A Note to Writers

Before diving into the details, we ask that you read this article thoroughly. Often, we receive submissions that indicate the guidelines were not carefully considered. Please avoid being that writer!

Additionally, make sure to review the private notes, particularly those marked by "AI." This refers to my Python script that handles basic editing tasks. Take your time with the AI's notes; it's important to read each sentence closely. Sometimes, multiple actions are required, and repeating these notes can be tedious.

Quality Standards at Brain Labs

Our standards are quite high—higher than those of many other publications. We expect well-crafted, concise writing, along with a strong emphasis on rigor. If you lack extensive writing experience, getting published here may be challenging. To prepare yourself, consider reading one or both of these essential guides before submitting:

1. "On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction"
2. "The Elements of Style"

How to Submit Your Work

Please submit your articles in the same manner as you would to other Medium publications. To join Brain Labs as a writer, simply comment on this article with your Medium handle. Also, don't forget to follow Brain Labs—your support is appreciated!

Examples of Our Preferred Style

People tend to learn best through examples. Here’s a sample of the type of article we aim to publish. While your tone may differ, the content should be rich with ideas!

Is Diversity A Problem?

Exploring the complexities of the diversity culture war.

But that’s not all! We’re also open to articles that clarify how complex systems function—especially those we often take for granted.

A Window to an Industry You Probably Know Nothing About

What Is Building Automation?

What We Are Looking For

We welcome your insights and expertise on a variety of topics, including but not limited to hard sciences, social sciences, politics, law, economics, technology, media, healthcare, business, the environment, history, the arts, language, culture, education, philosophy, spirituality, religion, and sports. We love pieces that intersect these disciplines.

Please note that we prioritize thought-provoking articles over "how-to" guides, such as "how to start a new business" or "how to clean your hard drive."

Expectations for Your Submission

• Clear, grammatically correct expository writing.
• Logically sound arguments supported by citations as needed, used to substantiate your claims rather than summarize others' ideas.
• Visuals like comics, graphics, charts, and images to enhance your arguments are welcome.
• Humor is appreciated but not mandatory.
• We are particularly interested in counterintuitive ideas supported by data.

What to Avoid

We do not publish:

• Fiction or poetry.
• Travelogues.
• Overly academic language.
• Colloquialisms such as “Now, let’s consider...”
• Content that is racist, homophobic, or gender-biased.
• AI-generated text (though AI graphics are acceptable if labeled).
• Previously published articles.
• Unedited submissions—while minor errors are acceptable, we expect a thorough editing process from you.
• Rants lacking logical structure.
• Clickbait titles; we seek substance over sensationalism.
• Articles focused on the Medium platform.

Formatting Guidelines

Please include the following in your submission:

• A title (formatted as “Big T” in the editor) in title case.
• A subtitle (formatted as “Little T” in the editor) in sentence case.
• A featured image, ideally accompanying the subtitle.
• Alt-text for images is strongly recommended.
• Submissions should be between 750 and 4000 words. For longer articles, ensure you have a clear structure. Avoid lengthy pieces that lack editing—writing is sculpting, and every word should count.

We utilize an automated editing tool controlled by a Python script to catch basic errors. However, the final edit will be performed by a human—because we believe in the human touch!

Final Thoughts

We enjoy the editing process and aim to share our knowledge about crafting clear expository prose. Nonetheless, it is crucial for writers to self-edit rigorously before submission. Tools like Grammarly or Hemingway can help identify basic errors.

Many submissions we receive are verbose; lean prose is our gold standard. Challenge yourself to cut unnecessary words without sacrificing clarity.

To illustrate, consider this previous sentence: "In order to" is flabby; it could simply read, "To."

How many words can you eliminate while maintaining precision?

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The following video discusses effective strategies for capturing and organizing knowledge using digital notes, a crucial skill for writers and researchers alike.

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