Section 1.1: The Importance of Boosted Stories

Boosted stories tend to generate higher earnings compared to non-boosted content, making our efforts worthwhile.

Dr. Mehmet Yildiz shared links to some of his boosted stories to inspire non-members to join Medium. He encourages other authors to create similar collections and post them on ILLUMINATION-Curated or other publications.

Friend Links to My Sample Boosted Stories for Non-Members of Medium.com

Thank you for taking the time to read and share these unique stories focused on health and wellness, which resonate with a wide audience.

Section 1.2: Common Questions About Boosting

Dr. Yildiz addresses vital questions in a must-read piece for those looking to increase their chances of boosting their stories.

The Boost on Medium: Addressing Common Questions for Beginners

Since its inception, the Boost initiative has provided hope to writers. However, it remains in its pilot phase, and we continue to navigate its challenges.

Boost Education

I began showcasing writers by analyzing their stories and educating our authors about common patterns that lead to boosts. I have several drafts ready for posting soon. Here are the four episodes in this enlightening series:

• Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #1 by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
• Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #2 by Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D.
• Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #3 by Joan Naidorf
• Lessons Learned from Boosted Stories — Episode #4 by Jozsef Kovacs

Mike and I also curate non-boosted stories. Notably, 99% of drafts submitted to our publications are not boosted, yet many are just as strong, if not stronger, depending on reader preferences.

Despite our efforts, sometimes even exceptional stories do not receive boosts. For instance, last month, nine outstanding stories I nominated were unanimously voted down by senior editors. While this can be disheartening, I want to emphasize the challenges faced by hardworking editors and boost nominators.

To nominate those nine stories, I reviewed over 300 submissions, edited them, and crafted compelling pitches, yet my attempts to persuade the curators were unsuccessful. I remain committed to advocating for well-crafted narratives to gain recognition on this platform, as our Medium community deserves high-quality, insightful content.

Although it may seem trivial, none of my stories have been boosted in the last two months, which contrasts with my luck in earlier months. Perhaps my writing has declined. Mike thought one of my stories deserved a boost and humorously addressed this in a piece enjoyed by our older readers.

A Friendly Open Letter to the Medium Algorithm Who Got Too Discriminatory Recently

Please Stop Censoring Our Wonderful Gaming Stories, Especially for the Elderly Who Need Them Most!

For those who missed it, here’s the latest episode of my curated collection for non-boosted stories. I’ve completed 165 episodes thus far, which require substantial time to compile.

Look What Aiden Found Today — Episode #165

This collection features my favorite reads along with community-nominated pieces tailored for avid readers of ILLUMINATION Publications.

Mike's Favorite Stories on ILLUMINATION Publications — #144

This highlights engaging narratives that you may find enjoyable.

I also compile lists of stories I read for easy sharing. Please consider distributing this list on your social media to attract more readers.

Look What Aiden Found Today for Sharing

Our editors also showcase specific stories, whether individually or collectively. For instance, our senior editor Mike Broadly, DHSc, featured three stories last week, as he enjoys amplifying impactful narratives.

• Breast Cancer: Why Every Woman (& Man) Should Read This Empowering Story
• Why and How to Support Women in Tech and in Other Male-Dominated Sectors
• A Disturbing Trend: The Global Push for Regression

Mike also enjoys introducing writers from his publication, Health & Science. Recently, he introduced:

Meet Naya Monroe on My Health & Science Publication on Medium.com

A postgraduate researcher in behavioral/mental healthcare.

Meet Dr. Adam Tabriz, MD, on Health & Science Publication of ILLUMINATION

Introducing contributors of my new publication who give voice to health science researchers and practitioners.

In addition, Dr. Tabriz has volunteered to be an editor for ILLUMINATION and has established a new publication called Integrated Healthcare.

Like me, Mike creates curated collections for non-boosted stories. He is even curating older pieces, as they often struggle to attract views. We have observed that the algorithm tends to overlook older stories, which is why we feature them to draw new readers.

Here’s a satirical and humorous collection by Mike that entertains while introducing exceptional stories and platform updates.

Does Medium Still Flirt with X?

Another dedicated editor, The Sturg, has also started curated collections. Please check out his excellent work.

The Sturg’s Illumination Editorial Picks: Third Edition

Sturg is a publication owner and a boost nominator who is currently taking a break from editorial responsibilities due to his active involvement.

