The hottest Writing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

Is Honest Writing the Next New Thing in Journalism?

The Honest Broker • 18551 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Journalism Writing Media Communication
  1. Honesty in writing can be a powerful tool to break down obstacles and strengthen your writing and thinking.
  2. There are many reasons why writers are dishonest, such as to please editors, gain favors, or increase popularity.
  3. Embracing an 'honest writing style' can lead to a shift in your writing, making it more conversational and impactful.

How I Write Posts

Construction Physics • 21087 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🚌 Education Writing Research Reading Editing Tools
  1. The author's writing process involves mainly two types of posts: explanation-driven and exploratory. They often write to understand complex topics themselves and then share their findings.
  2. Extensive research is a crucial part of the author's writing process. They gather information from a variety of sources like books, dissertations, and online resources.
  3. The author follows a structured approach starting from research, reading, and thinking, then moves on to compressing and structuring content, before finally drafting, editing, and posting their work.

The Slop School of Internet Success and other lies about cyberspace

Experimental History • 19425 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Internet Writing Science Art Psychology
  1. Making a living on the internet doesn't have to involve creating 'slop' content like clickbait or scams.
  2. Success online can come from creating honest, original, and interesting content that people genuinely enjoy and share.
  3. Supporting creators financially for content you enjoy can help create a better internet ecosystem and encourage more quality content.

Things Worth Remembering: The Freedom to Offend

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3246 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Speeches Writing Debates Public Speaking
  1. Christopher Hitchens was known for his formidable skills as a public speaker and debater, with some believing he spoke better than he wrote.
  2. Hitch's reputation as a speaker was so esteemed that one should never speak before, with, or after him, according to advice given to Douglas Murray.
  3. Even before achieving peak celebrity status, Hitchens was recognized for his speaking prowess, particularly evident in his renowned book 'God Is Not Great.'
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Writing on the wall of heaven

Patti Smith • 10554 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing Handwriting Art
  1. The author reflects on the joy of learning penmanship and practicing handwriting with dipping pens and ink in school.
  2. The author's dream was to write like the authors of the Declaration of Independence and copied it line by line at different points in their life.
  3. The post celebrates National Handwriting Day and mentions a meditation on the importance and beauty of handwriting.

How to write

Striking 13 • 2475 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
📚 Literature Writing Journalism Non-fiction Curiosity Emotions
  1. Writing is about being in touch with your feelings and having confidence in sharing them.
  2. Good non-fiction writing starts with curiosity and understanding that everything can be interesting if approached correctly.
  3. Boredom and frustration when writing is a guide to improve the content for readers by finding ways to present information in engaging ways.

On Writing

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 4886 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing Creativity Authors Memoirs Books
  1. The key to writing is having a point of view and putting in the effort consistently, regardless of any specific method or process.
  2. Creativity involves both insight and persistence; don't underestimate the value of persistent effort in generating creative ideas.
  3. Writing regularly may involve accepting that initial drafts may not be perfect, embracing bad writing as part of the process, and persisting through writer's block.

Heart Centered Writing

The Forgotten Side of Medicine • 6289 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Writing Communication Holistic Medicine Life purpose
  1. Writing from the heart is important in creating connections with readers and conveying the intended message effectively.
  2. Prioritizing quality over quantity in any work can lead to deeper satisfaction and better outcomes.
  3. Clear and relatable communication is key in teaching and writing, ensuring the audience understands and engages with the content.

We've Come a Long Way

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 3655 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
📚 Literature Memoir Publishing Book Sales Writing
  1. The author shares their journey from financial struggle to success, highlighting how generosity from readers helped him transition to writing full-time.
  2. Pre-ordering a book can significantly impact its success by influencing bookstore orders, placement, and potential to become a bestseller.
  3. The book "Troubled" contains personal narratives about foster care, social class, and challenging societal norms, aiming to promote important conversations in the culture.

How my son got in to Duke

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 599 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
🚌 Education Homeschooling Writing AI writing
  1. Focus on self-directed learning and unique experiences rather than typical benchmarks like SAT scores.
  2. When writing, be specific and share personal experiences to create content that AI cannot replicate.
  3. Homeschooling can give students the opportunity to stand out in college applications by being remarkable and avoiding common educational norms.

Introducing Your Weekly Stack

read • 38031 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🕹 Technology News Email Writing
  1. Substack is introducing a new email digest called Your Weekly Stack to help readers discover new stories and writers on the platform.
  2. Your Weekly Stack will be sent every Wednesday, providing a roundup of curated posts for subscribers.
  3. Readers can provide feedback on Your Weekly Stack and opt out at any time if they do not find it suitable.

Starting from scratch: advice on building a career and finding an audience on Substack

Substack • 1108 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
💼 Business Career Audience Building Writing Creativity Community
  1. Starting a newsletter on Substack from scratch can lead to significant growth and opportunities.
  2. Substack empowers creators to find success without waiting for traditional publishing gatekeepers.
  3. Building a community through Substack can be key to achieving success, even when starting anonymously.

