The hottest Publication Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The Intrinsic Perspective β€’ 7343 implied HN points β€’ 01 Mar 24
  1. Cultural impact of novels is more than just sales figures; it's about influencing discourse and defining eras.
  2. Recent literary novels may have lacked the same level of cultural impact as those from previous decades like the 2010s.
  3. Novels like 'Normal People' by Sally Rooney were noted for their importance in millennial writing, but their cultural impact may have been less significant compared to previous literary giants.
History, etc β€’ 1788 implied HN points β€’ 21 Dec 23
  1. The writer expressed gratitude to the readers for their support throughout the year.
  2. The newsletter has grown to over 12,000 readers with various engaging content like Q&A, interviews, and history quizzes.
  3. Future plans for the newsletter include more content like monthly interviews, history quizzes, and maintaining subscription prices until 2025.
Scott's Substack β€’ 825 implied HN points β€’ 08 Jan 24
  1. The post discusses a reader's paper using diff-in-diff to study impact on violence against women.
  2. The reader sought advice after facing rejections from journals.
  3. Editors provided feedback that the paper's topic was not suitable for some journals.
Secretum Secretorum β€’ 555 implied HN points β€’ 09 Jan 24
  1. Scientists in the past were more open about uncertainties and used more expressive language in their research papers.
  2. Old scientific articles had a charming style with vivid descriptions and engaging narratives.
  3. The rigid structure and format of modern scientific writing may hinder creativity and the development of new ideas.
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The Seneca Effect β€’ 176 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 24
  1. The attempt to improve science by 'free-access publishing' has led to unintended consequences, like the proliferation of mediocre papers.
  2. The concentration of scientific power in a few elite institutions is not enough to drive innovation and creativity, mirroring the limitations faced by the Roman Empire.
  3. The collapse of science, exemplified by issues in scientific publishing, aligns with systemic collapses and may indicate the need for renewal through unconventional sources and unconventional ideas.
Soaring Twenties β€’ 108 implied HN points β€’ 23 Feb 24
  1. The author shares their journey of writing and rewriting a book of poems over the years, highlighting the importance of revisiting and restructuring creative works over time.
  2. The process of creating a collection of poems involves carefully selecting and arranging individual pieces to create a cohesive and meaningful narrative thread throughout the book.
  3. Self-publishing can be a valuable outlet for producing work and refining one's craft, leading to personal growth and the eventual creation of a polished manuscript for publication.
Genre Grapevine β€’ 176 implied HN points β€’ 21 Jan 24
  1. The 2023 Hugo Awards had issues with works being deemed 'not eligible' for the final ballot despite earning nominations.
  2. There were concerns of censorship or outside influence affecting the selection process.
  3. Calls for changes to the World Science Fiction Society constitution and Hugo Award rules to prevent future controversies.
Unsafe Science β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 22 Feb 24
  1. Individuals who believe they are above the rules can be harmful to society or organizations.
  2. SPSP did not abide by professional guidelines for retraction, choosing to make up reasons to retract papers.
  3. There was a discrepancy in how SPSP handled different posters, allowing some politically motivated content while taking down others.
Not On Your Team, But Always Fair β€’ 1022 implied HN points β€’ 16 Jul 23
  1. The Substack newsletter welcomes 500 new subscribers with free access and showcases the work of writer Lorenzo Warby.
  2. The author, Helen Dale, uses her platform to promote and support Lorenzo's essays and work.
  3. The newsletter covers a wide range of topics including politics and culture, with a focus on unique perspectives and interpretations.
Am I Doing This Right? β€’ 1041 implied HN points β€’ 24 May 23
  1. The book was painted traditionally with watercolor, gouache, and colored pencils.
  2. The painting process involved steps like sketches, painting large areas, adding textures with dry brush, and finishing details with colored pencils.
  3. The post details the process, challenges, and fun moments of painting a spread for the book.
The Frontier Psychiatrists β€’ 58 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 24
  1. The CATIE Trial is a significant research study comparing new antipsychotic medicines with older ones in real-world settings and published in high-impact medical journals.
  2. Medical journals like the New England Journal of Medicine have high impact factors, which are determined by the number of times articles are cited.
  3. Effectiveness research involves large sample sizes, and the methods section of a research paper provides essential details about the study design and participants.
Story Club with George Saunders β€’ 83 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jan 24
  1. On getting an agent: Agents are essential gatekeepers in the publishing world, helping with submissions and negotiations.
  2. Agent relationships: A good agent can relieve pressure by handling business aspects, letting the writer focus on their art.
  3. Agenting advice: Prospective agents should not charge for reading work, should be transparent about edits and submissions, and communication should be open and respectful.
Everything Is Amazing β€’ 849 implied HN points β€’ 16 Apr 23
  1. Substack has launched a new feature called Notes, resembling Twitter but with a more positive tone.
  2. Legal language is often unnecessarily complex and difficult to read due to factors like jargon and convoluted sentence structures.
  3. The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate quirky and humorous scientific research, shedding light on interesting discoveries with a touch of lightheartedness.
Oliver Bateman Does the Work β€’ 157 implied HN points β€’ 06 Dec 23
  1. The author is aiming to increase paid subscriptions for their publication to ensure its longevity.
  2. The author faces challenges in producing fresh content after years of writing and needs to adapt to keep readers engaged.
  3. Despite past successes, the author is uncertain about the future of their creative career and feels a sense of pressure to continue producing meaningful work.
Message from the Underworld β€’ 294 implied HN points β€’ 27 Sep 23
  1. The author traveled from New York to San Diego, highlighting various locations visited on the trip.
  2. The author discussed a work-for-hire project nearing completion and a new Das Damen reissue.
  3. The short story, 'Incident at the Charging Station,' explores themes of violence, gentrification, and drug addiction around an electric vehicle charging station.
Karlstack β€’ 337 implied HN points β€’ 17 Jun 23
  1. HBS professor under investigation for fake data is placed on administrative leave and faces paper retractions
  2. Investigation team of academics uncovered evidence of fraud and requested retraction of papers
  3. Fraudulent papers are likely to be extensive, with at least four retractions and potential for more
Science Fictions β€’ 229 implied HN points β€’ 09 Aug 23
  1. LK-99, the 'room-temperature superconductor', turned out not to be true despite initial social media hype and extravagant claims.
  2. Transparency in scientific publication processes, like preprints and peer review at eLife, can lead to challenges like circulating false claims.
  3. The approval of new drugs for Alzheimer's disease may not always mean groundbreaking results, highlighting the importance of critically analyzing scientific breakthrough claims.
The Good Science Project β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 01 Feb 24
  1. NIH is seeking input on reducing publication bias against null studies to improve science integrity and innovation
  2. NIH is inviting comments on their strategic plan for data science to ensure data is findable, accessible, and leads to tangible health improvements
  3. Prioritizing null results and meaningful data metrics can advance science and human health