Technology
Technology Hits: New Submission Guidelines 2023
Join a unique publication supporting writers penning about technology to find a broad audience using the power of ILLUMINATION on Medium.
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.
Dear Writers and Readers,
The modern world owes its existence to technology, touching every facet of our lives, from the mundane to the extraordinary. It is ubiquitous, shaping our civilization in profound ways.
You may be a technician, philosopher, entrepreneur, entertainer, artist, futurist, scientist, polymath, or storyteller. If your writing falls within these realms with a tech flavor, your voice has a place at Technology Hits.
Technology Hits was established by Dr Mehmet Yildiz in 2020 as part of the ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications to give a voice to tech writers on Medium and promote their stories using our community.
In my new account, I aim to present technology-related narratives to a broad audience, leveraging my network. My vision is to assemble a diverse cadre of writers, each with their unique technological perspective, to craft captivating stories.
With access to a vast community of writers across Medium and beyond, our potential is unlimited. This publication has been meticulously designed with our audience in mind, utilizing Design Thinking principles.
From this process emerged seven prominent roles or personas within the realm of technology: technicians, philosophers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, artists, storytellers, and futuristic leaders.
Given Medium’s limitation of seven tabs in publications, we’ve transformed these personas into amplifiers, catering to the preferences of our readers.
These functions serve as thematic focal points, guiding the stories we seek to unearth and share. Let’s take a closer look at these seven functions.
Here’s the scope of tech writing on Technology Hits
Technology Hits welcomes storytellers from all corners of the tech universe. The possibilities are limitless, and every tech perspective has a place in our publication.
Here are seven domains for your contributions.
Technical: Delve into technology details, covering engineering, science, and technical aspects. From defining and describing tech concepts to diving into architecture, design, security, and operational processes, this domain is a haven for tech professionals to share their expertise.
Philosophical: For the thinkers and philosophers among us, this function embraces contemplative discussions on the merits and drawbacks of technology. Dive into ethical considerations in AI and robotics or explore academic insights from philosophy courses focusing on technology’s profound impact.
Entertaining: The intersection of tech and entertainment is a vibrant realm. From gaming enthusiasts to social media content creators, this function celebrates how technology brings joy and amusement. Share your YouTube channels, podcasts, and stories that entertain and inform.
Entrepreneurial: Entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs alike find a home here. Dive into the strategies and plans for digital ventures, explore technology’s economic and financial aspects, and chart the path of tech leaders shaping the business world.
Artistic: Art and technology form a captivating synergy. Explore the digital realms of poetry, painting, and music created through technology. Share stories of how technology fuels artistic expression across various forms of design and creativity.
Personal: Share your personal experiences with tech tools, devices, and services. Whether it’s your journey with smartphones, smartwatches, or the world of IoT devices, readers are eager to learn from your hands-on experiences.
Futuristic: For the visionaries, inventors, innovators, and strategists, this function is your canvas. Paint a picture of the tech-infused future you envision, from groundbreaking solutions to addressing global challenges, or explore the transformative effects of technology on human life.
Benefits of Writing for Technology Hits?
At Technology Hits, our Editor-in-chief and several senior editors, equipped with a robust technology background and extensive publishing experience, oversee the process of curating, editing, publishing, and promoting tech stories.
As contributors, your content will find a receptive audience within the technology landscape. Our editorial team is committed to guiding you toward achieving your writing objectives across the diverse functions of this publication.
Technology Hits benefits from its affiliation with ILLUMINATION, boasting a substantial following of 71K+ readers. Your impactful stories will enjoy amplified reach.
Moreover, your exceptional narratives may find a place of honor within the ILLUMINATION-Curated collection, engaging discerning readers.
You can seamlessly transfer your stories among Technology Hits, ILLUMINATION, ILLUMINATION-Curated, and other relevant publications. This flexibility may enhance your stories’ exposure, ensuring they reach a broader and enthusiastic audience.
You can revive your old curated stories. We offer you the opportunity to breathe new life into your previously curated stories on technology-related topics. Introduce them to a fresh audience, potentially igniting their virality once more.
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.
Amplify your reach on social media. For example, we created a new LinkedIn page and a Quora Space for Technology Hits so you can actively share content, amplifying your tech-related stories.
Writing for Technology Hits opens doors to a supportive community, broader visibility, unique privileges, and amplified reach — making it an exciting platform for your tech stories.
Here’s a summary of key points for expected submissions:
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.
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.
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.
Valuable reading experience: Your writing should be a pleasure to read. It should be well-organized and easy to follow.
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 Technology Hits, 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
The first and foremost step is to read and understand Medium’s curation guidelines thoroughly. We developed our guidelines based on Medium’s policies.
2 — 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.
3 — Engage in Peer Reviews
As the creator of your work, you may be biased in your evaluation. Therefore, seek peer reviews to gain fresh perspectives on your content.
Peer reviewers often excel in spotting typos and other errors that authors and automated language tools may miss.
Peers can offer a reader’s viewpoint and help identify blind spots in your writing. You can join our Slack community and make review requests to connect with potential peer reviewers.
4 — Use Language and Editing Tools
Using language and editing tools in your writing process can significantly enhance the quality of your work. Grammarly can help with grammar and spelling checks. Consider using Hemingway Editor to refine your writing style.
Additionally, performing a plagiarism check is crucial to ensure your content is original and not duplicated elsewhere on Medium or other platforms.
Several free tools, including the plagiarism checker in Grammarly, Chegg, Copyleaks, PlagTracker, and Plagiarisma, can assist in this regard.
5 — Submit as a Draft
For your convenience and to ensure smooth processing, we kindly ask that you submit your contributions as drafts, even though we allow self-published stories. It is for your benefit.
As you may be aware, stories published as drafts will display the publication date once they are published on the platform.
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.
Conclusions
Technology Hits is a specialized publication showcasing memorable, insightful, and relatable stories from experienced technology writers. We aim to give voice to all writers putting effort into delighting our readers.
We trust these guidelines will provide you with the necessary information to begin your writing journey with Technology Hits. Please leave a comment for your inquiries on this story or contact us on our Slack workspace.
Thank you for being part of our writing and reading community. We look forward to your contributions. Our readers anticipate the infusion of fresh content from new voices and contributors, adding further vibrancy to our growing community on Medium and beyond.
You may find guidelines for ILLUMINATION, our largest publication, at this link, penned by Suzanne E. We will compile all submission guidelines in a single story soon.
You may also check the guidelines for ILLUMINATION-Curated authored by ILLUMINATION-Curators if you are interested in contributing to this publication for experienced writers.
In addition to Technology Hits, our editor Mert, created a new specialized publication covering 3D Printing as part of the ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications on Medium. It is called Layered Vision.
We will share submission guidelines for our other publications soon.
Please Introduce Yourself in a Story
Our editor Aiden (Illumination Gaming), recently compiled writer bios penned by themselves in a collection.
You may enjoy the bios of writers written with their pens. We encourage all writers to post a bio introducing themselves to our readers in our various publications.
Meet Technology Hits Editors
Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Dr John Frederick Rose, Dr. Preeti Singh, Yogesh Haribhau Kulkarni (PhD), Dr Michael Heng, Bill Abbate, Liam Ireland, tarun bhatt, Aiden (Illumination Gaming), Agnes Laurens, Tree Langdon, Mike Broadly - Healthier Lifestyle, Abraham Bamidele, Mert, Noorain Ali, Sumera Rizwan, Nuno Campos, Annelise Lords, Utibe Udoma, You, Me and Happiness, ZENcurity, Mashrur Arafin Ayon, ILLUMINATION, and ILLUMINATION Amplifiers.
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.
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