Why I Write for Illumination in Spite of What Some Writers Are Saying
Let’s stop with all the judginess, shall we?
There are no perfect publications. There are no perfect writers. There are no perfect editors (no matter what they tell you). We are all muddling our way through this life. Some of us by slinging words onto the page. I have an affinity for the imperfect. I agree with the Tim Denning school of thought that one or two typos make a reader more comfortable with the writer. It lets them know the writer is not some demi-god perched above the fray of fallibility. (Although, last week I had a snarky comment on one of my stories relating to a typo. Who even does that on Medium, where we are supposed to be supporting one another?)
Anyway, imagine my dismay when I recently encountered mentions of distaste for a publication I enjoy writing for occasionally, particularly when the distaste involved the quality of writing and editing sometimes found in stories published here.
One writer, whom I adore, didn’t name the publication, but it was obvious she was talking about Illumination. Her beef was that if a publication is claiming high standards of writing and editing, it should not have stories riddled with errors.
Hmm. I’ve found typos, spelling, and grammar mistakes in every online publication I’ve ever read. It does not stop me from reading those publications. Online publication is a playing field built in haste. Minor mistakes are forgivable even at the top of the food chain.
The other comments I’ve recently read included a mention that it’s not a relational publication. There are fewer comments and discussions on stories in the publication, one writer stated.
And that brings me to my own reasons for being here
- I feel supported. The editors actually read what I write, often leaving private notes or comments.
- I earn scads of internal reads. If my read time is lagging, I know a story published in Illumination will boost my stats because the writers of the publication are heavily invested in the platform. They read, clap, and comment. My overall percentage of reads averages around 70% for stories published in Illumination. I’ve currently got a story published in another big publication with a read percentage of only 39%.
- I have the freedom to say what’s really on my mind. It’s the place where I can post a heartfelt story or stand up on my soapbox and shout a little about what’s bugging me.
- The choice of topics feels endless. I honestly can’t think of one topic I wouldn’t consider publishing in Illumination. Stories here range from health to finances, from writing to parenting.
- There are beginning writers here. I have an affinity for beginners. They keep us fresh. Plus, they provide a steady stream of ideas for future stories because they aren’t afraid to ask questions.
- It feels like a miniature version of what Medium wants to be (and what I wish it was.) I have a friend who spends his summers living in his RV in a “seasonal” RV park in New Jersey. He enjoys the camping life, but he really enjoys the camaraderie of seeing the same people every week in the park. Illumination is my seasonal RV park. I have other homes for my writing across the web and across this platform, but it’s always fun and comforting to spend time here in Illumination.
Takeaways
We have an enormous platform at our disposal, but making the most of it often means finding our place within the masses. It’s really no different from the publishing world beyond Medium. Writers who please everyone simply do not exist. Success (and satisfaction) as a writer is often pinned more to the ability to find and maintain an audience than it is to write perfectly.
If I was limited to only one piece of advice to new writers ever again in my life, it would be this: Write well, but connect to others with abandon.