The hottest Newsletters Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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What I learned writing 100 essays

Castles in the Sky • 52 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
📚 Literature Newsletters
  1. Keep making and sharing work even if it feels silly or small; doing it consistently changes you and can lead to real, surprising impact.
  2. A small, engaged audience can matter a lot; people will share personal stories and be genuinely affected by your writing.
  3. Personal, low‑tech gestures and thoughtful follow‑up—like handwritten notes and sincere replies—build deeper connections than impersonal, automated approaches, so act like your project matters.

The Monday Media Diet with Shannon Deep

Why is this interesting? • 965 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Newsletters
  1. Podcasts are her go-to medium — she prefers comedian-hosted shows that dig into the creative process and quieter, therapy-like narrative podcasts that explore people and cultures.
  2. She reads widely but leans toward literary craft over commercial fiction, recommending contemporary women writers like Marie-Hélène Bertino and Lisa Taddeo and currently favoring nonfiction (especially polar exploration).
  3. She curates short-form and visual media for creative inspiration — following therapists, feminists, and artists on TikTok, watching off‑beat creative competition shows, and enjoying beautifully designed apps and games.

Join my new subscriber chat

Big Tech • 1031 implied HN points • 24 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Newsletters
  1. A new subscriber chat called Big Tech subscriber chat has launched on the Substack publication.
  2. It’s a private space where subscribers can converse and connect directly.
  3. Access is limited to paid subscribers, with links provided to subscribe or sign in.

Announcing the NonZero Network

Nonzero Newsletter • 384 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
📰 News Newsletters
  1. The NonZero Network is a new effort to amplify a small group of independent, intellectually honest newsletters and podcasts so readers can more easily separate signal from noise.
  2. Paid NonZero subscribers get a 50% discount on any member newsletter for a one-year subscription, and those discount purchases are reciprocal with proceeds split evenly between NonZero and the partner newsletter.
  3. All NonZero subscribers will get a weekly curated summary of highlights from network members and a few outside picks (with an opt-out option), and founding members were chosen for their independence and underrepresented perspectives.
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My favorite articles of 2025

Maybe Baby • 524 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Newsletters
  1. A yearly roundup highlights fifteen favorite articles of the year. The selections come from reading many pieces and applying a picky, rigorous standard.
  2. The recurring "15 Things" format usually showcases exactly five articles, and it sometimes drops to four when the choices don’t meet the standard.
  3. The full post is behind a paywall and requires a paid subscription or sign‑in to read.

Why Did I Start The Ruffian and Has Paul McCartney Read My Book?

The Ruffian • 356 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Newsletters
  1. A newsletter grown from social platforms can become a sustainable, full-time project if you stick with it, move to a monetizable platform, and keep improving the product.
  2. Effective writing often isn’t the result of a rigid system: regular deadlines, saving half-ideas, and committing to a messy first draft help you find what you actually think.
  3. Singular cultural phenomena like the John‑and‑Paul partnership were tied to a specific historical moment, so today’s fragmented, niche-driven media landscape makes an equivalent global creative dominance unlikely.

Call for Subscriber Writing, December 2025

Freddie deBoer • 556 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
📚 Literature Newsletters
  1. Paying subscribers can submit links to their writing for a bimonthly roundup by using the Google Form, and the deadline is Sunday, December 7 at 10 PM EST.
  2. Submissions must be entered in the exact Markdown format requested (bolded name, bracketed title with https link, blank line, short description) or they won’t be included.
  3. This roundup is only for links to already-hosted written work (not podcasts, streams, or to post full text here), so link to a blog post, Substack, publisher page, or Amazon listing so readers can access your piece.

If you're missing the Culture Study Gift Guide....

Culture Study • 500 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Newsletters
  1. A huge Culture Study Gift Guide lives on Patreon with over 168 curated recommendations from small businesses, covering gifts, classes, jewelry, food, cards, calendars, and a special section for Canadians.
  2. There are clear steps to move subscriptions from Substack to Patreon with specific instructions for paid annual subscribers, comp subscribers, and free subscribers, plus links to submit support requests if you can’t find your transfer link.
  3. If you run into problems, Patreon support or the provided email address will help sort it quickly, and subscribers are thanked for their patience and support.

A Few Good Questions

CRAFT TALK • 2358 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
📚 Literature Newsletters
  1. Consider the value of your time and energy when starting a project.
  2. Ask yourself why you're working on a project and understand its importance.
  3. Embrace the process of creating art, even if it means facing failure before success.

