The hottest Storytelling Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

Jeffrey Sitting Bear, Peyote, and Hippies

The Microdose • 1198 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Psychedelics Storytelling
  1. Jeffrey Sitting Bear believes peyote is sacred medicine meant for healing, not getting high.
  2. White people during the 1960s hippie era tended to misuse peyote by using it as a drug rather than for its intended purpose.
  3. Respect for Native teachings and using peyote in the right way is crucial for its positive effects, according to Sitting Bear.

The First Rider

Soaring Twenties • 108 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
⚔ Fiction Storytelling Short Story Folklore
  1. The story revolves around a small tribe in Eastern Europe/Central Asia around 4000 BC speaking a Proto-Indo-European language.
  2. Hester's bonding with a duckling named Swepna showcases a heartwarming connection and her defiance to protect it from becoming a feast for a ceremony.
  3. Bergu's tale of taming the horse Ekwos illustrates courage, friendship with animals, and the importance of respecting nature and the creatures within it.

The Future of Trantor Publishing

Trantor Publishing • 219 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Writing Fiction Storytelling
  1. The author plans to start monetizing their Substack newsletter by offering exclusive content for paying subscribers while keeping most articles and reviews accessible for free subscribers.
  2. Paying subscribers will have the opportunity to influence the author's upcoming projects through polls and receive additional content like monthly exclusive short stories and chapter commentaries.
  3. The author provides insight into their upcoming projects, such as 'The Domes of Calrathia' and 'Gigaheroes', and teases an upcoming article discussing what Reactionary artists can learn from storytelling in Hollywood.

Story: MORE TOMORROW

So Here’s a Thing • 314 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
📚 Literature Storytelling Online Subscription
  1. The online story 'MORE TOMORROW' is part of a collection by the author that delves into the risks of the internet and explores the concept of duty of care to distant individuals.
  2. Readers need to be paid subscribers to access and enjoy the story, with options for a monthly or annual subscription.
  3. Referring friends can earn readers paid benefits, and there are discounts available for subscribers who introduce others to the platform.
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Gigaheroes

Trantor Publishing • 259 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
📚 Literature Superheroes Storytelling Character development Fantasy Conflict resolution
  1. The Urban Defenders are strategizing to capitalize on the newfound popularity of the super villain known as 'The Ghost' for engagement.
  2. Nighthawk struggles with the superficiality and expectations of being a superhero amidst a party, revealing the complexities of fame and identity.
  3. Personal relationships and deeper desires contrast with the public persona of superheroes, highlighting the internal struggles within the team.

How Did You Get By?

BAD AT KEEPING SECRETS • 648 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Storytelling Book promotion Interviews
  1. New York Times columnists Julia Rothman and Shaina Feinberg interview people to share honest stories about topics not commonly discussed.
  2. Their book 'How We Got By' features unique yet universal stories about addiction, career changes, relationships, and more.
  3. The work by Julia and Shaina aims to provide perspective, comfort, and a sense of connection by addressing taboo topics openly.

The Summer Pitch Bible Part 1

slow motion multitasking • 1081 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Character design Storytelling
  1. The idea for the show was born from homesickness and a desire to celebrate platonic friendship.
  2. The pitch bible creation process involved developing main characters like Oscar while maintaining personal attachment to original designs.
  3. The pitch bible layout included sections on show overview, characters, world-building, and episode ideas.

Office Hours

Story Club with George Saunders • 69 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing Revision Prose Storytelling Creativity
  1. It is possible to over-revise your writing, which can lead to loss of freshness and spontaneity. It's important to find a balance between revising too much and too little.
  2. Taking your writing too far in revisions can help you understand your prose better. Push past the point of reason to see the impact of over-revising, then dial back and restore the essence.
  3. Maintaining freshness in subsequent drafts improves with time and practice. Developing the ability to see your work with fresh eyes more quickly is a skill that can be honed over time.

In conversation with: Julian Simpson

So Here’s a Thing • 688 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
📚 Literature Writing Publishing Storytelling Authors
  1. Don't wait for the perfect conditions or confidence to pursue your passion or career choice, sometimes taking a leap of faith can lead to unexpected success.
  2. Regardless of the challenges and changes in the creative industries, the core value of storytelling remains significant and enduring.
  3. The landscape of publishing and entertainment industries is evolving, creators must adapt to new challenges while staying true to their passion for creating stories.

