A Heartfelt Conversation with Joanie Adams, Who Said Farewell to Medium
An accomplished prose and poetry writer, consulting editor of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications
I published this interview on Medium and my website, too, for further visibility. Please feel free to engage in the platforms you read this story.
Dear readers, in this new interview episode, I will introduce you to an accomplished writer, editor, and avid reader.
I came across authentic, insightful, and inspiring stories of Joanie Adams several years ago and invited her to be an editor for my publications. She graciously accepted the role and supported these publications.
Due to her literary capabilities, I assigned her the senior editorial and curation role of my former beloved ILLUMINATION-Curated publication, which I had to close due to some unexpected situations causing me to resign from the boost program, and had to rebrand it as Curated Newsletters to support authentic writers better.
After these situations, like several senior editors, Joanie decided to resign from her publishing roles and left Medium, deleting her account and hundreds of beautifully crafted stories and poems, some even being boosted. 😢I felt very sorry for these talented writers and volunteer editors.
I respected her choice, and she remained as a consulting editor to support us in challenging situations. She still continues to support us through our Slack Workspace and through Substack. Our editors created a profile for her in the past.
Today, I decided to interview and introduce her to you because she is an accomplished writer and editor whose work I deeply admire. I invite interested readers to follow her on other platforms. Thank you for exploring her stories and supporting her writing journey.
I’d like to point out that for new writers or some readers, certain words or phrases from Joanie might seem unusual. However, these are not grammar mistakes; they are stylistic choices, as Joanie is a proficient literary writer who plays with language to add deeper meaning.
G’day Joanie, Tell us a bit about your background.
Good day to you, Mehmet, and your audience!
I began my venture in a time long since passed, as a child I always toyed with ideas and stories. Creating my own with my figures and animal toys. So as I grew into the person you have before today, I always was intent in melding the greatest type of stories. When I was but a wee adolescent, I used to create my own animations, in the stop-motion method. They never truly succeeded, but I was captivated by the mere possibility of it all. So I knew I had the task to be a story-teller. I never was schooled in any formal-setting, all I know is what I was taught by the world, and how I received and used that knowledge.
During those same early years of mine, I one day started to draw, mostly other animals, in a realistic form. I wanted to capture what I saw. The years went on and I progressed naturally with this captivity for this art. I still draw to this day, as it reaches something particular which I need, and I hope to translate onto this here world. Animation too, persists with me to this day, professionally and personally.
Then I began to write; I didn’t start out to write Prose or Poetry or anything of that kind. In fact, I began writing songs, and I did throughout my teenage years until my twenties. But I then got sidetracked, distracted as you will, and the old itch for stories beyond a simple form came over me. So my songs transformed into Poems set to music, and the need for Good Poetry from my own hand came. Then I met a very fine lady who convinced me of the need for Prose in me. I had been writing Prose for some time at that point, but something in her inspired that great need in me which is currently persisting.
So you can say I’m a person born out from the world, rather born in it.
Of course, I prospect in other professions, all as a freelancer, as I cannot abide someone ruling over me in an arbitrary manner. Especially not in our current state of the world and business.
Video-editing, Creative Consultation, or whatever polished name I give it, I do. As well sound-design and playing musical instruments. So I’m rather collective all to a similar ends: that is of telling a grand story. So I’m always after that — searching, listening, waiting.
So to briefly answer you, I’m a self-made free-lancer intent in telling the best stories told in the best manner possible.
What do health and well-being mean to you?
To perceive and hear the world; to move around in it, and feel the glow of sun on my back. To feel the breeze of wind on my skin. That is what Health means to me.
To have that common privilege which so goes unnoticed or underappreciated.
To live as much as nature can abide me.
Because health can go so fast; we can go so fast. So fast that we never appreciate
These tiny wonders around us. The divine feeling of Nature.
Without Good Health, I’d doubt I could even perceive it anymore.
What are your hobbies or what excites or entertains you?
To no surprise, like my collective professional life, my interests elsewhere are numerous and vast.
One day I could be visiting a good play, the other, observing living, real people hereabouts. To another, where I may be simply going for a long walk.
Or taking a day as holistic as possible. I adore my friends, whenever I can be with them, it is of truest pleasures I can feel.
And on some other day, I kid myself I’m Anni-frid Lyngstad and sing my heart out. Or at the very least, play a jaunty tune on my Piano or other instruments.
What are the top three books that affected your life?
The Divine Comedy — The Complete Works Of Shakespeare — and a volume of the works of Abraham Lincoln.
These three works really have set the foundation of my inner, moral life, as well as how I live with this world of ours.
