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Abstract

</div><h1 id="a590">Let’s Make a Connection</h1><p id="79b0">Next I want to broker an introduction of the new writers tagged in this article and one of our editors and/or writers who has been at Illumination for a bit.</p><p id="b35e">A writer and editor for Illumination that has been significantly invested in getting the publication going and flying high is <a href="undefined">Kevin Buddaeus</a>. Kevin wrote some of the guideline articles that helped shape the publication and how writers interact, as well as kicking off our Twitter campaign.</p><p id="8f68">Kevin not only started up the Illumination Twitter account, but also figured out how to automate the function which freed up a bunch of time for Dr. Yildiz and the rest of the editor group. I don’t think we would be quite where we are today without Kevin’s enthusiasm and hard work.</p><p id="653f">Kevin has had to pull back a bit from Medium so that he can actually spend time with his family (and maybe do some work that brings in a few more dollars too), but we see a little bit of him here and there and he is certainly a great person to follow and interact with on the platform.</p><p id="a2a9">Here is one of Kevin’s recent and well-researched articles:</p><div id="c12b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/facebook-develops-an-ai-translator-for-software-programmers-c514f16d2fc5"> <div> <div> <h2>Facebook Develops An AI-Translator For Software Programmers</h2> <div><h3>How the TransCoder AI can bridge a gap</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*Z4g0dj-kjTozg5Oi)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="7aca">If you want to connect with me or any of the editors, please consider joining the <b>Illumination Slack workgroup.</b> You can request an invitation to Slack by contacting <a href="undefined">Dr Mehmet Yildiz</a> <a href="https://digitalmehmet.com/contact/">from this link. </a>Please type “<b>Request for Slack”</b> on the heading as Dr. Yildiz has many other requests from this link.</p><p id="3ccc">I am always willing to answer questions and provide information for anyone. The other editors and writers are as well. Slack is the best way to interact if you have questions.</p><p id="5b0e">If you need some tips to get up and running on Slack, this article is a good starting point:</p><div id="50aa" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-communicate-using-slack-even-if-you-are-a-newbie-d5c0dd5b0194"> <div> <div> <h2>How to Communicate Using Slack, even if You are a Newbie</h2> <div><h3>A tutorial of the very basics to get you up and running on Slack</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*td0F9GqlNeDjh47L)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><h1 id="3ef4">The Big Ask</h1><p id="9fce">As promised, if I featured your story here, or are reading this and feel inspired, I encourage you to <b>pay forward the concept of highlighting the work of others.</b></p><p id="aec1">Please consider choosing another writer (or writers) and creating a story that emphasizes aspects that you appreciate about their work. It could be their style, topic choices, voice, technical aspects of writing, or maybe you just like their profile picture.</p><p id="b076">I am confident that when you do this you will find that your own writing work gets better. In many ways I believe that the person that brings attention to others’ work benefits even more than the recipient. That is one of the core premises and values of Illumination, and when you engage you will find that you reap dividends. I encourage you to give it a whirl. And, when you do, <b><i>tag me in your article.</i></b> I love being exposed to stuff I might not have otherwise seen.</p><h1 id="1697">Bonus Gift — The Writing Challenge</h1><p id="c6fe">There are two types of writers in the world. <b>Those who have experienced writer’s block, and those that will.</b></p><p id="36a3">One of the great remedies to the question, “What do I write next?” is responding to a prompt or challenge provided by another writer. I personally have benefitted significantly from this and, to some extent, this section is a bit self-serving because I want to have some handy prompts to write about occasionally.</p><h2 id="ba6d">Older prompts</h2><p id="1a67">Some older prompts I have been involved in are: <a href="https://readmedium.com/if-i-wasnt-a-writer-i-would-be-a-fighter-pilot-112aacf3a21c">If I wasn’t a writer I would…</a>, <a href="https://readmedium.com/self-discovery-4ff775e92434">Self-Discovery during lock down</a>, <a href="https://readmedium.com/more-endorphin-rush-1863902b0100">a funny video prompt</a>, and <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-life-in-soundtrack-c24d943a53c1">a musical prompt</a>.</p><h2 id="ed3e">List of New Challenges and Prompts</h2><p id="7243">I am hoping to develop a list of newer prompts with their originators. Send me your writing prompts! Here’s what we have so far:</p><h2 id="94b1">Kevin Buddaeus</h2><div id="fe47" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/if-i-was-rich-dfebb7f47285"> <div> <div> <h2>If I Was Rich</h2> <div><h3>A little thought game about life goals</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*5HRL9ul3erogst-CV-93zQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><h2 id="557d">Sarah E Sturgis</h2><div id="ba75" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/june-writing-challenge-ec5018469867"> <div> <div> <h2>June Writing Challenge</h2> <div><h3>Day 1 — June 1st</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*LUhRarN1VJRIHcJc)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><h2 id="1316">Sherry McGuinn</h2><div id="185f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/women-are-you-turning-into-your-mothers-4fecc0150858"> <div> <div> <h2>Women, Are You Turning Into Your Mothers?</h2> <div><h3>Take a moment to assess. I’ll wait.</h3></div>

