Exploring Aiden's Daily Discoveries — Episode #34
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Today, I bring you a selection of captivating articles and community-recommended pieces, specifically designed for the dedicated readers of ILLUMINATION Publications on Medium. Due to the extensive publishing queue at ILLUMINATION, I haven't been able to craft my own story, but I plan to do so once our volunteer editors return from their well-earned break. I appreciate your understanding regarding the recent delays in publishing.
Reflecting on December 2023, it was a remarkable time for me, particularly as a personal favorite story received renewed attention. I am grateful for the encouraging comments on my piece titled "Gaming, Fun, and Humor: The Lifelines That Rescued Me From Social Media’s Grip on My Life." This month, I have curated my stories for my loyal audience, while also offering a preview for fellow writers.
In a recent interview, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz spoke with the esteemed Tim Denning, whose insights are sure to inspire both writers and readers alike.
An Interview with Tim Denning
Tim Denning, an accomplished businessman and blogger with over 500 million views, shared his thoughts in a fascinating discussion that serves as a source of motivation for many.
Last year, I authored a piece about Tim as part of an AI project that I believe will resonate with you.
The Story of Tim Denning, a Writer Who Inspired a Generation of Writers
This article chronicles the journey of a young Australian boy with dreams of writing who emerged as a bestselling author and philanthropist.
For those of you who share my passion for reading or are considering an upgrade to your subscription, I encourage you to take the plunge like the many early adopters I've introduced in this article.
I Took the Plunge and Became a Friend of Medium (FoM) Yesterday.
In a light-hearted manner, I share my reasons for making this commitment.
ILLUMINATION editors also interviewed Dr. Yildiz about how Friends of Medium can effectively share links across our tailored social media platforms. I tested this, and it took me just ten minutes to share these stories. I hope this brings a wave of new readers to Medium, as attracting more readers is essential for sustaining our vibrant community.
How Friends of Medium Can Amplify Important Stories Via Customized Social Media Sites
Dr. Mehmet Yildiz discusses innovative platforms designed for sharing valuable content through FoM links.
You might also be interested in the recent collection curated by Mike Broadly, DHSc, an enthusiastic reader and proud FoM who contributes to our writers' earnings.
Mike’s Favorite Stories on ILLUMINATION Publications — #22
This collection features engaging stories that you may find appealing as well.
Our ILLUMINATION-Curators have compiled a collection of BOOSTED stories for our readers today, and we plan to distribute this collection on Substack to our many subscribers, aiming to attract even more readers to our platform. Let’s work together to enhance Medium by either becoming a Friend of Medium or by engaging meaningfully with other authors' stories. These boosted stories can both entertain our readers and motivate our writers.
Collection of Boosted Stories from ILLUMINATION Publications — V3
This collection presents a variety of well-crafted and impactful stories that inspire new writers with excellent examples.
Our editorial team also elaborated on how we promote non-boosted stories, which constitute over 99% of our content. I play a significant role in boosting visibility for these narratives.
Please take a moment to review our strategic plans for 2024, which align with Medium’s broader direction as articulated by our chief editor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz.
Strategic Changes on Medium in 2023: How I Adapted to the New Strategy
Here, I share insights into my unconventional approaches throughout my evolution as a writer, editor, boost nominator, and publisher.
Dr. Yildiz also noted that only 5% of his stories thrived in 2023, while the remaining 95% struggled to gain views.
My Top 20 Best Performing Stories (5%) in 2023 with Reasons
In this piece, I explore why these particular stories resonated more with readers, providing clues to the platform’s strategy.
Additionally, Dr. Yildiz welcomed several new writers during his break. I’ll include their profiles at the end so you can connect with them.
A Special Welcome to New Writers on New Year’s Day from the Chief Editor
This article summarizes key success factors on our platform and outlines our 2024 strategy in alignment with Medium's direction.
I typically place detailed publication-related news at the end of our collections to avoid overwhelming our loyal readers. However, writers can always check the end for updates on our activities—a win-win situation!
Daily List for Sharing — Volume 34
I took the initiative to create a list of this collection, enabling easy sharing on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Reddit, or Quora. You can find all our sharing platforms linked within this story by Dr. Yildiz.
Let's all engage with this list and at least tweet it so more readers can discover these stories. This is the goal of these curated lists. We appreciate your incredible support for the writers who invest their hearts and souls into these narratives to delight you. Here are today’s nominated stories from our enthusiastic readers.
Chosen Stories from ILLUMINATION Writers Today
As previously stated, "These stories comprise my personal favorites and those nominated by our volunteer editors (who are also writers and readers on this platform). The stories in this collection reflect their collective preferences. ILLUMINATION maintains a neutral stance for all published works, making it impossible to feature over one million published stories. However, we will strive to amplify as many exceptional stories as possible on a nearly daily basis, subject to the availability of our volunteers."
