Why “Readers Hope” Means So Much to Me as a Writer and Editor
How a serendipitous encounter took me to a place where words truly matter
My Medium journey began with a simple invitation from my friend and mentor, Dr Mehmet Yildiz. After retiring from 53 years of service in the science community, I found myself drawn to reading on Medium.
As an avid reader, it was a haven for me. I was tired of reading dull scientific papers for decades. I needed fresh perspectives from authentic writers.
For example, Dr. Yildiz’s personal publication, EUPHORIA, became my new source of learning and awareness of real-life issues backed up by science.
So I devoured almost every story within this publication as he writes about health, wellness, lifestyle, and self-improvement topics close to my heart. I metaphorically fell in love with euphoria, pun intended.
A Serendipitous Encounter in 2022 Elated My Mood in 2023
In 2023, Dr. Yildiz suggested something unexpected. He said:
‘Mike, you’re an avid reader with a wealth of knowledge from your years as a health scientist. Why not share your life lessons through writing? Join our community on Slack. I’ll guide you on your writing journey here on Medium, where words truly matter.’
His vision for Readers Hope, a publication designed to inspire avid readers like me to become writers, intrigued me. At first, I hesitated, but I trusted his integrity and our friendship, so I accepted the offer.
I joined the Medium Partner Program and was thrilled to gain over 300 followers in my first month of writing. I even wrote a story about this exciting beginning.
Just a month later, Dr. Yildiz proposed that I become an editor for Readers Hope, knowing it aligned perfectly with my background as a dedicated reader.
I accepted his challenge and developed a deep appreciation for the publication and its mission. Impressed with my work ethic, he later promoted me to an editorial role for ILLUMINATION, his largest Medium publication.
Joining the editorial team was a delight. I found myself among 137 editors, each with unique contributions. Some publish stories submitted to our publications, some curate stories, some do promotion, some do admin work adding new writers, and others guide editors and writers.
It felt like a family room, and I began to see it as a small village of wise individuals united by a common goal.
In my second month on Medium, I witnessed remarkable growth in my statistics. My followers, subscribers, story views, reads, claps, and highlights all soared.
I even earned some money, which allowed me to buy gifts for my beloved grandchildren. I couldn’t help but share my newfound joy in a story.
Why Readers Hope Holds a Special Place in My Heart as a Writer and Editor
First, I want to mention our new submission guidelines, carefully crafted by our dedicated editorial team to align with Medium’s fresh focus on quality content. You can check them in the following links:
ILLUMINATION Videos and Podcasts: Submission Guidelines 2023
Publishing and Conduct Guidelines for the Lampshade of ILLUMINATION
In response to Medium’s evolving content distribution policy, our chief editor tasked all editors with elevating our quality standards, backed by insightful guidance and practical checklists.
Earlier today, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, our chief editor, penned Readers Hope submission guidelines in his own voice. He aims to inspire both writers and editors at Readers Hope, a publication that caters to budding writers like me.
The attached submission guidelines are the inspiration behind my story today. Dr. Yildiz wrote them with heartfelt sincerity, and they truly touched my soul. As I read through them, I couldn’t help but shed tears of joy, for each word held profound significance for me
He intends to inspire, nurture, educate, and empower every newcomer who finds their voice within the inviting pages of Readers Hope.
Dr. Yildiz emphasized that Readers Hope is more than just a publication; it brings HOPE for both readers and writers.
Readers Hope is a profound source of inspiration. His sentence, “It embodies the essence of hope — an unwavering belief in the presence of light, even in the darkest of times,” resonated well with me as HOPE is important in my life.
He said, “While magic, in the conventional sense, may be elusive, there’s a transformative power when you cradle your dearest hopes within you. It’s a power capable of bringing incredible things to life, almost as if by magic.”
In this publication, he invites readers to become writers and to join us on a journey of self-expression, creativity, and self-discovery.
Your unique voice and perspective will be celebrated here. Your beautiful stories find a nurturing home supported by a collaborative community.
He stated, “Readers Hope isn’t just a platform; it’s a community of like-minded writers and readers who share a common belief in the profound influence of words to inspire, heal, and connect. Words hold immense power on Medium and can shape lives.”
So, dear new writers, as you take your initial steps into the world of storytelling, remember that you’re part of something truly magical — Readers Hope is where words come alive and dreams find their voice.
Let me give you a quick background on the birth of Readers Hope.
Despite his technical and scholarly background, Dr. Yildiz shares his passion for championing raw and unique content.