Options

      <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*pL_BQB8XIUYxm1y9vYXDqg.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><h2 id="afaf">Tree Langdon ♾️</h2><div id="af87" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/new-words-that-need-to-be-in-the-dictionary-81b29068de48">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>New Words That Need To Be In the Dictionary</h2>
            <div><h3>Vlock is one</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*h8H9PyLi6nsMq7bw)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><h2 id="3d49">B. A. Cumberlidge.</h2><p id="cd86">A new one today from Brian as well. What is one day that makes an everlasting memory?</p><div id="44dd" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-day-we-went-to-the-love-parade-bc12287ac76c">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>The Day We Went To The Love Parade.</h2>
            <div><h3>What Is One Day That Makes An Everlasting Memory?</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*nzJx8d-W3VsJNvKt)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="5645" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/if-you-could-have-a-magical-super-power-34e95b98b77">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>If You Could Have A Magical Super Power?</h2>
            <div><h3>What would it be just for one day?</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*XNNhyZ09YHxfe8Bn)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><h2 id="c932">Holly Jahangiri— A challenge, sneakily hidden in a newsletter!</h2><div id="1976" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-real-newsletter-maybe-b1664a356c4e">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>A “real newsletter”? Maybe?</h2>
            <div><h3>Dear Reader,</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*mgIRuHA0_4vg8RLy)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="3d87"><b><i>If you are participating in or originating a challenge and you want to include it here for people to find, either respond to this article or hit me up on Slack (@timothykey).</i></b></p><h1 id="caf2">Next Group</h1><p id="0d30">Tomorrow I will pull from this new group of recently added writers:</p><p id="1d00"><a href="undefined">Eden Kunter</a>, <a href="undefined">Tasneem Gad,</a> <a href="undefined">Jagger Bellagarda,</a> <a href="undefined">Charlie Westerman,</a> <a href="undefined">Bill Broadbent,</a> <a href="undefined">Rohit Roy,</a> <a href="undefined">The San B,</a> <a href="undefined">rhoda anne young,</a> <a href="undefined">Colin Zhang,</a> <a href="undefined">Haril Vyas,</a> <a href="undefined">David Grant,</a> <a href="undefined">Mob Cook,</a> <a href="undefined">Kavya M,</a> <a href="undefined">Samantha Buck,</a> <a href="undefined">Taqaddus omer,</a> <a href="undefined">Danny Oak,</a> <a href="undefined">Woelf Dietrich,</a> <a href="undefined">Colin Thomas,</a> <a href="undefined">Megan R. Clark,</a> <a href="undefined">Ken Martin,</a> <a href="undefined">Rashmi Sharma,</a> <a href="undefined">Jay Sizemore,</a> <a href="undefined">Pouya Ahmadi,</a> <a href="undefined">Mai Ahmed Yousef,</a> <a href="undefined">RedempSion</a></p><p id="2a73">If you want me to highlight one of your stories in particular, or have any questions just respond to this story, or better yet, find me on Slack!</p><p id="05e1"><i>Thanks for reading, I am enjoying getting to know all the new writers on Illumination!</i></p><p id="5f66"><b>If you liked this article, you may also like:</b></p><div id="af6a" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/best-of-new-illumination-writers-4e71c60923f6">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Best of New Illumination Writers</h2>
            <div><h3>A compilation of articles featuring writers new to Illumination</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*h_rsF4WTFWQAUZTsPDEByw.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="2d61" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/well-that-would-be-just-super-3aad09698dbd">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Well, That Would be Just Super!</h2>
            <div><h3>If I had a superpower for just one day</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*81rSQJDsUydtuKzV9LJ0tw.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="b8b0" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/yay-hoorah-i-went-and-made-a-video-today-d06f68b9d81b">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Yay Hoorah; I Went and Made a Video Today</h2>
            <div><h3>My first foray into the Illumination video vault — I went all instructional</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*NJ8gZmGH_FxSCi5_dW-cPQ.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="f379"><i>Timothy Key spent over 26 years in the fire service as a firefighter/paramedic and various fire chief management roles. He firmly believes that bad managers destroy more than companies, and good managers create a passion that is contagious. Compassion, grace and gratitude drive the world; or at least they should. Follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/key3writer/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/keytimothy242/">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/keytimothy242">Twitter</a>, and join the <a href="https://mailchi.mp/a35d63b4962a/timothykey">mail list</a>.</i></p></article></body>

