Collaborative Community of Writers
SYNERGY: Submission Guidelines 2023
How to publish your stories in this specialized publication for writers, authors, bloggers, and other content developers
Dear Writers, Authors, and Bloggers,
While ILLUMINATION thrives as a comprehensive publication encompassing many topics on Medium, a distinct need emerged for a dedicated space where content developers can share their writing-related stories, book reviews, blog posts, and other content.
Considering these specialized requirements of writers, Dr Mehmet Yildiz established SYNERGY, a dynamic offshoot powered by ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications, in 2021.
Its original name was Passive Income for Writers, which we changed based on feedback from loyal followers of the publication. SYNERGY is a synergistic publication for content developers, strategists, and marketers.
Benefits of SYNERGY for Writers
SYNERGY has a specific mission to provide a platform for freelance writers, authors, and bloggers seeking to transition their blogs into engaging Medium stories.
With a strategic and entrepreneurial outlook, this publication aims to foster collaboration, empowering writers and amplifying their voices to tap into a large audience.
Our objective is to amplify the voices of writers at all levels, offering a space for articulating their concerns, aspirations, achievements, and progress within the Medium community.
But here’s where the true synergy lies. SYNERGY extends an open invitation to writers from various platforms, including News Break, Vocal Media, Hub Pages, Patreon, and Substack, allowing them to showcase their profiles and stories from those platforms on Medium.
SYNERGY is a collaborative hub where writers from diverse backgrounds converge, bringing their unique readerships along.
In this spirit of collaboration, stories gain enhanced visibility as each writer introduces their audience to fresh perspectives on Medium.
So, SYNERGY fosters a writing community that extends beyond Medium’s borders, creating rich engagement and unleashing creativity and productivity in different writing communities.
With our commitment to writers and readers alike, SYNERGY is poised for rapid growth and is destined to become a significant publication. You may join us in this exciting journey and learn about our submission guidelines there.
Once you have writer access, you can submit your drafts. To obtain writer access, you can send a request via our writer registration portal. Please point out the name of the publication in the application form.
You can submit your previously published stories if they are relevant to our purpose. SYNERGY can make an ideal home for those stories if your curated articles are related to writing and freelancing topics.
Even though we prefer drafts, we accept both drafts and self-published content. Transferring from other publications is welcome.
We have a thriving community. You can collaborate with thousands of fellow Medium writers, contributing to our publications through our free and moderated Slack workspace. Explore special sections and community clubs designed to support your writing endeavors.
SYNERGY benefits from its affiliation with ILLUMINATION, boasting a substantial following of 71K+ readers. Your impactful stories will enjoy amplified reach.
As we are writers and many of the publication’s readers are also writers, your stories must be of high quality. If you are a new writer and want to improve your skills, we can help you find volunteering mentors from our community on the Slack workspace.
We allow re-purposing from your blogs, but our publications have strict rules about plagiarism. We have a zero-tolerance policy. We do not accept plagiarized content. Your stories must belong to you. When our editors identify plagiarism through their investigation, they reject your story and remove it from our publications.
To speed up the publishing process and meet Medium rules, you must include links to previously published content on other platforms. We don’t accept duplicated content. It is against Medium rules. You are welcome to re-purpose materials from other platforms if you provide a link to the original.
In cases where your content is time-sensitive and requires expedited attention, we are open to considering exceptions. You may also contact Dr Mehmet Yildiz and other editors on Slack Workspace.
Photos are essential to Medium stories, especially in publications. Therefore, please ensure your stories have at least one photo. All photos must be copyright-free and clearly captioned, pointing out the image sources. If the photo belongs to you, please highlight “photo by author.”
It is difficult for us to verify the copyright of photos from different sources. Therefore, we accept photos only from free stock sites such as unsplash.com, pixabay.com, and pexels.com.
You can also remove your stories from SYNERGY when you need and want to. There is no penalty for withdrawing your articles from publishing them in other publications. Our goal is the success of every writer on this platform. Publications are only tools.
Since the primary goal of the publication is collaboration, you need to introduce yourself. We recommend you submit a bio by introducing your writing practice.
You can make it an excellent presentation of your background, goals, aspirations, and anything else you want to share. There is no size limit for writer bios. We use them to promote our writers to our readers.
We know writers may have affiliate links for books and writing services. You are welcome to share affiliate links, but you must disclose them.
Ensure your stories are engaging. Many readers don’t like boring text-book-style descriptive narration. SYNERGY is not a scholarly publication. You may discuss scholarly topics if they suit your content, but they must be engaging and benefit our readers.
We do not censor content as long as stories comply with Medium’s guidelines.
