Innovative Leadership and the Launch of ILLUMINATION-Curated
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Introducing ILLUMINATION-Curated
This article aims to unveil a new publication called ILLUMINATION-Curated.
Objectives of ILLUMINATION-Curated
ILLUMINATION-Curated is designed to expand upon the existing ILLUMINATION platform, which boasts 15,000 contributors and 58,000 followers.
Insights gained from ILLUMINATION, along with the tools we have developed, will help launch this new venture. Currently, we have over 30,000 subscribers to our main publication.
Among these, at least 10,000 readers have expressed a keen interest in high-quality, curated narratives. This demand has led us to create this new publication.
The primary aim of ILLUMINATION-Curated is to enhance the reach of skilled writers by utilizing innovative methods to connect with a broader audience.
Secondly, it seeks to establish a standard for ILLUMINATION writers, offering a meaningful goal to enhance their writing skills and gain recognition as advanced authors.
How We Plan to Accomplish These Objectives
There are three pathways for articles to be featured in the new publication.
Firstly, articles curated by Medium that have been published in ILLUMINATION can be selected by our editors and approved by the original author for transfer to ILLUMINATION-Curated.
Secondly, non-Medium curated articles published in ILLUMINATION that comply with submission guidelines may also be chosen by our editors, pending the writer's approval for transfer.
Lastly, authors who have received approval for ILLUMINATION-Curated may submit their articles directly, provided they meet all relevant guidelines and receive editorial approval.
Progress of the Pilot Initiative
I first announced the inception of ILLUMINATION-Curated on September 2, 2020.
We have initiated our pilot phase by evaluating exceptional stories featured in ILLUMINATION. Our team of 35 editors reviews each nominated work through a voting system. If we reach a consensus, we invite the author to submit their work to ILLUMINATION-Curated.
In the past five days, we have received a tremendous response from talented writers eager to share their outstanding narratives through this curated platform. We have also garnered positive feedback from our beta readers.
Here are some statistics from our publication dashboard.
The following screenshot illustrates the reading time metrics.
Criteria for Curation
To qualify as a permanent writer for ILLUMINATION-Curated, your stories must adhere to Medium's curation guidelines at the very least.
We recognize that even when guidelines are followed meticulously, articles may not always achieve Medium curation, as the process is inherently subjective.
However, we do not diminish the quality of any story that is not curated by Medium.
I have reviewed and shared numerous exceptional stories that did not receive Medium's curation.
Nevertheless, we will assess your story through our rigorous and unbiased evaluation process based on Medium's criteria.
If your story aligns with our criteria, it will be eligible for ILLUMINATION-Curated, regardless of our personal opinions on the content. This impartiality reflects our commitment to fairness.
Our ultimate goal is to deliver high-quality, impactful content to our valued readers. ILLUMINATION-Curated aims to cultivate a new audience distinct from typical publications.
We not only select exceptional articles, but we also edit them to fulfill our readers' expectations. Editing adds significant value for our writers. It's worth noting that professional editing can be costly; for instance, a top writer might charge $50 per article.
Our skilled editors will provide this service at no cost as part of our charitable efforts. They are not compensated by writers, the publication, or Medium; their work is purely voluntary. I feel fortunate to have a dedicated team of volunteers committed to editing for our writers' success.
ILLUMINATION currently has 35 registered editors who can review and vote on stories to curate them for a wider audience seeking quality reading experiences. We plan to increase this number to 100 editors who will also serve as curators for the new publication.
Delivering edited and curated stories to our audience represents a significant shift in publication services.
Our diligent editors select high-quality, impactful content and then create a poll in our secure Slack channel using an application.
Here is a sample screenshot showcasing the rigor we apply during the curation process.
I have summarized the criteria derived from Medium's curation guidelines.
Increasing Visibility and Readability
When you submit a curated article to ILLUMINATION-Curated, it will also receive curation from ILLUMINATION if it has been curated by Medium.
Although we typically only accept draft submissions, we have made an exception for previously curated articles.
If you possess an article that was curated by Medium, even if it is older, you are encouraged to submit it. We highly value articles recognized by Medium's curation process.
