Publication practice
Writing in public, without erasing the past
Revision is part of thinking. Quietly replacing the evidence of earlier thought is not. I preserve published editions so a reader can see not only what I think now, but how and why the work moved.
The rule
First publication becomes version 1. Any later change to the substance or wording creates a new numbered edition at a permanent URL. The ordinary article URL always presents the current edition; earlier editions remain readable in full.
What the changelog must say
Each edition records why the revision was made, what changed from the prior edition, when it was published, and the source commit and checksum that identify its exact text. The explanation should expose the judgment behind the edit, not merely announce that polishing occurred.
What is not a new edition
Changes that do not alter the work itself—accessibility, typography, metadata, or delivery fixes—do not create a textual edition. When such a change materially affects who can read or discover the work, it belongs in the publication record.
Why this matters
The current version is an argument, not a verdict. Preserving the originals lets readers compare, disagree with a refinement, recover something stronger from an earlier form, and think more independently.