Here are the exceptional nominated stories for today! I believe you will find something that meets your reading desires.
> As a Scientist / Former Prediabetic, I Optimistically Believe Type II Diabetes Is Preventable and Reversible > Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
> Do These Things in 2024 to Become Relentlessly Unstoppable > Tim Denning
> Should You Find a New Source of Faith in 2024? > Gail Valker McNulty
> Overcoming Decision Fatigue: The Secret to a Focused and Successful Mind > Scarlett Gendrey, PhD
> Just Another “I’m Quitting Alcohol” Post > Normi Coto, PhD
> Insider Insights: 10 Guidelines for Excelling as a Patient From an ER Doctor > Joan Naidorf
> The Year Arrives with a Cancer Diagnosis in the Family > Bebe Nicholson
> LSD’s Renaissance in Mental Health Treatment > Matthew Bamberg
> The Power of Self-Talk Rekindles My Creativity > Josh Balerite Acol
> Duck in the Park > Britni Pepper
> Until Death Do Us Part > Jens Peter Olesen
> If Time Is MONEY — Many Medium Writers Won’t Make Any! > Annelise Lords
> Omni Travel Winter Destinations Part 2 > Omni Essence
> The Ultimate Coffee Alternative? > @Quill Adventurer
> Caring What Others Think, And How To Break Free > Above The Middle
> I Trained My Dog to Code, and What He Built Shocked Silicon Valley > Adelaide
> What were the results of your last BITE test? > Ahmadou DIALLO
> The Sky > Arati Shinde
> Fragmentary Reveries > Aurora
> 3 Ways to Use Empathy For Building Your Online Presence > Boysie Gordon
> 16 Best Winter Honeymoon Destinations in USA 2024 > Bruno Ewayu
> Happiness Comes From the Inside, Not From the Outside — Do This and Multiply It 10x! > Cafe Spiritualista
> Why I’m Actively Trying To Follow More Writers On Medium > Charles Davie
> How to Build Resilience in 5 Steps > Chris Soschner
> Achieve Your Dreams: A Fantastic Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Goals > Cosmin Firta
> What to Feed Your Mind to Fuel Your Soul > Dale Swackhammer
> Admiring the Essence of the Book > Danielle Spinks Earl
> Dan Koe says you don’t need a niche! Is that so? > Deni Sahaya
> 5 Short Sci-fi Stories For Snack-Sized Reading > Deon Ashleigh
> The Life-Changing Power of an Icy Shower > Dr. Dominic Etli
> Warning: He Brakes for Bunnies > Elizabeth Emerald
> Why You Cannot Find Your Perfect Prince? The One Rule You Need To Level Up Your Dating Game. > Enigma
> Life Is Not Linear, It’s Circular. And Change Is The Only Constant > Fabrizia Scapinello
> Bangladeshi Literature in English: A Tenacious Thrice-Born Tradition. > Fehmina H
> Some Billionaires Spoke Out Against DEI > Floyd Mori
> Lazy Day? Don’t Worry, It’s Good for You > Frank Bouc
> Should You Find a New Source of Faith in 2024? > Gail Valker McNulty
> A Better Life > Gaurav Smirth
> Our Encounter With Migrants > Graciela
> Mastering the Art of Resume Tailoring > Gregory G Fox
> Invitation to a Threesome > Harry Hogg
> This Science-Based Focus Routine Helps Me Do In 2 Hours What I Used To Do In 2 Full Days > Jari Roomer
> How To Explain The Mysteries Of The Elongated Skulls Found All Over The World. > Jo Ann Harris, Writer of Daily Musings
> Empathy is a Super Power > John Clark - The Courageous Trek
> When Music Is Your Special Friend > John Whye
> The Time I was in Thailand > Jose Montanez
> A Recap of my 10-Day Silent Retreat > Kadrian Enyia
> 10 Signs You’re An Extroverted Introvert With Anxiety Issues > Kashi Writes
> How to Turn Murphy’s Law into Your Advantage > Kingsley Asuamah
> Keep Your “Big Dick Energy” Away > Louis K
> Do You Tango? Distinguishing the Dance of Leadership > MAGDALENA PONURSKA
> Falling Off a Bike Is a Spiritual Experience > Marlane Ainsworth
> “Thoughts and Prayers”: We Don’t Know Anything About Empathy! > Martha Manning, Ph.D.