ILLUMINATION-Curators occasionally curate stories for the ILLUMINATION Reading Club. Here’s the latest installment.

ILLUMINATION Reading Club #9

This features selected stories from writers within the Illumination Integrated Publications for enthusiastic readers.

After this brief overview, let me present you with our boosted stories from May.

List of Boosted Stories for May 2024

1. The True Science Behind the Health Benefits of Time-Restricted Eating, Including 23 Quality Clinical Trials by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
2. Mr. K: Looking Beyond What We See by Bertrand Liang, MD PhD
3. How a Silent Heart Disturbance May Signal You Have Sleep Apnea by David Mokotoff, MD
4. Through Exile I Reinvented Myself by Rebecca Ruth Gould, PhD
5. The World Is Concerned About Low Birth Rates by Adelia Ritchie, PhD
6. 7 Reasons Why You Aren’t Losing Weight with Exercise by Michael Esco, PhD
7. Social Synchrony: Strengthening Social Bonds at Home, Work, and Community by Wayne Stelk, PhD
8. New Discoveries From the Largest-Ever Study of Unhealthy Times to Eat by Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D.
9. Should You Bring Your Own Container? by Dr. Julian Barkan
10. Exploring the Humanity Behind the Zeigarnik Effect by Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW
11. How Many Cigarettes Are in a Bottle of Wine? by Lauren Grawert, MD
12. Can Smoking Weed Help Your Depression? by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi
13. My Attention Disorder Makes Me a Better Therapist by Naya Monroe, MA, LCDC-I
14. How the Doctor Became the Difficult Patient by Joan Naidorf
15. Intimacy: A Way to Reconcile Relationships by Kenneth Silvestri
16. Cannes, Mon Amour: The French Film Festival is a Beautiful Circus! by Karen Goldfarb
17. Never Underestimate the Power of Chance in Shaping Medical Diagnoses by David Mokotoff, MD
18. The Doctor Told Me I Have Morton’s Neuroma by Bebe Nicholson
19. Cultural Treasures and Coastal Pleasures: A Special Cyprus Travel Diary by Jozsef Kovacs
20. How Seeing “Civil War” Made Me a Tragic Optimist by Jan M Flynn
21. How I Learned to Love Interviewing Job Candidates by Lisa Bage
22. Effective Treatments for Depression by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi
23. Tips For Dating a “Crazy Horse Girl” by Sean Kernan
24. The Healing Power of Color in Nature by Rebecca Romanelli
25. The Art of Killing Your Darlings with Impunity by Tejus Yakhob
26. Am I Falling for Misinformation Out of Laziness? by Regina Clarke
27. And Now, It Is Time for the Sauce by Peter Sassi
28. Public Speaking As a Booster for Life by Davor Katusic
29. I Immersed Myself in the Manosphere — Here’s What I Learned by Holly Paige
30. Reflecting on the Love I Shared with My Mother by Sumera Rizwan
31. Do Mediterranean Countries Follow the Mediterranean Diet? by David Mokotoff, MD
32. It’s the 70th Anniversary of the Brown v. Board Decision by William Spivey
33. When I Rebuilt My Life, I Built a Cathedral by John Clark — The Voice of Courage
34. How This Mom Fail Made Me a Better Doctor by Joan Naidorf
35. The History of the American Medical Association and Its Legacy of Racism and Misogyny by William Spivey
36. The Principal Goes Back to School: Lesson #1 by Donn K. Harris
37. Are We Destined To Become Our Parents? by Sean Kernan
38. How the Industrialization of Medicine Is Fueling the Growth of Concierge Medicine by David Mokotoff, MD
39. From Dreamer to Doer: How to Help Your Child Thrive by Gabriela Trofin-Tatár
40. Think like an Investor: Finding the Right Job for You and Other Big Life Decisions by Sarah Cordivano
41. 11 Psychology Terms You Might Have Been Using Wrongly by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi
42. Sifting Through the Madness for the Word, The Line, the Neigh: The Society of the Horseman’s Word by Lance R. Fletcher
43. If Not Friend, Why Friend Shaped? by Isabel Villasmil, MRes.
44. Don’t Call Me ‘Special Needs,’ And Other Ableist Words You May Be Using by Annika Hotta
45. Memorial Day: The Uncomfortable Holiday by John Egelkrout
46. A Small American Town and the Future of Homelessness by Jay M E

