Readers And Writers Appreciate Illumination: The Birthday Party Continues
A wonderful story from our writer Michele Thill applauding Illumination and its founder Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Today I came across many wonderful things about Illumination. You will be delighted to know that we have an occasion to celebrate. Illumination now has 90,000 followers! I was delighted to hear this great news. I was celebrating this and hoping that Illumination would soon achieve 100,000 followers.
I received another big surprise. A continuation of the birthday celebrations of Illumination from Michele Thill. Why did she decide on congratulating Dr Mehmet Yildiz today the 25th Of March 2021? She shared her secret. Her first post on Illumination was published exactly one year ago when she self-invited herself to Illumination.
Dr Mehmet Yildiz had invited 150 writers when he started his publication but she was not one of them. So she self-invited herself and she is very happy that she did so. There was no looking back for her as she continued to contribute to Illumination.
In her words “ILLUMINATION is so much more than a publication in Medium….it’s a caring community and like a family. Dr Mehmet Yildiz— What can I say…You are one amazing man who has created ILLUMINATION as well as other publications in a year’s time. And you keep adding ways to make the writers visible on other platforms, such as our YouTube channel. I don’t know how you do it — or when you sleep! you are such a blessing to me, and to all who are connected with you. Thank you for helping me share my message and shine my light… I am so grateful. From my heart to yours — I truly appreciate you!”
I would also like to appreciate and thank two of our contributors Jeff Herring and Tim Maudlin who have not only contributed many stories to Illumination but also mentored many writers who have submitted their stories to Illumination Thank you for your support to Illumination and to Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Many writers and readers have congratulated and lauded Dr Mehmet Yildiz for his wonderful efforts in offering a platform for writers to voice their views. His efforts are to bring in writers and give them an opportunity to join the Illumination family.
Readers and writers reciprocated by celebrating the first birthday of the publication and Dr Mehmet Yildiz thanked and expressed his thoughts and sentiments.
On 19 March 2020, when lock-down started in his city, he started his invitation post to his new publication Illumination with these words:
“As a reader, I am excited to explore fascinating writers and outstanding content on Medium. The Medium ecosystem is great and could be better with our positive ownership, collaborative and proactive leadership. We can contribute to the transformation of this platform collaboratively and creatively. Our collective aim is to be an innovation catalyst for a transformed content ecosystem.
Observing rejections and sympathizing with the pain of many creative writers in my first three months on Medium encouraged me to establish diverse and inclusive writing and reading community using a publication.”
A year after that he has fulfilled his objective and the result can be seen by the numerous wishes he received from so many well-wishers. In the post below, Dr Mehmet Yildiz has thanked all those who celebrated the first birthday of Illumination.
In the end, I would like to thank Michele Thill for sharing this beautiful story celebrating the first birthday of Illumination, Jeff Herring and Tim Maudlin for their continuing support to Illumination family.
My story cannot end without thanking Dr Mehmet Yildiz who supports each one of us editors, readers and writers and works with us day and night. Like Michele, I ask him this question every day when do you sleep, Dr Mehmet Yildiz? I join Michele in congratulating and wishing you more and more success in the year 2021.