> Coming Face To Face With Tragedy > Michael Holford
> 9 Ways to Improve Your Quality of Life > Nancy Wilson
> What I Read This Week — The Highlights > Nicole Dake
> How To Write a Good CV Or Resume > O?uz Acar
> Your Personality, an Ever-Evolving Painting > Paul Chatelain
> How to Find Your Own Definition of Success and Fulfillment > PixelTree
> AI Love: A New Way to Connect or a Threat to Our Humanity? > Pranath Fernando | AI Consultant
> Does the Wealthy Person’s Joke Always Amuse? It Depends… > Professor António Francisco
> 37% Rule — Rule of exclusive power in decision-making > Quantum Thinker
> Never Let Anything Occupy You From Working For The Hereafter — For Indeed The Time Is Short: > S.a.n.a.h
> My Chairlift Adventure > Sam Writes
> All These Videos of Law Enforcement Overdosing From Fentanyl Exposure Are All Fake. > Shame on Us
> I Forgot One > Shlee
> Tale of an Alzheimer’s Patient > Shuvranil Sanyal
> Are You Stuck In The Complacency Trap? > Silva Mirovics
> The Most Important Skill Nobody Taught You > Singh Bhai
> 7 habits to develop a growth mindset > Sonali Yadav
> 3 Business Lessons I Learnt from My Father’s Mistakes > Sumanpreet Kaur
> I rubbed the officer the wrong way > SURYASH KUMAR
> A Pilgrim’s Journey > Terry Allen
> The Intricacies of Tourette’s Syndrome > Tom Kane
> Unlocking the Multifaceted Benefits of Progressing Your Career > Tser Dennis
> How to Understand Your Audience in Public Speaking > Ugur Akinci
> A Taste of a Childhood Pastry: Duckanoo a Childhood > Velvetstar64
> The 4 Simple Signs That Something Is Dangerously Addictive (And Why P*rn is The Most Dangerous… > Victor Correra
> BYD, Defeat Tesla > VIKAS
> Should You Get An Electric Toothbrush? > Vishnu Vijayan
> Tired of mediocrity? Try This Instead > Wayne Basinger
Thank you for engaging with these wonderful stories.
Quick Updates for Highlights of Our Publications
ILLUMINATION-Curators have introduced some newly boosted stories, and I believe you will discover some great reads within that collection. Collection of Boosted Stories from ILLUMINATION Publications — V2
Dr. Yildiz inspired our readers to become Friends of Medium by upgrading his main profile, and I hope many join him on this inspiring journey. Celebrating My Reading Anniversary with My Upgraded Subscription to New Medium Friendship
Boost Education:
I have initiated a new series aimed at helping writers reach greater heights in their literary endeavors. Dr. Yildiz was the grand opener for this series, and I’m excited to put as many writers in the spotlight as possible. Your feedback on these stories would be invaluable—let’s collaborate and make them shine! I will do this for every boosted writer as soon as I have the opportunity. Here is Episode 2 featuring the boosted stories of Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D. Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #2 and Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #1. You can learn more about Matt's background through this interview: An Interview with Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D.
Recently, I welcomed several new writers and look forward to their contributions in upcoming collections. You can get to know them from the attached post, along with their profiles for easy follow-up. More writers will be added later today as many applications are coming in. Announcement of New Writers for ILLUMINATION #28 and #27.
For newcomers and writers alike, I also made the leap to become a Friend of Medium (FoM). Starting now, the stories I read from other authors will earn them four times what they previously earned. Details are in the attached story: I Took the Plunge and Became a Friend of Medium (FoM) Yesterday.
Dr. Yildiz also wrote about this initiative, inviting our readers to become Medium Friends and support our writers. The more FoMs, the better! Importance and Value of Medium Friendship for Writers and Readers
Unfortunately, scammers have targeted his beautiful story, attempting to mislead our readers. Here’s his important message: every writer and reader must remain vigilant. They can be quite convincing! Scam and Spam Accounts on Medium Are As Bad As Hate Speech and Defamation for Writers
They attempted to do the same to me. For those who missed it, two days ago, I was thrilled that a scam account impersonating my profile was removed. If you missed the drama, you can read about it here: Breaking News: My Clone Kicked the Bucket, and I’m Gleefully Celebrating It?
How to Identify Them?
These fraudulent accounts typically have no followers and have not published any stories. They are non-members lacking star or heart icons in their profile names. Urgent Notice: Beware of Fake Accounts Impersonating Influential Writers
For gaming enthusiasts, I also wrote about the winners of 2023 for popular games, with plans to introduce some of these titles in my upcoming articles. The Winners of The Game Awards 2023 Have Been Announced
If you’re interested in crafting stories about these notable games, consider submitting them to my publication, ILLUMINATION-Gaming. I’m here to elevate your narratives, ensuring they stand out and increasing their chances of being boosted. I wrote about my goals and how I can assist our writers in ILLUMINATION Gaming Is Part of the Boost Program Now.
To inform new writers, our special publication, ILLUMINATION-Curated, is now a boost-nominating publication. Learn more about How ILLUMINATION Publications Support the BOOST Program.
I’ve compiled all my lists into one convenient story, a treasure trove of fantastic reads waiting for you. Please consider sharing the love on your socials and dive into these gems! You won’t regret it.