I dare not to explain myself further, as I do hope to keep this interview brief!
Why did you join Medium?
I must answer this in the past-tense, as I used to write on Medium. But I no longer do so, as I cannot believe in their service anymore.
I began writing on Medium when I started to seriously consider myself as a Prose writer. It was always a springboard for me, to form ideas in a new way, on that particular platform and all its boundaries.
That last part, of boundaries, was the most important thing I took away from using the Medium Platform. And how we go about, writing on the Web.
Do you write on other platforms like Substack? If so, how do you find them?
Substack, yes, I do indeed. It has become my new springboard. Few platforms have myself, my friend Estella Rua, and John Cleese writing on it.
I wished I had begun my Substack venture in earnest sooner.
I only recently began my Publication on it: The Virgin Press. I prefer to have an email list, then having the whims of a platform of Medium. Now, instead, my audience can decide what they wish to read from me, all in their usual busyness of their lives.
I’m always on the search for other Platforms wherein I can thrive and do my usual maleficence. I never take these Platforms too seriously. As I reserve being published in Highly-regarded Publications or in Physical Print as an attestment to a Writer’s quality and why they have written at all.
Efforts maketh the real might.
What are your values as a writer?
Sincerity, as so many writers write in manners and on things that they truly don’t care for. Like many who work in this wide world. You take what you can get at times — making do.
But within their heart of hearts, that earnest passion remains, I believe for some, it can seep out. Even through the things one finds displeasurable.We all wear a face for the world, and have many faces for the many people we know.But if it is done with heart and sincerity, then at the very least, that person can bear those unagreeable things till something more worthwhile comes along.
Here is hoping.
Honesty, I’m asking for a writer to tell, all of the time, as that would be exhaustive, and cumbersome. Rather, it is in the manner how we deal with things. Many in a crisis panic, and may say whatever comes to their mind. Not a thing I can recommend. Or when someone is ill or dies, they usually say I’m So Sorry, etc… The usual commonplace sayings.
So what I mean by honesty is how we handle ourselves in those surprises. For myself, I try to remain calm in chaotic situations, because honestly to my thought, what good is there to panic? Then we would all be flapping our arms around in fright! And someone is ill or dies, I don’t default on those commonplace sayings, as I know these things very well. So I try to give an honest reaction. Even if it is saying nothing, or giving a heart-felt consolation. I must be honest in such events.
And I try to judge that by my experience.
I had another principle I wanted to speak of, but I do go on. So I’ll have to cut off my answer there.
How do you connect with your readers?
I always aspire to talk to an individual, rather a whole crowd. For how I, in all my presumptuous powers, can possibly guess what all these individuals want or feel?
How can anyone truly speak to more than one person at once?
One must be humble there, so when I wish to talk to my readers per se, as the sole concern of writing is communication, I always imagine a dear friend in my mind, though depending on the needed tone, it may not always be a dear friend I think of.
But it is upon the manner of speaking to an individual, as that can be the hardest thing to do. As you’re one-on-on, close-up, and there is no one else one can make a tangent or joke to and procrastinate things.
You have to be direct and honest when you’re speaking in such a way, as lies often fall through.
Why did you join ILLUMINATION and how do you find it so far?
It is superb, absolutely. Gives me an insight in how a Publication is managed.
I was kindly given the role as a Main-Editor on various publications of theirs on Medium. But since leaving Medium, I of course had to rescind those roles. I also remain with them viva Substack now.
I cannot recall the precise manner how I became acquainted as a whole, or the team behind it and their kind owner, who also is graciously offering me this interview. But I’m glad about their part in my Medium venture. Perhaps my most favorable thing I took away from that whole experience.
Who are some writers you follow on Medium or Substack?
I must continue with my personal joke of always recommending Estella Rua, regardless of what platform she or me are on. I must! I must.
As I wholeheartedly believe in her.
A Writer on Substack I coud recommend is the Lutheran Chronicles. To my recent eye I have on them, they do an earnest job on this subject.
I unfortunately don’t spend much time reading others on either platform.
Expect for the odd post of John Cleese I may see — whom I must recommend.
But since I have exposed myself, I will try to read more good reads on these two platforms.
What are your top five stories that you want to share with your audience and why?
It is a shame many of best work is not Published, in Hardbook or in digital form.
I have cleverly held off doing this interview for a week or two now, as I have been busy trying to sort out my Publication on Substack.
But let me choose these five for now:
Words To The New Writer; Writing To Be — The Happening Madness — In The Beginning We Are So Gloriously Naïve
As I am tired of the usual manner advice for Writing is presented. Too much jargon, too many slogans. And usually all with a high-price tag. So this is my public refutation of that method. An Honest inspection. My method within this happening madness.