Double curation can offer numerous advantages.
Medium supports curated stories through various channels. ILLUMINATION aims to adopt a similar model while enhancing it through targeted distribution and innovative strategies.
Advantages of the ILLUMINATION Curation Process
Here are three key benefits:
- Our curation process relies on human evaluation rather than algorithms.
- It will adhere to established criteria and maintain the rigor found in peer-reviewed journals.
- Our curation process is entirely objective.
These three critical points aim to address the core issues that many writers face, as evidenced by countless documented experiences. I have personally experienced this challenge. My vision is to alleviate this burden through innovative content management techniques.
We believe that writers deserve objectivity in the selection of their content for distribution. Our values of diversity, inclusion, and fairness compel us to remain unbiased.
We have demonstrated our commitment to these values. ILLUMINATION began with just 100 writers five months ago; today, we have 3,800 contributors. Our readers appreciate the quality of our publication. We grew from zero followers to 32,000 who engage with our writers' content.
ILLUMINATION editors do not curate based on personal preferences.
We are pioneering the content development industry by emphasizing objectivity through innovative techniques grounded in our established values.
Additional Benefits
This innovative process brings further advantages.
I am confident that if ILLUMINATION editors select and publish stories from our writers on the new platform, those stories are more likely to be curated by Medium due to the rigorous editing we apply.
If an article is not curated by Medium, it indicates that the curator's subjectivity influenced the outcome. Nevertheless, your high-quality, impactful article will still be curated and distributed to a targeted audience. We aim to alleviate your challenges by at least 50%.
ILLUMINATION has a proven track record of successful curation. Please see this artifact for proof.
We are actively working to enhance the curation rate for our writers.
Our editors and I have developed numerous tools and refined our processes to support you.
Medium distributes curated stories to its readers on the front page, topic pages, through its app, in the Daily Digest newsletter, and via email.
ILLUMINATION will adopt a similar framework but will extend this model to amplify messages to a broader and more targeted audience simultaneously.
The ILLUMINATION-Curated publication, leveraging ILLUMINATION's capabilities, signifies a paradigm shift in content curation, distribution, and marketing.
Initial Resources
Tree Langdon (senior editor) outlined the pilot process and interim solutions in an article.
Dew Langrial (senior editor) provided two instructional articles to support this initiative. The first is a step-by-step guide on how to meet curation standards.
The second article is an educational guide on enhancing chances of Medium curation, based on Dew's experiences with curated stories in ILLUMINATION.
Welcome to ILLUMINATION-Curated
ILLUMINATION-Curated highlights exceptional stories curated by 35 senior editors from ILLUMINATION.
If you are currently a writer for ILLUMINATION, you may apply for the new publication, as high-quality stories curated by ILLUMINATION will be transitioned to this new platform to address a specific readership.
To transfer your article from ILLUMINATION to ILLUMINATION-Curated, you must be a contributor to both. This is a technical requirement, as Medium does not allow for copying and pasting between publications. Authors must remove their stories from one publication and add them to another.
We understand that communication on Medium can be challenging. Relying solely on Medium’s private messaging can hinder effective communication.
However, we have established a free Slack group with over 6,000 members who are actively collaborating. Our writers can communicate freely with our editors.
All our editors are available on Slack, participating in public chats, and engaging in private conversations with writers. This presents a wonderful opportunity for Medium authors.
Readers' Perspective
ILLUMINATION prioritizes its readers. Since the inception of this publication, we have maintained daily communication with our audience through various channels, including Slack groups, social media, email, newsletters, Skype, and Webex.
We also distribute our stories daily to serve our readers through a daily digest. Readers appreciate our distribution lists, which allow access to hundreds of stories from a single source.
Additionally, we have archived 60,000 stories that are easily accessible.
Based on my interactions with thousands of readers, I have identified that advanced readers prefer edited and curated stories by experienced editors.
As most of our editors possess advanced writing and editing skills, we aim to utilize their expertise in curation. With reader feedback, we gain insights into our audience. Drawing from my technological background, I provide rich and supportive data to our team.