Since Medium now requires paid membership for the Partner Program, we will also include stories of members for this publication to maintain our high standards and commitment to our loyal readers. However, our other publications still support non-members.
What You Can Write About on SYNERGY
You can submit stories related to writing, blogging, and freelancing practice to SYNERGY. Here are some ideas.
1 — Writing, blogging, editing, and freelancing tips
2 — Financial and accounting aspects of writing
3 — Marketing and promotional aspects of writing
4 — How to market non-fiction, fiction, and poetry
5 — Business, management, and leadership aspects of writing
6 — Legal aspects such as copyright, distribution models, privacy
7 — Recruitment, job search opportunities, and industry liaison
8 — Success stories for earning, including stats and progress in various platforms
9 — Using social media for content marketing
10 — Networking, collaboration, events, awards, and competitions
11 — Testimonials and references
12 — Writing prompts and new opportunities for writers
Here’s a summary of key points for expected submissions
Value to the reader: Your story should be informative and engaging. It should provide the reader with something new or valuable to learn. We don’t accept copy and paste from the web.
Reader-centric writing: Put the reader first when writing your stories. Consider what they want to know and how you can best communicate your message.
Clarity and readability: Your writing should be easy to understand and follow. Our readers expect simple language and explanation of technical terms.
Self-editing for error-free submissions: Take the time to self-edit your work carefully before submitting it. This will help you catch language errors. Your submission should be free of grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Valuable reading experience: Your writing should be a pleasure to read. It should be well-organized and easy to follow.
Rigorous content: Your writing should be well-researched and supported by evidence. In addition to telling the reader what you think, you should also show them why you think so.
Honesty in writing: Our readers expect truthful and accurate content. Your story shouldn’t mislead or deceive the reader. Honesty and integrity are our key values in all ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications.
Proper formatting: Your submission should be formatted correctly and be appealing to the eye. This includes using the correct font, size, and proper headings.
Relevant and appropriate images: Photos in your submission should be relevant to the topic and appropriate for the audience. Please check our photo handling policy.
We aim for high quality but don’t insist on perfection. We are practical and believe every writer can improve with feedback from readers, editors, and peers. Our main goal is to provide our subscribers with a pleasant and satisfying reading experience.
Except for the Lampshade of ILLUMINATION, our publications don’t accept AI-generated content. You may learn about our AI writing policy.
Please use our standard checklist before submitting your stories.
Before submitting your stories to SYNERGY, we recommend using the following checklist initially to ensure your work aligns with our publication standards, delights our readers, and brings your stories more visibility and income.
After gaining experience, you may not need this checklist after a while.
1 — Identifying the Audience
Did I write this story with a specific reader in mind?
Is the story intended for a specific or broad audience?
Is the writing level suitable for the target audience?
2 — Value for the Reader
What value or insights does this story offer?
Are there key takeaway points provided?
Are these takeaways relevant and meaningful to the audience?
Does the story leave a lasting impact?
3 — Readability
Is the story structured logically for easy comprehension?
Have I used clear and straightforward language?
4 — Editorial Standards
If I were an editor, would I accept this story for publication?
Have I used tools like Hemingway Editor to assess the quality of the writing?
5 — Coherence
Does the introductory paragraph connect effectively with the conclusion?
Can I improve the introduction’s appeal?
How can I make both the introduction and conclusion more memorable?
6 — Engagement
Is the content engaging, or does it come across as dull?
Have I used lively and appropriate vocabulary?
Are analogies and metaphors employed to enhance the reader’s experience?
Does the writing maintain a conversational tone to keep the audience interested?
7 — Conveying Messages
Are the main points clearly presented?
Would a reader understand the intended messages within the story?
8 — Accuracy and Credibility
Have I fact-checked information from reliable sources?
Are there adequate citations for borrowed content?
9 — Honesty and Readership Alignment
Is the story presented honestly and authentically?
Is the content aligned with its intended purpose, whether informative or fictional?
10 — Reader Experience
Does the overall mood of the story match its content?
Is there a risk of readers reacting negatively to any aspects of the story?
11 — Formatting and Removing Unnecessary Elements
Are paragraphs kept at a manageable length for readability?
Are sentences complete and well-structured?
Have unnecessary elements been removed from the story?
Are obsolete words or phrases eliminated?
12 — Title and Subtitles
Are titles and subtitles formatted correctly and clearly?
Is the use of capital letters in titles appropriate?
Are headings and subheadings concise, not exceeding 200 characters each?
13 — Images and Captions
Do the images align with the theme of the content?
Are copyright-free images used?
Are images correctly captioned with source links?
14 — Addressing Ambiguity
Is the story comprehensible for the target audience’s level of understanding?
Have vague words and phrases been eliminated?