Shareable List Links for Curated Collections on ILLUMINATION
Dr. Mehmet Yildiz introduced a writing duo named Pernoste & Dahl. You will appreciate this introduction as he unveils the intriguing stories behind these talented writers who produce inspiring content on Medium.
Meet Pernoste and Dahl: A Writing Duo of a Neuroscientist and an Artist
ILLUMINATION editors also introduced a remarkable writer, Somil Gupta. I hope you check out his profile and explore his delightful stories.
Meet Somil Gupta on Medium
Our volunteer team is diligently working through the influx of stories, aiming to review and publish each piece while welcoming new writers into our community. It’s a labor of love that requires time and effort, and please remember that we support over 25,000 writers, as highlighted in our Monthly Updates.
If you missed this recent interview featuring Luay Rahil, here’s a link for you. His narratives may pleasantly surprise you. An Interview with Luay Rahil, MBA
For those who missed my Vocal saga, here’s the link. I hope new writers don’t replicate the mistakes I made for 18 months. Here’s How I Miserably Failed Vocal Media But Have No Regrets
ILLUMINATION-Curators compiled boosted stories in December, and you might discover some captivating tales within that collection. I chose to publish this on ILLUMINATION-Curated since our readers enjoy curated collections. Here’s their treasure trove: Collection of Boosted Stories from ILLUMINATION-Curated
ILLUMINATION-Curators wrote about an exceptional story, and I hope you get a chance to read it while paying attention to your privacy. An Exceptional Story on Privacy Every Reader May Find Helpful
Our chief editor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, upgraded our publication accounts, ILLUMINATION and ILLUMINATION-Curators, as well as his tech account, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz (Tech), making them Friends of Medium. Reading from these accounts allows writers to earn four times more. While curating stories, we read many from these accounts, making it beneficial for writers. Details can be found in Dr. Yildiz’s story: Why I Became a Friend of Medium.
Our senior editor, Mike Broadly, DHSc, joined the curation team and created new collections from his favorite stories that you may adore. He has remarkable taste as an avid reader and has already compiled seven collections in such a short time. I loved his new collection earlier today.
Mike’s Favorite Stories on ILLUMINATION Publications — #17
Please check out his collections and associated lists, and share them on your socials to help us attract more readers to Medium. Here are links to Mike’s collections: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16.
Our supportive editor, renowned nutritionist Elin Melaas, has created her second collection. Elin also developed the Invisible Series. Elin’s Chosen ILLUMINATION Stories — #2.
Additionally, our lovely editor, Surekha Chandrasekhar, created a collection for her delightful publication, ILLUMINATION’s Nutrition, which serves as our virtual kitchen. 20 Curated Stories From Illumination’s Nutrition -2023.
ILLUMINATION editors introduced several outstanding writers. You can check their profiles and explore their fantastic stories.
> Meet Seda Anbarc? > Meet Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi > Meet Jozsef Kovacs > Meet Davor Katusic > Meet Thomas Allen Moon > Meet Sneha Nagre > Meet Zondra Dos Anjos > Meet Ani Vals > Meet Ammara Hassan > Meet Sridhar Pai Tonse — Leadgen Coach- Tech Startups > Chosen Stories from Omni Essence > Editorial Profile of InYah
Our editors enjoy reading stories and nominating them for these curated collections. You can check editor profiles in this collection.
I have a passion for reading writer biographies and curating them. If you write any bio stories, please let me know so I can include them in my collection. Meet ILLUMINATION Writers from Their Personally Penned Biographies.
Dr. Mehmet Yildiz reviewed a fascinating book by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi. If you are an author, you may reach out to Dr. Yildiz, as he excels at reviews. He even wrote the foreword for my gaming book. Here’s his insightful review today: “Nobody Will Tell You This.”
As mentioned earlier, I created a Discord server for our writers to collaborate and share their story links. You are all welcome to join. We are already having a great time there. It may not be as large as our Slack group yet, but it will grow, as Discord is quite enjoyable.
Communicate and Collaborate with Writers on the Illumination Discord Server
Welcome to our new workspace, in addition to Slack, for those seeking another collaborative tool.
About Me
I write articles across various fields, focusing on gaming, filmmaking, social media, and design. I am also a YouTuber. Thank you for subscribing to my account for notifications when I post on Medium. I created a new website to share my content for free and promote stories from writers contributing to my publications on Medium. I also maintain a Substack newsletter. Let’s connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.
I manage two publications on Medium—one for video gamers and another for YouTubers and podcasters. Additionally, I support ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications as a volunteer editor and participate in collaborative activities within the Slack workspace.
Writer applications for my publications can be submitted via this weblink. Please include your Medium ID. I also enjoy email marketing using Cliqly, which is my affiliate link.