The new publication is primarily focused on serving a specific target readership. However, we believe that other reader personas can also benefit from our high-quality content.
These primary readers have distinct goals. They are not seeking simple tricks on Medium. They are uninterested in the earnings of Medium writers or any drama surrounding the platform. Instead, they wish to engage with quality, impactful materials that contribute positively to society.
This audience consists of professionals in fields such as science, technology, business, arts, philosophy, self-improvement, and more.
ILLUMINATION-Curated is currently open for review.
We have already received valuable feedback from our small group of beta readers. The publication is in its pilot phase, and we will enhance it based on feedback from both readers and writers. Our senior editor, Tree Langdon, has documented interim guidelines to inspire our writers to elevate their writing practices.
We will soon share comprehensive submission guidelines, which are currently under review by our editors.
The ILLUMINATION curation process is designed to be objective, inclusive, fair, and rewarding. It is rooted in consensus and evaluated by experienced, caring human editors.
ILLUMINATION is a publication driven by values. So too is ILLUMINATION-Curated. You can read our core values, which have been articulated by ILLUMINATION. This account is intended to inform and empower our writers. Please consider following the ILLUMINATION account to stay updated on important announcements and daily updates for our writers and readers across both publications.
Invitation to Join Both:
“ILLUMINATION” AND “ILLUMINATION-CURATED”
ILLUMINATION is an innovative platform fostering collaboration among optimistic writers, editors, and readers to create synergy. You too can join, engage, and realize your aspirations. Our community is diverse, inclusive, and supportive.
We can help enhance your content for improved quality and increase the chances of curation, and you can collaborate with our top writers to model their success. As a bonus, we enjoy supporting writers and amplifying success stories through factual evidence.
If you wish to join these two dynamic publications, please submit a request via this link. We will assist you in achieving your goals!
If you are a new writer, we recommend joining ILLUMINATION. If you are an established writer with a respectable curation rate or a strong understanding of Medium's curation guidelines, you can request access to ILLUMINATION-Curated.
Thank you for taking the time to read my insights. I wish you a life filled with health and happiness.
If you found this article helpful, you may want to explore my holistic health and well-being stories, which reflect my reviews, observations, and decades of sensible experimentation.
Sample Health Improvement Articles for New Readers
> Defeat Metabolic Syndrome and Slim Down Waistline with Three Tips > > Why 442 Million People Live Diabetic and What We Can Do About It > > Defeat Fatty Liver Disease with Three Doable Tips > > Reduce Liver Cancer Risks with Healthy Lifestyle Choices > > Lower the Risks of Heart Disease and Strokes in Five Steps > > Make Your Lungs Healthier via Lifestyle Approaches > > Make Your Pancreas Healthier via Lifestyle Choices > > Make Your Kidneys Healthier via Lifestyle Choices > > Make Your Brain Healthier with Ten Lifestyle Approaches > > Six Tips to Prevent Brain Atrophy and Lower the Risks of Mental Disorders > > What Can We Do About NCDs Killing 41 Million People Yearly? > > Five Tips to Prevent Infectious Diseases > > Three Tips to Improve Cardiovascular Health > > Three Lifestyle Habits to Lower Dementia Risks > > Reduce the Risks of Neonatal Disorders to Prevent Infant Mortality > > Reduce the Risks of Major Diseases with Healthy Lifestyle Habits
I also write about valuable nutrients. Here are the links for easy access:
> Boron, Urolithin, taurine, citrulline malate, biotin, lithium orotate, alpha-lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, acetyl-l-carnitine, CoQ10, PQQ, NADH, TMG, creatine, choline, digestive enzymes, magnesium, hydrolyzed collagen, nootropics, pure nicotine, activated charcoal, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and other nutrients that may aid in improving metabolism and mental health.
I publish my lifestyle, health, and well-being stories on EUPHORIA. I have written several articles about major diseases and valuable nutrients for health, focusing on metabolic, cellular, mitochondrial, and mental health. Here is my collection of Insightful Life Lessons from Personal Stories.
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