The hottest Voice Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

How to spot an LLM

That Damn Optimist • 116 implied HN points • 15 Mar 26
📚 Literature Voice
  1. AI-generated text often reads polished and generic, using sweeping overviews and buzzwords but lacking real emotional depth.
  2. Machine-produced language prioritizes efficiency and universality, sounding like it’s written for institutions instead of actual people.
  3. Human writing embraces small flaws and detours—typos, odd phrasing, or a scenic route to the point—which add personality and signal genuine authorship.

Why "Plot" Isn't a Four-Letter Word

Counter Craft • 1115 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
⚔ Fiction Voice
  1. Plot is a tool, not a bad thing; learning to plot gives you a solid foundation that can actually let you be more inventive and experimental. It can work alongside character and theme and doesn’t have to be formulaic.
  2. Think in flexible story principles rather than strict templates; ideas like escalation, variation, oscillation, intersection, and redirection help shape a story without dictating exact beats. Use these principles as guides when revising and reordering scenes.
  3. Escalation matters: a story should generally increase in stakes, intensity, or interest toward a meaningful climax, and scenes should be arranged to support that build. But avoid a straight, predictable climb by adding setbacks and variation so escalation feels surprising and earned.

Itches to Scratch

CRAFT TALK • 3007 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
📚 Literature Voice
  1. Starting out as a writer can be compelling and thrilling.
  2. As a writer, you can only write what you can write.
  3. Evolve constantly as a writer, it's healthy to scratch new itches.

The Writer's Voices

Fragmentary • 550 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
📚 Literature Voice
  1. Finding your authentic voice as a writer is essential for expressing human experience.
  2. Genre should not limit creative expression; authenticity in writing can exist in various forms.
  3. A writer's voice can be multifaceted, evolving, and should reflect their truths and stories.
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Let the chatbot ask the questions

A Bit Gamey • 20 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Voice
  1. Ask the AI to ask you one question at a time and wait for your answer, so it helps you think through problems step by step.
  2. Speak your thoughts aloud (voice-to-text) and share uncertainty, because that reveals hidden assumptions and gives the AI richer input to probe.
  3. Use the AI like a Socratic coach — it should augment your thinking by uncovering insights, not replace your judgement.

The Third Person

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 170 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
📚 Literature Voice
  1. Writing in the third person can feel freeing because it allows for distance from personal emotions. It helps some writers feel less vulnerable and more objective in their work.
  2. Many people struggle with expressing personal views in writing, often feeling it's arrogant to use 'I'. This can create a barrier to authentic self-expression in writing.
  3. Finding one's true writing voice can come from personal growth and life experiences over time, rather than just practice in writing. It's an ongoing journey of self-discovery.

True Fiction

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 437 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
📚 Literature Voice
  1. The line between fiction and non-fiction is becoming less significant.
  2. The way a story is told is more important than the actual facts in memoirs or literature.
  3. Writing is subjective, changing based on moods and perspectives, but it's the voice and sensibility that truly matters in storytelling.

How to Find Your Voice

Neckar’s Notes • 105 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🚌 Education Voice
  1. When writing, be true to your unique voice to create engaging, magical content that resonates with readers.
  2. Identity crisis in writing can stem from trying to mimic others instead of embracing one's own style.
  3. To find your voice as a writer, avoid labeling yourself and simply write a lot, experimenting with different topics, forms, and influences.

A Conversation with Andrew Boryga

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 11 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
📚 Literature Voice
  1. Writing a novel can be a long, evolving process, with Andrew Boryga spending ten years to develop 'Victim,' which started as college short stories and transformed into a multilayered narrative.
  2. Characters in novels don't need to be fundamentally good; Boryga intentionally crafted complex, imperfect characters like Javi in 'Victim' to avoid traditional, simplistic portrayals.
  3. Authenticity in storytelling is crucial; Boryga aimed to portray the Bronx as he knew it, weaving the beauty, pain, and humor of the community into his novel 'Victim.'