The Thankful Departure Of Medium — From A Writer & Editor
For those who are interested further in my reasons why I left Medium.
I Gander A Chaste Sea — Journeyman’s Poems
For those who wish to seek my poetry — this was an older Poem of mine, a part of a larger collection, a larger story of poetry, that I made some changes to recently.
Earnest as I can be in expressing what I said.
The Launch Of The Virgin Press — For Substance, Sincerity, & Worth
For those who wish to understand what my particular Publication is for.
At least in its current state, and how we go forth from here.
London By William Blake — A Reading By Myself
And finally, a Poetry Reading by myself, for those who wish to know of my other qualities. Especially in how I present a piece, such as a Poem or Play.
What are the success factors for you as a writer?
Getting myself out there in the places I ought to be. For there is a time and place for everything, and I need to get myself in those particular instances for me to be seen and heard. Whether through the web or in person. I must put myself out there, like the grand-playwright I need to be.
What do you recommend to the new writers?
Always remind yourself of Why. Why do I do, what I do, and do I have to do what I must? Why is the most potent word as a scriber of Words and their Ideas.
Why is perfect word, in all its simplicity, to remind yourself. And if that doesn’t work, live in the moving out there, and be of a practical use to others, if one cannot find the why for themselves.
What are your plans as a writer or as a professional?
I have many tomes I’m writing currently which I hope to get published. I have a Prose work under the name of St. John, a novel of grand proportion. I have too in the works a Chapbook of Poetry: Journeyman’s Poems. Which that Gander Sea Poem may be included in. I hope much for that.
Books and Discourses on the Histories and Philosophy I hope to publish, somewhere, and sometime soon!
With me there is always something being created or melded.
I have hopes too, that I can produce a Play of mine. Though regarding the aforementioned works, that may be a few years away yet.
Many thanks to Joanie for allocating her precious time for this valuable conversation. 🙏I am grateful for her years of volunteer support and contributions to my publications. 🌹❤️🌟You can connect with her on Substack or Illumination Slack Workspace. Here is the link to her publication:
Joanie Adams | Substack
Conjurer of Words; Bard of Songs; Weaver of Plays, Assays & Lives of Dismay; Doctor of Compassion; Jacknape Of Satire…substack.com
Thank you for exploring her stories on Substack and sharing them in your network.
Unfortunately, Medium does not distribute my conversations with writers for unknown reasons. However, I no longer care about this awful situation, I move on and continue to publish them on my website, Substack, and other platforms, which get views and reads in order of magnitude.
I still honor Medium, hoping one day they care about authentic writers and prevent them from leaving this wonderful community before it gets too late. I am glad Medium now openly asks for feedback, so please consider leaving your honest feedback so that you can improve the current situation.
Health and well-being are essential to me and my readers. Therefore, I focus on it by writing and curating insights from other writers, practitioners, and thought leaders.
I am pleased our Health and Wellness Network was selected as a bestselling publication on Substack. Thank you for your wonderful support to grow this network. These funds will go to our Substack Mastery Boost Pilot program to empower writers, readers, and editors of the program who keep the community vibrant. I wrote a story about this on Medium to guide freelance writers yesterday. To celebrate this milestone, I am providing a 50% discount to free subscribers who want to support our work and help this community grow fast.
Thank you for being part of our joyful and exciting journey.
I publish my interviews with writers in the following section:
https://drmehmetyildiz.substack.com/s/interviews
For his great help with publishing my interviews on multiple platforms, many thanks to
, owner of the Illumination Gaming publication on Medium and the webmaster of illuminationgaming.com. Aiden is a brilliant media expert and shares his insights on Substack in his publication Technology, Gaming, Movies, and Social Media
This was such a soulful, layered conversation. Joanie’s voice is unlike anyone else’s—part bard, part philosopher, part craftsman. Her reflections on health as the ability to perceive the world, to feel sunlight and wind, really stayed with me. That’s not just poetic—it’s profoundly grounding.
What moved me most was her quiet rebellion against conformity. Whether discussing writing, publishing, or living with sincerity, Joanie reminds us that creativity isn’t about fitting in—it’s about remaining true in the face of noise. Her departure from Medium, while bittersweet, felt like an act of integrity. I admire how she holds space for ambiguity, for wonder, for the “happening madness” of being a writer today.
Thank you, Mehmet, for making room for voices like this. And Joanie—please keep conjuring. The world needs what only you can bring.
I miss Joanie on Medium! Glad to read this interview! look forward to read her work on Substack.