He firmly believes that there’s something extraordinary about letting our genuine voice shine through our writing.
While raw content may not appeal to everyone, especially the more elite writers among us, it holds immeasurable value for newcomers like me, finding their footing and voice in the writing world.
Readers Hope serves as our gateway to welcome and support these budding talents. Countless avid readers like me out there burn with the desire to express their thoughts and emotions.
Yet they often find themselves at a loss, unsure of where or how to begin. If I hadn’t met Dr. Yildiz, I would not know about Medium, where words genuinely matter. This need became glaringly apparent through Dr. Yildiz’s interactions and experiences.
Drawing from his extensive experience managing multiple thriving publications and employing his Design Thinking approach, he launched Readers Hope — an initiative fueled by experimentation and agility (MVPs) with progressive growth.
When he mentioned a single story earned $20K I understood the potential of this platform for those who write meaningful content like Mr. S M Mamunur Rahman (Kudos, mate!).
Dr Yildiz’s knowledge and collaboration made him a leader in his discipline. For example, check out his global impact on a mental health topic close to my heart. You may check more of his stories on EUPHORIA.
Departing Thoughts
Please explore the offering of this publication and join the ILLUMINATION community with a free and moderated Slack workspace.
You can contact me directly when you need help. As a new editor, I might not answer your question satisfactorily, but I will do my best to find someone from the team to guide you.
My journey might inspire others and illustrate Medium’s incredible possibilities. In my humble opinion, this platform is a treasure trove of knowledge and opportunity waiting to be explored.
It is because Medium is a place where words really matter.
In the attached short story, you may check out more of my thoughts about Medium for new writers and avid readers.
I extend this story as a heartfelt homage and tribute to the diligent and devoted editors of Readers Hope.
Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Dr. Preeti Singh, Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Josh Balerite Acol, Lawson Wallace, Aldric Chen, The Sturg, Surekha Chandrasekhar, Dennis De Silva, Elin Melaas, Aiden (Illumination Gaming), Maria Rattray, John Cunningham, Nuno Campos, Indra Raj Pathak, Sumera Rizwan, Liam Ireland, Joanie Adams, Annie Wegner, Raymond M.E. Aguirre, tarun bhatt, Noorain Ali, Fahaz Hameed, Benito Bartolo, Brooklyn Muse (editor), Annelise Lords, Myriam Ben Salem🦋, and other ILLUMINATION editors for mentoring. Some of these editors have a profile. You may check them from the attached list.
And let’s welcome new writers who joined us today.
Crystal Gillis, Brain Balance Labs, Luka Brzić, Bowen Smyth, Hema Ravi, Ramanan, Mohammed Hilili, James McDonald, Gaurav Mori, Pal Dru Koi, Hinduja, Oleks Gorpynich, Justin McLaughlin, Jennifer Ulie, PhD, Christina Daniels, Anand Raj, Patricia Dietrich, Christina Rizzo, Ida Silfverskiöld, Paul S. Marshall, Annika Hotta, Christopher Pierznik, Productivity,Time management,Success hacks, Robert E. Saunders, Leahprior, Alexandra Axente,
If you want to explore more from my life lessons, here are the links to my recent stories.
About Me
I am a retired scientist in his mid-70s and a new writer on Medium, but I am not new to writing. As a giveback activity, I volunteered to be an editor for Illumination publications, supporting many writers recently joining Medium like me.
If you want to write for these publications, you may send your Medium ID via this weblink. I will be happy to read, publish, and promote your stories.
You may connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Quora, where I share stories I read. I plan to share stories I read and edit on the Quora Space of the Illumination-Curated publication.
If you are a new writer, you may need to create a BIO. As an altruistic activity, my good editor friend Aiden (Illumination Gaming) compiles these writer bios and promotes them. You can learn from this story.
Meet ILLUMINATION Writers from Their Personally Penned Biographies
I also started curating stories and I hope you enjoy them.
Links to My Previous Collections
Please share these so that more people can find these valuable pieces.
Let’s Share These Lists First
I recently learned to create a list from our good editor friend Aiden, so please share it on your social media to spread the word and love. Before starting to review the stories, I would like to ask you to share these lists. I spent a fair bit of time creating these shareable lists.
Please spend a few seconds tweeting them or posting them to LinkedIn or Facebook so that more readers can find these stories. Here is what the share button looks like.
More information about ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications on Medium can be found in our onboarding pack.