On Barbie and Oppenheimer, inevitability and guilty

The Newsletter of (Not Quite) Everything • 530 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Film Demographics History London Storytelling
  1. _Barbie_ and _Oppenheimer_ films are compared with a focus on the inevitability and guilt associated with historical events.
  2. Film _Oppenheimer_ explores themes of guilt and responsibility regarding the Manhattan Project and the use of atomic bombs.
  3. Population shifts in London over the decades have seen fluctuations, with various factors influencing the city's growth and decline.

Mother of Frankenstein: Volume One

Have You Played? • 78 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Puzzle Storytelling Design Strategy
  1. Mother of Frankenstein: Volume One is a tabletop puzzle game that feels weightier due to its subject and length.
  2. The game features puzzles that are well-designed and include elements of wordplay and narrative storytelling.
  3. There is a lack of urgency in the story's pacing and the game's marketing does not effectively explain why players should care about the secret being unearthed.

Why Science Fiction Helps Us Ask All The Hardest Questions

Everything Is Amazing • 693 implied HN points • 20 May 23
📚 Literature Science fiction Book recommendations Fantasy Storytelling
  1. Science fiction is a great way to explore difficult questions and imagine different futures.
  2. Good science fiction is not just about technology, but also about societal and human issues.
  3. Speculative fiction allows us to discuss challenging topics in a relatable, fictional context, sparking valuable conversations.

Talking to ravens

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 1697 implied HN points • 27 Aug 22
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Storytelling Poetry Podcasts Events
  1. The book 'Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life' by Dr. Sharon Blackie explores the significance of storytelling in shaping our perceptions of aging and elderhood.
  2. The power of myths and stories lies in their ability to help us understand life, dream of a better existence, and inspire personal growth and change.
  3. Dr. Sharon Blackie emphasizes the importance of respecting and valuing older women, highlighting their wisdom, roles, and contributions to community.

Scatterbrain: a letter from the North Pole

The Leftovers • 79 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film Literature Storytelling Writing History
  1. The importance of storytelling and who gets to tell stories, questioning the media's focus on certain tragedies over others.
  2. Reflection on the never-ending process of writing, revising manuscripts, and the challenge of knowing when to stop.
  3. Critique of demanding representation in mainstream media and cinema, emphasizing the need to create cultural spaces that challenge the status quo.

Months Late Game Review, Part 2. ... Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Some Bad Things.

The Bottom Feeder • 315 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Design Criticism Storytelling Inventory Management
  1. Deep criticism of games may not always engage a wide audience.
  2. Critiquing games can help keep design skills fresh and provide valuable design exercises.
  3. Large games like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom may have flaws, such as excessive encounter reuse and key plot elements revealed too early.

The Farmhouse

The Frontier Psychiatrists • 58 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing Storytelling
  1. The farmhouse was located in a clearing on top of a hill and dated back to the 1800s.
  2. The path to the farmhouse was initially a walking path that later became a bike path.
  3. The writer enjoyed carrying heavy camera equipment for outdoor activities like photography.

Player Success Versus Character Success

RPG Design Theories • 511 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Game design Character development Storytelling
  1. Players and characters should be conceptually separated in terms of success and failure.
  2. Game designers can choose between player-first and character-first gameplay styles, each with its own advantages and challenges.
  3. A balance between player-first and character-first elements can create a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.

How to boost your personal statement or college essay

The Recovering Academic • 138 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🚌 Education Workshop Writing Storytelling
  1. Great storytelling is essential for personal statements and college essays to stand out in the competitive application process.
  2. The variety of personal stories, from being a first-generation student to a military veteran, can add diversity and value to an admissions committee's perspective.
  3. Seeking guidance from experienced coaches or editors can significantly enhance the quality and impact of a personal statement, potentially increasing chances of getting into desired schools.

Office Hours

Story Club with George Saunders • 79 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing Reading Storytelling Books Characters
  1. The readers expect a cohesive story to lead them in a certain direction, answering questions as they arise.
  2. In writing with multiple points of view, the author should feel the book's need for additional voices rather than adding characters for the sake of it.
  3. One approach is to give each character enough backstory to make the current moment make sense, without unnecessary elaboration.

Scatterbrain: an autumn letter

The Leftovers • 179 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
📚 Literature Writing Authors Books Storytelling Fiction
  1. Starting a new passion or career path may not always lead to immediate success and can come with unexpected challenges.
  2. Having extra time available can be disorienting for individuals used to being constantly busy, raising questions about how time is best utilized.
  3. Public reactions to global events on social media can sometimes come across as performative, focusing on personal branding rather than genuine empathy.