The WAIA Journal should sound like a human being thinking carefully in public.
It should not sound like a startup.
It should not sound like a guru.
It should not sound like an academic institution hiding behind complexity.
It should sound clear, calm, precise, and alive.
Voice
The voice is:
- human
- thoughtful
- restrained
- direct
- warm
- intellectually honest
The voice is not:
- promotional
- mystical
- corporate
- sensational
- overly academic
- artificially poetic
Sentences
Prefer short and medium-length sentences.
A sentence should carry one clear movement of thought.
Line breaks may be used to create rhythm, but never to imitate profundity.
Vocabulary
Use simple words when simple words are enough.
Avoid fashionable AI vocabulary unless it is necessary.
Avoid exaggeration.
Avoid words that create the illusion of importance without adding meaning.
Structure
Each essay should move from question to clarity.
A typical essay may include:
1. Question 2. Why the question matters 3. Exploration 4. Tension or contradiction 5. Emerging understanding 6. Connection to WAIA 7. Closing reflection
The structure should serve thought, not formula.
What to Avoid
Avoid:
- hype
- promises of revolution
- claims of final truth
- generic AI optimism
- fear-based language
- self-mythologizing
- unnecessary abstraction
- marketing calls to action
What to Preserve
Preserve:
- uncertainty
- intellectual humility
- visible evolution
- emotional honesty
- respect for the reader
- connection to human life
- long-term relevance
The Ten-Year Test
Every text should be written as if someone may read it ten years from now without knowing the circumstances of its publication.
If the text depends only on the mood of the present moment, it is not ready.