Writer Focus

Leaving Home to Join a Cargo Cult; or How to Milk Your Opportunities

New writer spotlight and update on June writing challenges

I suppose you know all about Cargo Cult Culture. No? I didn’t either, so I am glad I got a chance to read today’s stories, and you’ll be glad too! We have great articles about cows, cake, and striking out from home for the first (and hopefully last) time in today’s feature.

Each day in June I hope to feature a few articles from writers that have just recently been added to the publication. I am doing this because I want to make a point of welcoming and getting acquainted with the new writers, and doing a feature allows me to read some of their work and pick items that catch my eye each day.

My hope is to get these authors a few extra eyes on their writing and perhaps gain a few fans that otherwise might not have seen their work. If these new-to-Illumination writers don’t have bios yet, we hope they write one soon so we can add it to our growing list:

Discover ILLUMINATION Writers

BIOs of writers from their pen

medium.com

But until then, my aim is to choose a handful of writers from the ranks of the newly added to Illumination and highlight one of their articles. Then I will have an ask of them afterward (Hint: I will ask that they pay it forward by doing the same thing for other writers).

Plus, an ongoing list of writer challenges follows the feature articles below! So, without further ado:

New Writer Spotlight

We are going to start off with a bit of a deeper topic today, one that talks about the concept of “Cargo Cults”. In short, this is when people do something habitually because they believe the action will result in a good outcome based on anecdotal history.

See why humans can be ritualistic and get some ideas on how to avoid being pulled into a cargo cult culture when you enter a new job or community in this insightful article from Stu Cavill:

Cargo Cult Culture: The Art of Doing Without Ever Questioning Why

People have their own lucky rituals that they believe deliver desired outcomes. How do you handle this behaviour in the…

medium.com

Next, if you are living with your parents and considering whether you might move out or stay there forever (come on, home cooked meals and folded laundry), take a look at Darby Days‘ analysis of the pros and cons of living with the folks.

Get a stick, wrap your stuff all up in a bandana and see what all else you need to do to strike out on your own in this helpful piece:

Why You Should Move Out

And never go back

medium.com

Next, Radwa azmi shows us how it might be okay to be a bit selfish in what we wish for, especially if it ends up helping others.

Told in a short parable-like narrative, this short piece says a lot about the benefits of helping others with only a few words. Give it a read here:

All I Want Is Not To Want

One day, Mum said: “you can ask God anything” I closed my eyes and wished for a cake And opened my eyes with my wish…

medium.com

And finally, calling this a story about a dairy farm simply does not do it justice; and yet it is a story about a dairy farm. Keith R Wilson does a phenomenal job of painting the pastoral idyllic in this short story about a dairy farmer and his family.

See what it takes to upset the milk can for this dairy man, and why sometimes perfect can’t be captured in a picture in this excellent story:

Lockhart’s Place

The Lockhart daughters were beauty queens, literal beauty queens. They went to beauty pageants and won them. They put…

thecreative.cafe

Let’s Make a Connection

Next I want to broker an introduction of the new writers tagged in this article and one of our editors and/or writers who has been at Illumination for a bit.

A writer and editor for Illumination that has been significantly invested in getting the publication going and flying high is Kevin Buddaeus. Kevin wrote some of the guideline articles that helped shape the publication and how writers interact, as well as kicking off our Twitter campaign.

Kevin not only started up the Illumination Twitter account, but also figured out how to automate the function which freed up a bunch of time for Dr. Yildiz and the rest of the editor group. I don’t think we would be quite where we are today without Kevin’s enthusiasm and hard work.

Kevin has had to pull back a bit from Medium so that he can actually spend time with his family (and maybe do some work that brings in a few more dollars too), but we see a little bit of him here and there and he is certainly a great person to follow and interact with on the platform.