Black Friday/Happy Birthday Sale 2025

Computer Ads from the Past • 256 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Newsletters
  1. Get 39% off annual plans for life if you buy a paid membership between now and December 8.
  2. If you prefer not to use Substack, you can support with one-time donations via Ko‑Fi, SubscribeStar, Cash App, PayPal, Liberpay, or Patreon.
  3. Gift subscriptions are available and on sale for the holidays, and subscribing helps support the reader-supported publication.

I'm looking for newsletters that monetize with ads

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 199 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
💼 Business Newsletters
  1. There is a new index for newsletters that want to find brands willing to advertise. It helps connect brands to various newsletters without taking a cut of the money.
  2. YouTube is becoming a popular choice for TV viewers, turning into a go-to place for casual watching. This is threatening traditional streaming services as people prefer YouTube for light viewing.
  3. NBC News is trying something new by offering a subscription that removes ads but doesn’t hide any content behind a paywall. This could change how media companies think about subscriptions.

Grow: How Mikala Jamison turned her newsletter into a book deal

Substack • 1395 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
📚 Literature Newsletters
  1. It's important to stay consistent with your writing. Keep putting out content regularly and connect with your audience.
  2. Don't stress about how many readers you have at first. Focus on writing what you love, even if it feels like no one is listening.
  3. As your audience grows, you can start charging for your content. Adjust your paywall based on the quality and value you provide over time.

The Best Tools for the Job

Market Sentiment • 1002 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
💰 Finance Newsletters
  1. The post provides a curated list of the best tools and resources for investors
  2. Various categories are covered like data sources, portfolio analysis, newsletters/blogs, short-sellers, and institutional research
  3. Tools range from financial APIs, portfolio visualizers, to newsletters and even sites for social media tracking and book downloading

Let me hand-write and mail you something. | #99

Castles in the Sky • 34 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
📚 Literature Newsletters
  1. A writer is offering to handwrite and mail a custom, postcard-sized "100th issue" if you fill a short form with your name, email, mailing address, and something on your mind; submissions are free, confidential, and open for about two weeks.
  2. The project is meant to repay readers' attention, try a new medium, and build closer connections by writing personalized notes; the writer will also resurface favorite old issues while mailing and later share photos and lessons from the process.
  3. The effort is time-limited and sized to what the writer can manage (about 1,800 subscribers and a ~30% open rate), so if too many people respond they may need to pick who to reply to; there is no cost or catch, and postage and cards are already provided.

There’s more room for niche “Morning Brew for X” newsletters

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 523 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
💼 Business Newsletters
  1. Niche newsletters are on the rise, like the 'Morning Brew for X' concept, targeting specific industries and interests. This means there are more opportunities for unique content in less-covered areas.
  2. Substack's features can help writers grow their audiences, despite some criticisms. Many have seen real engagement and subscriber growth through the platform's tools.
  3. There's a growing market for ghostwriters, as more CEOs and creators seek to produce content. This demand indicates a strong interest in professional storytelling and brand-building.

First 1000 by Ali Abouelatta

Newsletter Circle • 216 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
💼 Business Newsletters
  1. Ali Abouelatta's newsletter 'First 1000' grew from 0 to 60K subscribers in 3 years without monetization
  2. Ali Abouelatta sees his newsletter as his personal blog to find answers to questions, not as a business
  3. Ali Abouelatta recommends focusing on writing quality content over growth hacking

The Lone Toad Newsletter - June 2023

The Lone Toad - Croaker RPGs Newsletter • 159 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Newsletters
  1. Croaker RPGs has achieved great milestones in its first year, including high page views, popular posts, and significant game downloads and payments.
  2. Future plans for Croaker RPGs include creating more games, exploring new blog hosting options, and focusing on quality over quantity in blog posts.
  3. The newsletter highlights interesting solo RPG games like Nihilation, MIRU-II, and Wands and Laserguns, encouraging sharing and visibility within the niche solo RPG community.

Update on this newsletter

WORLD GONE WRONG • 78 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
📰 News Newsletters
  1. Options provided for subscribing to the newsletter on LinkedIn or via email through the employer.
  2. The newsletter is rebranding to INTELWIRE, focusing more on extremism content.
  3. Readers should expect the content shift and look forward to future updates under the new brand.