The Medium Quick Reference Guide®
The Role of a Book's Foreword
I was honored to have Dr. Mehmet Yildiz write the Foreword for this book.

Someone other than the book's author usually writes the Foreword. Its purpose is to give the reader an overview of the book's contents.
Typically, the Foreword serves to:
- Provide information about the author and why they wrote the book.
- Offer insights into the author's motivation and intentions in offering the work.
- Lend authority and credibility to the book.
Even though I have authored 19 previous books, I had no name recognition in the Medium community.
In my experience, having a well-known and respected personality endorse my publishing efforts has helped to build the book's reputation, increase its visibility, and generate buzz or interest around its release.
Today, I publish many stories through ILLUMINATION. The Publication has proved to be invaluable in building an audience on Medium.
I asked Dr. Mehmet if he would be so kind as to consider writing the Foreword for The Medium Quick Reference Guide. He graciously agreed.
Here is an excerpt from a SLACK message I sent to Dr Mehmet Yildiz.
Dr. Mehmet,
Good morning.
I'm excited to send you a PDF of The Medium Quick Reference Guide. It includes the Introduction, TOC, Chapters 1 through 7, and four appendices.
I believe The Medium Quick Reference Guide will be a great asset to any writer on Medium. I've learned so much during its writing. I would be honored if you would consider writing the Foreword. I know name recognition is what this book needs to get off the ground. Perhaps we can talk again when I'm ready to publish the stories. Thanks for your help.
John Leavy
Here's Dr. M's reply.
Hi John, congratulations on completing your draft. It looks great.
I will be happy to share my thoughts on your book.
Then he sent me a reply in a few days.
Foreword
By Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Chief Editor of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications on Medium
I had the privilege of being a beta reader for the "The Medium.com Quick Reference Guide" by John D. Leavy. This guiding book delights me as it serves as a map for new writers on Medium.com, a popular platform for writers, bloggers, and content creators to share their thoughts, ideas, and insights with a diverse audience. However, with so many features and options available, Medium can be overwhelming to navigate for newcomers and even experienced users.
This well-structured and informative guide by Mr. Leavy provides a comprehensive overview of Medium.com's features and tools. It includes key points like creating and publishing valuable stories, using topics (tags) to target the right audiences, using Medium's many features to produce highly professional-looking articles, and leveraging the platform for maximum exposure. In addition, the finer points other successful writers use to generate an income.
The guide also includes tips and tricks for optimizing your content, growing your readership, and interacting with the Medium community. Mr. Leavy covers all essential points and articulates them well.
Whether you're a seasoned writer looking to enhance your skills or a beginner just starting, this guide can be an invaluable resource that helps you make the most of the platform. Mr. Leavy's clear and concise writing style makes it easy to follow along, and his insights and expertise can empower you to take your Medium game to the next level.
This effort is Leavy's 20th published book, and he still has the touch to reach readers where they are in their writing careers and give them a hand up at being the best they can be as a writer.
I am grateful for the contributions of Mr. Leavy to my publications and writing community on Medium. I highly recommend The Medium Quick Reference Guide to anyone looking to improve their writing, expand their online presence, and connect with like-minded individuals on this dynamic platform.
I hope this dialogue helps when seeking someone to write the Foreword for your next literary masterpiece.
The book chapters are hyperlinked for easy access. Click on the title that interests you most.
Table of Contents, Foreword, Introduction, 1: What is Medium, 2: Navigating Your Homepage, 3: Getting to Know Your Homepage, 4: Exploring the Profile Picture Drop-down, 5: Searching for Stories from Your Homepage, 6: Navigating Your Story Homepage, 7: Writing/Editing Great Stories, 8: Jazzing Your Stories with Images & Embeds (Sf), 9: Publishing Great Stories (Sf), 10: Managing Your Stories (Sf), 11: Tunning Your Account Settings & Preferences (Sf), 12: Getting More Email Subscribers (Sf), 13: Using the Help Center to Get Answers (Sf), 14: Gaining Your First 100 Followers (Sf), 15: Building a Following with Publications (Sf), 16: Earning Money at Medium (Sf), 17: Continuing to Gain Followers (Sf), 18: Boosting Your Brand with a Newsletter (Sf), Appendix A: Locate Commands Fast, Appendix B: Top70 Most Popular Topics, Appendix C: Top 50 Medium Publications, Appendix D: Keyboard Shortcuts, Glossary.
You might check my recent interview conducted by Dr Mehmet Yildiz, chief editor of Illumination Integrated Publications, on Medium, introducing me and my book to the writing and reading community.