The hottest Publications Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics
Simon Owens's Media Newsletter β€’ 349 implied HN points β€’ 06 Feb 25
  1. Boring niches in media can be very profitable, as they often provide unique insights that larger publications may overlook. This means that publications focusing on less glamorous topics can attract a dedicated audience.
  2. There's a dilemma in the media about whether to prioritize quality journalism or profitability. Some outlets might keep their paywalls but cut back on original content, which might affect their credibility.
  3. Short-form content, like mini dramas, is gaining traction and proving successful in markets like China, hinting that there may be untapped potential for similar formats elsewhere.
The Works in Progress Newsletter β€’ 25 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 25
  1. There is a six-month writing fellowship where writers can create articles about scientific progress. It's a great chance for those interested in topics like biotech or the history of science.
  2. Writers in the fellowship will get help from experienced mentors and editors to improve their work. They will also receive a stipend of $1,500 per month for completing their writing.
  3. It's important for applicants to have a blog or previous writing experience. The fellowship encourages original thinking and aims to support writers looking to share their unique ideas.
Austin Kleon β€’ 4935 implied HN points β€’ 11 Aug 23
  1. Pete Drake was a talented pedal steel guitarist who played on many famous records. He even invented a device that made a guitar sound like it was talking.
  2. Notetaking is important for remembering ideas and learning from books. Creating a system to revisit your notes can help you keep track of insights.
  3. Play and creativity are vital for a fulfilling life. Engaging in playful activities can boost your imagination and overall well-being.
Kristina God's Online Writing Club β€’ 639 implied HN points β€’ 18 May 24
  1. Medium has a unique publications system that helps writers reach more readers. Getting published in the right ones can boost your visibility and earnings significantly.
  2. There are thousands of publications on Medium covering a wide range of topics. With so many options, it's important to find the top ones that align with your interests and goals.
  3. Recent changes in Medium's programs allow editors to support writers more effectively. This means writers can earn more and gain better access to their target audience.
Opaque Hourglass β€’ 519 implied HN points β€’ 28 Apr 24
  1. Wisdom may come from unexpected places like the Swamps of Sadness.
  2. Love is described as a waveform - continuously changing and evolving.
  3. Certain truths may not require formal education to understand, like the value of experience and relationships.
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The Shift With Sam Baker β€’ 359 implied HN points β€’ 21 Dec 23
  1. The Shift With Sam Baker is a reader-supported publication that offers some content for free and some behind a paywall.
  2. The author has decided to remove the paywall from a few favorite posts of the past year as a gesture of apology for health-related delays.
  3. The author reflects on the past six months on Substack and expresses gratitude to subscribers for their support.
Japan Economy Watch β€’ 219 implied HN points β€’ 20 Dec 23
  1. The author's book on reviving entrepreneurship in Japan has received noteworthy endorsements from Heizo Takenaka, Gerald Curtis, Bill Emmott, Zoltan Acs, and David Audretsch, all experts in economics and politics.
  2. The endorsements highlight the potential for Japan to experience an entrepreneurial renaissance fueled by factors like digital technology, demographic changes, and government support.
  3. The book challenges the traditional belief that Japan lacks entrepreneurship, providing a fresh analysis that argues for the importance of fostering new companies.
Karlstack β€’ 433 implied HN points β€’ 09 Mar 24
  1. Terrell Strayhorn faced consequences for financial misconduct and plagiarism, leading to a downgrade in his academic career.
  2. The case highlighted the controversial practice of retroactively correcting theses to address plagiarism issues, as seen in the examples of Strayhorn and Claudine Gay.
  3. The story of Terrell Strayhorn serves as a larger commentary on the issues within the DEI-industrial complex and the exploitation of noble ideals for personal gain in academic circles.
Genre Grapevine β€’ 157 implied HN points β€’ 01 Dec 23
  1. X-Twitter is facing backlash with many advertisers and users leaving, impacting prominent figures in the SF/F genre.
  2. Artificial intelligence may lead to a rise in mediocrity in creative works due to lack of true innovation.
  3. Success in writing is not limited by age, with examples of authors achieving recognition later in life.
Do Not Research β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 21 Dec 23
  1. Do Not Research is a platform that supports artists and writers engaging with online culture, hosting events like exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, and book launches
  2. The publication began in 2021 and has featured nearly 200 contributors, with notable events at the IMA in Brisbane and the New Museum in New York City
  3. In 2024, support is needed for Do Not Research to fund new contributors, editorial work, and group projects
Science Forever β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 04 Mar 24
  1. Research integrity issues are systemic, not just due to individual mistakes. Institutions must take responsibility for addressing these problems.
  2. Tools like Proofig help catch errors in papers, emphasizing the importance of correcting mistakes promptly.
  3. Reducing stigma around correcting papers, proactive responses from institutions, and encouraging a culture of self-correction are crucial for improving research integrity.
Living Fossils β€’ 9 implied HN points β€’ 13 Mar 24
  1. The Living Fossils blog has reached significant milestones with thousands of views and over four digits of subscribers.
  2. A new section called The Boneyard has been introduced for specialized content or pieces with a different tone.
  3. The blog is open to hosting guest pieces if they align with the site's purpose and maintain high quality.
Political Currents by Ross Barkan β€’ 9 implied HN points β€’ 08 Jan 24
  1. The Messenger online news site failed due to lack of viable business model and inability to monetize traffic.
  2. The Washington Post is facing financial struggles and losing traffic, possibly due to heavy focus on anti-Trump content.
  3. Politico has succeeded by focusing on politics and policy from an establishment perspective, offering privileged information to subscribers.
The Gradient β€’ 20 implied HN points β€’ 11 Apr 23
  1. The AI Index Report highlights industry leading in AI research over academia, new models reaching performance saturation, and a rise in AI misuse.
  2. Publication trends show an increase in journal articles over conference papers, industry surpassing academia in impactful research, and increased industry hiring over academia.
  3. Advancements in text-to-3D models leverage text-to-2D models, showing progress in generating 3D data from text descriptions.
RSS DS+AI Section β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jan 25
  1. The next newsletter for AI and Data Science will come out in early February. It’s a good chance to stay updated.
  2. You can contribute to the newsletter if you have announcements, meetups, or jobs to share. Just reach out directly instead of replying to the email.
  3. Make sure to send your contributions to the specified email to ensure they are included.
Something interesting β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jan 25
  1. This year, there were a lot of poetry publications, with ten poems published in total. Starting with three poems in a magazine, the author continued to share their work throughout the year.
  2. For fiction, two excerpts from a novel were published as short stories. Despite the challenges in finding representation for the novel, the author is still sharing segments of it.
  3. The author has a website where they highlight their favorite books and other enjoyable things from the past year. It's a space for reflecting on their experiences and sharing their work.
Joshua Gans' Newsletter β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 01 Mar 17
  1. The current system of keeping journal article reviews private raises questions about potential benefits of making them public to improve efficiency and encourage more careful submissions.
  2. Authors might take more care in their papers if peer reviews were public, allowing for dialogue and counter arguments.
  3. While there are concerns about anonymity and potential pressure on reviewers, testing out the publication of reviews could help reduce costs and system delays in academic publishing.