How we decide
Editorial Principles
The six-question test we apply to every publication, published so the reader can hold us to it.
We favor clarity over complexity, evidence over opinion, stewardship over novelty, and craftsmanship over speed.
1.Does this leave the reader more oriented than they arrived?
Every page answers Where am I / Why am I here / What should I do / Where next. If any answer is missing, the page is not shipping.
2.Is this at a Grade 6–8 reading level?
Specialized vocabulary appears once with a definition, then is used consistently. Sentence-length ceiling: thirty words, advisory-linted.
3.Would we still publish this if no one paid us to?
If the answer is no, we do not publish it. Money follows the editorial choice, not the other way around.
4.Can we cite every factual claim?
Every citation is registered. Broken URLs move to Archived with the original quote preserved. No unsourced facts in a publication.
5.Will this print correctly on a black-and-white laser?
If a document will not print, it does not ship. Print is the contract for the Publication.
6.Would a future caretaker be proud to inherit this?
Stewardship before ownership. Bylaw 49. Every editor is a temporary steward of Before They Build.
Leave room for the reader
Never answer every question. Never tell readers what conclusion to reach. Give enough information for people to think well.
AI usage
AI is used only in the advisory editorial linter (reading-level and sentence-length flags). No AI-generated content appears in a publication. No ambient AI assistants. No AI-authored corrections.
Signed by the Editorial Team. Version 1.0, Founder’s Edition.