The hottest Authorship Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The strange afterlife of books (NevΓ©domosti β„–4)

The Lifeboat β€’ 217 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jun 25
πŸ“š Literature Books Authorship Reviews Fiction Narrative
  1. A published book can have a surprising life after its release. It can gain new readers and interest even when the author thinks it's faded away.
  2. The role of an author doesn't end with publishing; they can also be a guardian for their work, helping it to stay relevant and connecting with readers.
  3. Readers often shape the understanding and appreciation of a book, sometimes knowing its importance better than the author does. Feedback from readers can deeply impact an author's view of their work.

New(ish) Books

Castalia β€’ 939 implied HN points β€’ 16 Jul 24
πŸ“š Literature Book Reviews Publishing Literary Criticism Authorship
  1. Honor Levy's book, 'My First Book', received harsh criticism for not living up to the hype. It's seen as lacking depth and is heavily marketed despite its flaws.
  2. Alexandre Lefebvre's 'Liberalism as a Way of Life' presents liberalism as an ethical way to live. He explores its historical roots and addresses modern challenges to liberal values.
  3. Lefebvre emphasizes the need for strong institutions to support liberalism. He believes that simply promoting good behavior isn't enough without collective action.

The secret I’ve been keeping from you

Granted β€’ 10821 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jun 23
πŸ“š Literature Books Authorship Empowerment Self-Improvement
  1. The book "Hidden Potential" by Adam Grant explores how progress is more about motivation and opportunity than talent.
  2. We all have hidden potential, and it's not just for underdogs or late bloomers, but for everyone in schools, teams, and workplaces.
  3. The focus should be on the progress made along the way towards achieving goals, not just reaching peaks.

Everything you always wanted to know about books (but were afraid to ask)

The Garden of Forking Paths β€’ 2614 implied HN points β€’ 16 Jan 24
πŸ“š Literature Writing Publishing Books Authorship Non-fiction
  1. Writing a book involves intense research and a challenging writing process.
  2. Getting a book deal can differ based on the type of publishing and requires convincing an agent and publisher.
  3. Success of a book is uncertain and depends on various factors like author platform and public outreach.

Am I cheating?

Random Minds by Katherine Brodsky β€’ 37 implied HN points β€’ 05 Feb 25
πŸ•Ή Technology AI Ethics Creative Process Collaboration Authorship
  1. Using AI to improve writing can feel like cheating for some people. It's normal to wonder where to draw the line with technology helping us.
  2. Finding a better word in a dictionary or getting feedback from a friend seems more acceptable than using an AI. It raises questions about our ideas of authorship and creativity.
  3. If AI makes suggestions that improve writing, should it get some credit? We need to think about what makes using AI different from asking a friend for help.
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An Open Elite?

Life and Letters β€’ 579 implied HN points β€’ 08 Jun 24
πŸ“š Literature Social Mobility Authorship Economic Inequality Cultural Studies
  1. Making a living as a writer is really tough nowadays. A few bestsellers make a lot of money, while most authors earn very little.
  2. Social mobility, or the ability to move up the social ladder, has often been very limited in literary history. Many writers come from wealth rather than from lower classes.
  3. Throughout history, there have been moments when more diverse writers entered the literary scene. These periods saw new genres and styles of writing emerge, reflecting changes in society.

The Road to Hell is out

Thoughts on Writing β€’ 299 implied HN points β€’ 13 May 24
πŸ“š Literature Authorship Book release
  1. The book 'The Road to Hell' examines the concept of purpose in marketing and business ethics, arguing that it often leads to bad outcomes for society.
  2. Historical events like financial crises, political u-turns, protests, and corporate actions are used to illustrate how the idea of 'purpose' has influenced business and marketing over the years.
  3. The author makes a case for a different approach in marketing and business that values creativity, cognitive empathy, humor, humility, and humanity over the concept of 'purpose'.

Musings on Martians and Minority Membership (in the Lit Mag Context)

Lit Mag News Roundup β€’ 786 implied HN points β€’ 19 Oct 23
πŸ“š Literature Fiction Writing Authorship Representation Diversity
  1. Some literary journals have policies about who can write about underrecognized groups in fiction.
  2. Editors may question the plausibility of certain characteristics or experiences of fictional characters from underrecognized groups.
  3. Gatekeeping around stories of fictional underrecognized group members raises questions about equity and creativity in literary spaces.

When a Woman Betrays a Woman

Ladyparts β€’ 499 implied HN points β€’ 05 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Authorship Betrayal
  1. Betrayals between women are complex and have societal implications beyond just personal relationships.
  2. Exploring instances of betrayal can lead to self-reflection on personal experiences of betrayal.
  3. The dynamics of betrayal can reveal underlying power structures and inequalities.

What's American Fiction Without the Short Story?

Counter Craft β€’ 578 implied HN points β€’ 15 Mar 24
πŸ“š Literature Short Stories American Literature Authorship Publishing
  1. Short stories are integral to American literature and are considered a quintessential American literary form.
  2. The declining prestige of short stories is noted, despite the vibrant and alive nature of the form in American letters.
  3. Short stories face challenges due to lack of space in magazines, minimal big publisher support, and the popularity bias towards novels.

