By writing something that I hope they will feel. I love to read stories that make me cry, or laugh, or anger me. Anything powerful. I once bawled my eyes out over the mention of boiled potatoes in a poem (The Simple Truth by Philip Levine) because they made me think of my late first Polish stepmother who loved boiled potatoes so much. I hope to, one day, have that impact on readers. But in the meantime, I read as much as I can of everyone else’s work, comment on what makes me feel or a wonderful writing style or novel way of seeing the world and hope people do me the honour of reading my words.

Why did you join ILLUMINATION and how do you find it so far?

How could I not when I was personally invited by you? You showed me how to engage with you and others by engaging with me. You’re my biggest fan from pretty much the beginning of my journey on Medium. I knew you were going to take me and all your other followers somewhere fabulous and you haven’t proved me wrong yet!

Who are the top ten writers you follow on ILLUMINATION?

There are many writers I follow, here are a few to mention: Chris Hedges, Kevin Buddaeus, Dipti Pande, Amy Marley, R Tsambounieri Talarantas, Livia Dabs, Terry Mansfield, Charles Roast, Henery X (long). Plus you, of course Dr Mehmet Yildiz!

What are your top five stories you want to share with your audience, and why?

Fourteen Simple Pleasures was my first full-on engagement with so many people I’d met in the first six weeks of being on Medium. I had a grand day responding to comments and getting into deeper conversations with some people. It demonstrated to me the more important side of Medium where people came together to discuss a topic, share their experiences, suggestions, and recommendations.

Calling all Illuminators, imagine the delight of having your article chosen as the featured one for the day, this was the one chosen four days or so into the featured article activity. Such an exciting day with all the ILLUMINATION Tweeters Tweeting and Retweeting, watching the number of claps going up and up. The whole day was special.

Land of Ice and Snow this is a world I’d love to spend more time in. Expand the character’s storylines. Find out why the bear attacked and more.

Pandemic Call Centre Musings because while having a job at a time when I had no paid work as a self-employed English coach and didn’t qualify for any government scheme because I’d moved countries and hadn’t filed tax returns in the UK for the three years before moving back here I had to get and take the only job available to me. Being paid to wait for calls that didn’t come. A minimum living wage with zero job satisfaction. But I wrote down whatever came to mind and remained sane with a roof over my head and a full belly. I splashed out on some much-needed boots as well as some other little luxuries like cabernet sauvignon! In fact, I was lucky to make some super new friends in this new seaside city at my new job.

Hmm, Why Should You Write for ILLUMINATION? Why wouldn’t you want to write for the fastest growing publication on Medium? An overbearing monarch and a wicked witch couldn’t put off the Illuminators what’s stopping you from jumping aboard?

What are the success factors for you on Medium?

Find a writing style that works for me and Medium. Write something that goes viral. Be a YouTube celebrity and be able to afford to pay social media marketing experts to use all the social media I don’t know how to use on my behalf so I become famous on those too. 🤣

What do you recommend to the new writers on ILLUMINATION?

Write what you feel passionate about, put your heart into it and people will read your words. Experiment with genres you’ve never written in before. I’d never written anything political before Medium but I was emboldened to get my words out into the world. More work required but that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

What are your future plans as a writer?

To create a fictional world, populate it with amazing characters and write their stories. Continue writing on Medium about whatever tickles my fancy. Maybe focus more on the injustices in the world and restoring ecosystems in far-flung countries by writing about future experiences.

Thank you for your valuable time Karen Madej 💛. I enjoy reading your inspiring, insightful, humorous, and engaging stories on ILLUMINATION. Your thoughtful and fascinating stories are full of life lessons. I also appreciate your wonderful support to ILLUMINATION publication and writers. Your contributions are recognized and well received from our stakeholders.

You can also check writer bio of Karen Madej 💛 written from her creative pen.

You can also enjoy Karen’s great video story from the attached link.

You may also check the testimonial I wrote for Karen.

If you are a writer on ILLUMINATION and would like to be interviewed, please send a request via this link with the title of “Interview Request”.

Other Interviews

You may also check other interviews I conducted with inspiring writers of ILLUMINATION recently. These stories can provide a great opportunity to know more about our creative writers and connect with them.

Timothy Key

Desiree Driesenaar

Holly Jahangiri

Dr John Rose

Ming Qian

P.G. Barnett

Jill Ebstein

Bill Abbate

Terry Mansfield

Ann K Frailey

Woei T

Charles Roast

Julia E Hubbel

Aric D Mayer

Chris Hedges

Paroma Sen

Jeff Hanlon

Besom & Bletherskite

Sherry McGuinn

Sylvia Love Johnson

Maïa Belart

Henery X (long)

Chowa Sekai

conny manero

Sumera Rizwan

Kevin Buddaeus

Invitation to writers to join ILLUMINATION

If you want to join our growing, enjoyable, and supportive publication as a writer, please leave a message via this link. We help you become a successful writer on Medium.

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You might check more interviews in the attached collection.

You can find inspiring profiles of ILLUMINATION writers from this story.

Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.

About the Author

Thank you for subscribing to my content. I share my health and well-being stories in my publication, Euphoria. If you are new to Medium, you may join by following this link. A small part of your membership fee will not only support my writing, but your reading times can support many great writers on this platform.

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In addition to self-improvement, leadership, technology, and health, I also enjoy writing about essential molecules such as lithium orotate, alpha-lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, acetyl-l-carnitine, digestive enzymes, magnesium, creatine, choline, hydrolyzed collagen, nootropics, CoQ10, NADH, TMG, pure nicotine, activated charcoal, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, and other nutrients for health and fitness.