15 — Tags for Visibility
Have relevant tags been applied to reflect the story’s messages?
Is at least one publication tag [preferably] used to enhance visibility for readers?
16 — Error Checks for Language
Has a final spell-check and grammar check been conducted?
Is the story free from spelling errors and grammatical mistakes?
If unconventional words were deliberately used, have they been appropriately explained to readers?
17 — Quality Assurance
Has the story been reviewed backward to catch any remaining typos?
Are all typos corrected?
Has a friend or colleague reviewed the story for further feedback?
18 — Accuracy in Numbers and Lists
Are the numbers and bullet points in lists accurate?
Are bullet points consistent and aligned?
19 — Verification of Web Links
Do the web links lead to the correct web addresses when clicked?
20 — Disclosure of Affiliate Links
Are affiliate links clearly disclosed at the beginning and end of the story?
Are these affiliate links relevant to the story’s theme?
Could the presence of affiliate links potentially upset or mislead readers?
21 — Adherence to Platform Rules
Does the story comply with the rules of the platform or publication?
Has specific attention been given to avoid any form of hate speech or potential offense to readers?
22 — Seeking External Input for Controversial Topics
Have trusted editors or peers reviewed the story for potential issues or blind spots?
Have recommendations from editors been considered and applied?
23 — References and Citations
Are appropriate references provided for cited content at the end of the story?
The checklist details are explained in this resource, documented by our chief editor Dr Mehmet Yildiz. This extended version also guides increasing the chance of boosting and writing viral stories, which can help you build your audience faster and bring more income to your content.
Some Ideas to improve the quality of stories before submitting them
Improving the quality of your stories is a continuous journey, and several practical approaches exist to consider. Here are some valuable tips.
1 — Familiarize Yourself with Medium’s Distribution Guidelines
2 — Engage in Peer Reviews
3 — Use Language and Editing Tools
4 — Submit as a Draft
5 — Study Curated, Boosted, and Viral High-Quality Stories and Learn from Experienced Writers
Analyzing curated, high-quality, boosted, and viral stories can provide you with valuable lessons in style, presentation, and content.
We’ve curated numerous volumes containing hundreds of top-tier stories across various topics. You can use keyword searches to find stories from these collections.
Some popular collection names to search are Outstanding Stories and Illumination Reading Club by ILLUMINATION-Curators, Hand-Picked Articles by ILLUMINATION Amplifiers, and Curated Collections by ILLUMINATION.
These resources often contain practical and engaging stories from fellow writers’ experiences on ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications.
Learning from the experiences of other writers is invaluable. We’ve compiled various resources to help you improve your storytelling. You may check some guiding resources by our chief editor Dr Mehmet Yildiz, in the attached list.
Meet the Editors of SYNERGY
These editors are all writers like you. You can connect with them on our Slack workspace.
Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Dr. Preeti Singh, Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Lanu Pitan, John Cunningham, Britni Pepper, Josh Balerite Acol, Brooklyn Muse (editor), Suzanne E., Poornima Verghese-Ram, Surekha Chandrasekhar, Aiden (Illumination Gaming), Elin Melaas, The Sturg, Indra Raj Pathak, Joanie Adams, Nuno Campos, Ntathu Allen (she/her), Nurma Komala-Hadi, Annie Wegner, Philip Writes, Satrio Jagad, Sobaan Saeed, tarun bhatt, You, Me and Happiness, Mike Broadly — Healthier Lifestyle, Kim Petersen, ILLUMINATION, and ILLUMINATION-Curators.
Some of these editors have profiles, so you can learn more about their backgrounds from the attached collection.
What Other Writers Think About SYNERGY
8 Most Profitable & Evergreen Niches For Writers To Make Passive Income by Lanu Pitan
Snowflakes: A single icy crystal that has achieved a sufficient size yet negligible on its own by Sumera Rizwan
You Have No Frickin’ Idea How Dedicated Dr. Mehmet Yildiz is! by jt
Invitation to New Writers
ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications are inclusive and diverse, supporting 24,000+ contributors. Different levels of writers, from absolute beginners to the most accomplished ones, delight our readers with their educative and engaging content.
To join our vibrant publications, please send a request via this link. We will help you gain visibility and succeed as a writer on Medium. Please mention the publication name with your Medium account ID in the request.
ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications include:
ILLUMINATION ILLUMINATION-Curated ILLUMINATION’ S MIRROR ILLUMINATION Book Chapters Technology Hits SYNERGY Readers Hope Illumination on YouTube Illumination Gaming Lampshade of Illumination Layered Vision — 3D Printing ILLUMINATION’s Blog EUPHORIA by Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Please review our onboarding pack before sending any story to ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications. We only accept content meeting Medium policies and our guidelines.