The First and Best Writing Advice I Ever Received

Counter Craft • 1991 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing Advice Fiction
  1. Finishing your writing projects is crucial - don't get stuck tinkering, but complete and move on to the next
  2. The best writing advice is often simple - just finish your work before worrying about other aspects like querying agents or publicity
  3. Failure is part of the process - finishing means making mistakes, learning from them, and improving your writing over time

Conversations with women (over 40): no longer Accidental Icon, Lyn Slater

The Shift With Sam Baker • 678 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Fashion Identity Aging Writing Podcasts
  1. Lyn Slater discusses the importance of aging and embracing identity in her new book 'How to be Old'. It's about being comfortable in your own skin at any age.
  2. There is a shift in society where young women are interested in truthful conversations about aging and challenges that come with it. They want honesty and realism rather than idealized versions of aging.
  3. As older women, there is a responsibility to speak truthfully about the positives and challenges of getting older. It's about remaining optimistic while acknowledging the serious aspects of aging and life changes.

How to Become a Professional Writer

Shades of Greaves • 1946 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Writing Humor Satire Creativity Comedy
  1. There are various paths to becoming a professional writer, such as pursuing a career in novel writing, freelancing, television writing, or teaching writing.
  2. Writing professionally requires patience and perseverance; it is a challenging, unpredictable, but rewarding journey.
  3. To excel as a writer, you need to master the craft, be willing to break and rewrite rules, and navigate the complexities of the modern publishing landscape.

I, Cyborg: Using Co-Intelligence

One Useful Thing • 650 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Writing
  1. AI can be a powerful tool in writing and reading, enhancing the process by providing options and guidance without replacing human creativity.
  2. Authors can use AI as Cyborgs or Centaurs, blending human and machine efforts to optimize their work in writing and analysis tasks.
  3. AI continues to advance rapidly, with models like GPT-4 showcasing impressive writing capabilities, indicating a future where AI may play an even larger role in book creation.

The [Tuesday] Media Diet with Paul Theroux

Why is this interesting? • 1327 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
📚 Literature Books Authors Novels Reading Writing
  1. Paul Theroux emphasizes the ease of staying updated on world events via online news sources and the convenience of assessing contradictions.
  2. Theroux recommends starting with Shakespeare for reading and emphasizes the satisfaction of diving into his works.
  3. Theroux prefers trains over planes for travel and advocates for road trips for the sense of freedom they offer.

The Answer to Editing

Agents and Books • 2712 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
📚 Literature Editing Writing Tips Craft Books
  1. Write a reverse outline after finishing the first draft of your book to help with editing.
  2. What works for one book may not work for another, so be open to trying different techniques.
  3. Continuously learn and adapt your writing process to find what works best for each project.

On Literary Sidepieces

CRAFT TALK • 2338 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing Authors Books
  1. Having side projects can help keep momentum if feeling frustrated with the main project.
  2. Sometimes working on a lighter side project can provide a break from emotionally heavy writing.
  3. Sidepiece projects can evolve into something more significant and meaningful.

An Atmospheric River of Links and Recs

Culture Study • 2051 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Books Podcasts Shopping Community Writing
  1. The author shares about fulfilling Trans Santa gifts with donations and the impact it had, showcasing the power of community support.
  2. The post discusses upcoming content on resistance to the Airbnb Space decorating style and invites readers to share their experiences with alternative rental aesthetics.
  3. The author mentions enjoying reading a fantasy series and gathering various links and recommendations to share with paid subscribers.

How I Disintermediated My Writing Career

The Honest Broker • 20413 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Disintermediation is bypassing gatekeepers and middlemen to go straight to the audience.
  2. Building a direct relationship with your audience as a creative can lead to more autonomy and satisfaction.
  3. Utilizing online platforms and social media can help in self-publishing and reaching a wider audience, transforming the creative industry.

A Few Good Questions

CRAFT TALK • 2358 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing Books 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.

The new academy: modern intellectuals are writing their best ideas on Substack

read • 19320 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Academia Intellectuals Education Writing
  1. Substack provides a platform for academics to share their ideas more freely and immediately with a wider audience than traditional academic journals.
  2. Substack allows scholars to earn revenue from their publications and engage with readers in a more personal and direct manner.
  3. It offers a space for academics to innovate, challenge traditional academic norms, and explore intellectual contributions outside the constraints of conventional academia.

Free Friday: Filling the Void

JoeBlogs • 2299 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Football Baseball Athletes Coaching Writing
  1. Nick Saban and Bill Belichick are two legendary football coaches facing retirement and the question of finding happiness in the future.
  2. Coaching greats like Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno faced the difficulty of retiring from their passion.
  3. The writer discusses the disappearance of old writings and the upcoming decision about staying on Substack.