Boosted Stories By Nomination on April 2024

1. Why the Fool Became My Lifelong Companion by Rebecca Romanelli
2. Relationship Idolatry by Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW
3. The One Number You Need to Know If You Have Congestive Heart Failure by David Mokotoff, MD
4. The Mark Fuhrman Tapes and the OJ Simpson Trial by William Spivey
5. Pro-Israel Groups Tried to Get Me Fired by Rebecca Ruth Gould, PhD
6. You Can’t Spell “Divisive” Without DEI by Steve QJ
7. In the Age of Instant Information, We Need Slow Media by Mike Grindle
8. If the Moon Could Love Again by Pernoste & Dahl
9. The Ecology of Anger: The Most Misinterpreted Emotion by Dr. Kenneth Silvestri
10. Eavesdropping in New York by Martin D. Hirsch
11. This Is Your Life as a Police Officer in America by Joshua Mason
12. How I Learned About Class Structure by Lisa Duffy-Korpics
13. We Needed a Study to Say Lunchables Aren’t Healthy? by Dr. Julian Barkan
14. Prediction AI Is Coming. Are You (and the World) Ready? by Wayne Stelk, PhD
15. What Out-of-Body Experiences Taught Me About Reality by Vic Shayne
16. Let’s Talk About Depression by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi
17. Valuable Experiences I Gained After 10+ Years of Working With Mentors by Davor Katusic
18. What Can Doctors Do When Patients Disagree? by Joan Naidorf
19. The Many Faces of Dopamine by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi
20. How to Build a Business Around What You Love by Susie Winfield
21. Embracing the Maverick: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Acceptance by John Walter
22. Racism in College Athletics: How Do We Respond to Its Presence? by William Spivey
23. Channeling the Experience of a Third Culture Kid by Sean Kernan
24. Are You Living a Secondhand Spiritual Life? by Vic Shayne
25. Have Doctors Stopped Listening to Their Patients? by Joan Naidorf
26. Why Don’t Today’s Journalists Ask More Questions? by Bebe Nicholson
27. Is Democracy the Best Form of Government for America? by William Spivey
28. 1972: A Visitor at Coral Gables High by Matthew Bamberg
29. Alice in the Hundred Aker Woodland by Pernoste & Dahl
30. Doctor, My Eyes: My Mystery Illness by Douglas Kwon
31. My Grandfather Didn’t Trust Banks. Now, Digital Banking Makes People Feel the Same Way. by George “Ace” Acevedo
32. How Did We Become Identified with a Body Instead of Consciousness? by Vic Shayne
33. Beyond Circumstance: The Unseen Journey of Homelessness by Joellyn Rose Keener, Author of Deaf and Determined
34. Solo Travel Isn’t Easy — That’s What Makes It So Worth Doing by Vincent Van Patten
35. Glimpses of My First Trip to Armenia by Maya Kislykh
36. Why Singles Should Beware of “Foodie Calls” by Sean Kernan
37. The Habit of Looking ‘Out There’ by Vic Shayne
38. How I Discovered the Secret to Giving Feedback in the Workplace by Lisa Bage
39. The Psychology of Superstition by Dr. Emmanuel Ogamdi
40. Stopping Disgust from Undoing American Civility by Sean Kernan
41. If Life Is an Illusion, Is Your Life Meaningless? by Vic Shayne

Organically Boosted Stories of Our Chief Editor and Boost Nominator Dr. Mehmet Yildiz in April 2024

1. Perfect Storm in a Teacup: Can Intermittent Fasting Increase Heart Disease Risk by 91%?
2. Dyslipoproteinemia: Why an Abnormal LPIR Score Might Be a Valuable Indicator of Heart Disease
3. Emerging Concerns of Elevated Uric Acid on Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Impotence, & Dementia
4. GLP1-RAs: After Diabetes, Tirzepatide & Semaglutide Give Hope for Osteoarthritis & Dementia Patients.
5. Why Gaslighting Matters in the Healthcare Sector & How to Deal with It Effectively