Ernest Hemingway: Macho Cat Dad

Litverse β€’ 479 implied HN points β€’ 05 Oct 22
πŸ“š Literature Biography Criticism Authorship Writing Style
  1. Ernest Hemingway, known for his macho image, had a deep connection with cats and spent a significant part of his life breeding them.
  2. Hemingway's persona often overshadowed the complexity and sensitivity in his writing, leading to misconceptions about his work.
  3. Through his unusual interactions with cats, Hemingway's true character emerges as a blend of strength and vulnerability, challenging common perceptions of his masculinity.

Fifteen-reader books

The Leftovers β€’ 179 implied HN points β€’ 06 Nov 23
πŸ“š Literature Writing Authorship Reading
  1. Facing challenges and performing for small audiences is a common struggle for content creators like writers and comedians.
  2. Experiencing setbacks, rejections, and small turnouts is part of the writing journey. Writers often face low audience numbers and sparse attention.
  3. Writing entails persistence and understanding that obscurity and tumbleweed moments are a normal part of the process, requiring dedication and resilience.

FrΞ±ction /

Fathom β€’ 117 implied HN points β€’ 10 Dec 23
πŸ“š Literature Poetry Writing Prose Authorship Narrative
  1. The text explores a moment between a parent and child, highlighting the transition from childhood to adulthood.
  2. The child's curiosity and deep questions about life are a central theme.
  3. The concept of fractions is used metaphorically to discuss emotions like heartbreak.

Resonance

johan’s substack β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 10 Jun 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Authorship Poetry Interpretation Narrative
  1. Resonance in human-AI collaboration can create new, hybrid structures of meaning that transcend individual limitations.
  2. Resonance involves emotional connections, cognitive harmonies, and creative synergies between human and AI.
  3. Resonance blurs lines of authorship as text becomes a multi-dimensional space of shared meanings in the semioscape.

Big announcement...

Random Minds by Katherine Brodsky β€’ 238 implied HN points β€’ 11 Jul 23
πŸ“š Literature Book release Writing Freedom of Speech Censorship Authorship
  1. The author has written a book that sheds light on silencing, shaming, and bullying for different views.
  2. The book includes stories of public harassment, interviews with well-known figures, and lessons on using one's voice freely.
  3. The author encourages principled individuals to resist authoritarianism and to find and free their own voices.

How to keep writing

The Leftovers β€’ 99 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jan 23
πŸ“š Literature Writing Authorship
  1. Sharing ideas about writing with others can be a rewarding experience, even if you're not a professional writing tutor.
  2. Keeping up with the practice of writing can be difficult, but it's important to persist and find ways to continue.
  3. Engaging in informal occasions where you can share your work and ideas with an audience can be inspiring and motivating.

Bodies Bodies [A Primer]

The Author Is Dumb β€’ 6 implied HN points β€’ 07 Nov 24
πŸ“š Literature Writing Authorship Books Creative Process Personal narrative
  1. The author is working on a new book that will be written in real time and is focused on themes of faith.
  2. Unlike previous works, this book will not have a paywall, promoting access to everyone, while still appreciating paid subscribers.
  3. The style of this book might be different, potentially being more autobiographical and experimental compared to the author's other writings.

"My editor [or agent] is taking FOREVER with my edits. They keep making and breaking promises about when they'll be done with their notes. What the f*ck?"

How to Glow in the Dark β€’ 119 implied HN points β€’ 22 Feb 23
πŸ“š Literature Authorship Editing Publishing Tips
  1. Delays in getting edits from editors or agents are frustratingly common in book publishing.
  2. ESBs involve delays in receiving feedback, which can lead to distress for authors.
  3. It's important for all parties to address ESBs by understanding the underlying reasons and collaborating for corrective action.

Multi-Craft Specialized Content in the AI Era

Jakob Nielsen on UX β€’ 17 implied HN points β€’ 22 Feb 24
πŸ•Ή Technology AI Content creation UX Design Authorship
  1. AI in the media world is enhancing human creativity rather than replacing it, providing hyper-targeted content experiences by combining text, music, images, and film seamlessly.
  2. Niche content creation will dominate the future, with highly specialized and targeted content surpassing the traditional mass-market blockbusters in cumulative revenue.
  3. Automation in UI design will streamline the process, with AI editors assisting in creating user interfaces efficiently, though high usability and polished designs may still require human intervention.

The economic birth of style

On Looking β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 09 Apr 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Style Market Economy Copyright Authorship
  1. Discourses of style and copyright emerged around the same time, intertwining romantic ideas of creativity with economic and legal rights for authors.
  2. Style interacts with the market through constraints like deadlines and budgets, impacting the types of illustrations that are in demand.
  3. Understanding the economic aspects of style can empower artists in a commercial world, providing agency and prompting critical reflection on their practice.