Here is one of Kevin’s recent and well-researched articles:

Facebook Develops An AI-Translator For Software Programmers

How the TransCoder AI can bridge a gap

medium.com

If you want to connect with me or any of the editors, please consider joining the Illumination Slack workgroup. You can request an invitation to Slack by contacting Dr Mehmet Yildiz from this link. Please type “Request for Slack” on the heading as Dr. Yildiz has many other requests from this link.

I am always willing to answer questions and provide information for anyone. The other editors and writers are as well. Slack is the best way to interact if you have questions.

If you need some tips to get up and running on Slack, this article is a good starting point:

How to Communicate Using Slack, even if You are a Newbie

A tutorial of the very basics to get you up and running on Slack

medium.com

The Big Ask

As promised, if I featured your story here, or are reading this and feel inspired, I encourage you to pay forward the concept of highlighting the work of others.

Please consider choosing another writer (or writers) and creating a story that emphasizes aspects that you appreciate about their work. It could be their style, topic choices, voice, technical aspects of writing, or maybe you just like their profile picture.

I am confident that when you do this you will find that your own writing work gets better. In many ways I believe that the person that brings attention to others’ work benefits even more than the recipient. That is one of the core premises and values of Illumination, and when you engage you will find that you reap dividends. I encourage you to give it a whirl. And, when you do, tag me in your article. I love being exposed to stuff I might not have otherwise seen.

Bonus Gift — The Writing Challenge

There are two types of writers in the world. Those who have experienced writer’s block, and those that will.

One of the great remedies to the question, “What do I write next?” is responding to a prompt or challenge provided by another writer. I personally have benefitted significantly from this and, to some extent, this section is a bit self-serving because I want to have some handy prompts to write about occasionally.

Older prompts

Some older prompts I have been involved in are: If I wasn’t a writer I would…, Self-Discovery during lock down, a funny video prompt, and a musical prompt.

List of New Challenges and Prompts

I am hoping to develop a list of newer prompts with their originators. Send me your writing prompts! Here’s what we have so far:

Kevin Buddaeus

If I Was Rich

A little thought game about life goals

medium.com

Sarah E Sturgis

June Writing Challenge

Day 1 — June 1st

medium.com

Sherry McGuinn

Women, Are You Turning Into Your Mothers?

Take a moment to assess. I’ll wait.

medium.com

Tree Langdon ♾️

New Words That Need To Be In the Dictionary

Vlock is one

medium.com

B. A. Cumberlidge.

A new one today from Brian as well. What is one day that makes an everlasting memory?

The Day We Went To The Love Parade.

What Is One Day That Makes An Everlasting Memory?

medium.com

If You Could Have A Magical Super Power?

What would it be just for one day?

medium.com

Holly Jahangiri— A challenge, sneakily hidden in a newsletter!

A “real newsletter”? Maybe?

Dear Reader,

medium.com

If you are participating in or originating a challenge and you want to include it here for people to find, either respond to this article or hit me up on Slack (@timothykey).

Next Group

Tomorrow I will pull from this new group of recently added writers:

Eden Kunter, Tasneem Gad, Jagger Bellagarda, Charlie Westerman, Bill Broadbent, Rohit Roy, The San B, rhoda anne young, Colin Zhang, Haril Vyas, David Grant, Mob Cook, Kavya M, Samantha Buck, Taqaddus omer, Danny Oak, Woelf Dietrich, Colin Thomas, Megan R. Clark, Ken Martin, Rashmi Sharma, Jay Sizemore, Pouya Ahmadi, Mai Ahmed Yousef, RedempSion

If you want me to highlight one of your stories in particular, or have any questions just respond to this story, or better yet, find me on Slack!

Thanks for reading, I am enjoying getting to know all the new writers on Illumination!

If you liked this article, you may also like:

Best of New Illumination Writers

A compilation of articles featuring writers new to Illumination

medium.com

Well, That Would be Just Super!

If I had a superpower for just one day

medium.com

Yay Hoorah; I Went and Made a Video Today

My first foray into the Illumination video vault — I went all instructional

medium.com

Timothy Key spent over 26 years in the fire service as a firefighter/paramedic and various fire chief management roles. He firmly believes that bad managers destroy more than companies, and good managers create a passion that is contagious. Compassion, grace and gratitude drive the world; or at least they should. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and join the mail list.