Boosted Stories in March 2024

1. The Answered Prayer by Shayla Renee
2. Nuances of Serotonin Syndrome: Experts Warrant Caution for Elevated Serotonin Levels by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
3. A Movie Maker’s Oscar Predictions by Aiden (Illumination Gaming)
4. The Cardiology Procedure That Revolutionized the Way We Treat Heart Attacks by David Mokotoff, MD
5. Do Morals Need Religion? Ask Your Pre-Verbal Toddler by Wayne Stelk, PhD
6. 3 Ways the Drama Triangle Shows Up in Narcissistic Abuse by Melissa Kalt, MD
7. Our Memoirs Are Unlimited Variations on a Theme by Martha Manning, Ph.D.
8. How “Black Swan Events” Change Your Life — for Good and Bad by Brian Feutz
9. A Heartfelt Tribute to Akira Toriyama’s Worldwide Legacy by Idzard
10. Musicals Had a Strange Effect on My Offbeat Family by Rebecca Romanelli
11. Neurocomputing: Brain Organoid Reservoir Computing Brings Hope to Solving NeuroHIV & Cognitive Disorders by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
12. Horrific Childhood Fears from the ’80s That Never Happened by Sharon Meyers
13. How to Build an FPV Combat Drone to Defend Your Country by Dmytro Sazonov
14. My Father Taught Me to Swim by Lisa Duffy-Korpics
15. The Striking Adverse Effects of Night Light Exposure on Mental Health by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
16. What Do Mystical Experiences Imply? by Vic Shayne
17. The Expression/Mutation Impacts of the Longevity Genes Klotho, FOXO3, SIRT1, APOE, BRCA by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
18. Have You Heard About Obelisks? by Rich Sobel
19. 10 Easy Steps for Better Travel Photos by Silviu-Florin Salomia
20. The Power of Converting Empathy Into Compassion by Sean Kernan
21. How to Be a More Data-Driven Manager in 3 Easy Steps by Lisa Bage
22. β-Hydroxybutyrate: 2 Vital Roles of Ketogenesis in the Brain for Dementia Prevention/Treatment by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
23. My First Game Jam Was Stressful But Also Awesome by Justin Boyette
24. Unusual Challenges Leading to Successes in Print-on-Demand Services by Jozsef Kovacs
25. The Truth Is Simple and Simply Stated, So Why Is There Endless Discussion? by Vic Shayne
26. A Special Forces Soldier Taught Me How Leadership Works in Three Words by Joshua Mason
27. Can Doctors Prevent Complications? by Joan Naidorf
28. Nine Small Ways to Consider Angels by Pernoste & Dahl
29. Saving the Last Virgin Forests of Europe from a Photographer’s Perspective by Silviu-Florin Salomia
30. Why Should We Care About Fungi As Much As Bacteria or Viruses by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
31. Documenting Social Issues New Deal Style by Matthew Bamberg
32. You Can’t Find a Coloured Crayon in an Empty Tin by Gill McCulloch
33. Oscar Season is My Favorite Time of Year in My Scene to Screen Class by Denise P King
34. When Religion Collides With Politics, Frozen Embryos Feel the Heat by Wayne Stelk, PhD
35. Sleep Regulation: Neurobiology of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
36. The “Win-Win Volley” in Sustainable Relationships by Kenneth Silvestri
37. Why Medical Doctors Should Write More and Consider Creative Writing Too by Dr. Julian Barkan
38. Transgender People: Everything I Ever Wanted to Know About Them But Was Afraid to Ask by Martin D. Hirsch
39. Balding and the Plight of Male Body Positivity by Sean Kernan
40. Biochemistry of Ketosis Simplified with Nuanced Perspectives and Personal Experiences by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
41. When Cultures Clash in the Emergency Room by Joan Naidorf
42. The Origin and Evolution of Black Comic Book Characters by William Spivey
43. The Primal Thought of ‘I am’ by Vic Shayne
44. Xenotransplantation: First Pig Kidney Transplant in a 62-Year-Old Man by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
45. Palliation by Edward Swafford
46. Culture Is Everyone’s Responsibility at Work by Lisa Bage
47. How Xbox’s Video Game, Skate, Helps My Special Needs Son Safely Navigate His Environment by Alexandra Christensen
48. Is Sleep Tourism Your Key to Better Rest? by Suzanne E.
49. Vibrant Synaesthesia: The Inner Workings of a Color-Drenched Brain by Donn K. Harris
50. Finding Reciprocal Love After Failing at Relationships by Holly Paige
51. Perspectives from Programmatic Architecture by Matthew Bamberg
52. I Made Over $500,000 by Writing on the Internet — Here Are 50 Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Sooner by Sinem Günel