The hottest Writing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

Audiences

polymathematics • 99 implied HN points • 07 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. Growing your audience can help you make money, connect with like-minded people, and influence positive change. It’s worth considering what audience growth means to you personally.
  2. Prioritize improving your work and be consistent with your writing. The better your work, the more likely it is to attract readers over time.
  3. Engagement can come from different platforms, so it's good to be visible on both Substack and your own website. Find creative ways to connect with your audience across these platforms.

How Great Writers Become Great

Mind & Mythos • 219 implied HN points • 29 Mar 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Great writers often have time and space to focus on their work. Many famous writers dedicated their time to thinking and writing without many distractions.
  2. Younger writers may have more time but lack experience. Older writers have knowledge but often struggle to find time to write.
  3. Finding balance between family, work, and writing is tough. It's important to prioritize what matters most in life, even if it means having limits on achievements.

Heading into 2024

Fragmentary • 412 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Nick Harkaway has a busy year ahead with writing projects and personal commitments.
  2. He plans to sort out his website, considering switching from Substack due to ethical concerns.
  3. Despite the workload, Nick expresses positivity and excitement for the year ahead.

Hallucination and Humour

Going Awol • 159 implied HN points • 29 Apr 24
😂 Humor Writing
  1. Humor often arises from incongruity, where there's a mismatch between what's expected and what happens. In writing, overly incongruous humor might be mistaken for AI-generated content.
  2. The suspicion of AI-generated writing can discourage writers from using certain types of humor, creating an incentive to avoid being accused of cheating.
  3. As technology improves and AI becomes more sophisticated in generating content, it may lead writers to lean towards more sensible and less conspicuously incongruous humor.
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How to Read More Closely

The Biblioracle Recommends • 668 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. There is no terminal proficiency in writing, always room for improvement.
  2. Reading closely requires looking beyond the plain text for deeper meanings.
  3. Reading like a writer involves understanding how a text creates meaning, rather than just what it means.

Writing 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends'

Animation Obsessive • 4036 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was a script-driven animated series with a personal touch from the creators.
  2. The animation news highlighted 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' success globally and updates from various countries.
  3. The writing process for animation, such as the scripting, revisions, and voice recordings, is crucial for creating successful animated series.

Offering: April 2023

Tarot Offerings • 648 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Writing
  1. Jessica Dore started creating Tarot Offerings in 2016 as a newsletter after leaving her job in publishing.
  2. The newsletter has evolved over the years, transitioning from collective forecast readings to personal stories and themes.
  3. Jessica Dore is preparing to offer new events like a workshop on deconstructing the Tarot and a live telling of the Grail Legend.

Story: TO RECEIVE IS BETTER

So Here’s a Thing • 412 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The story 'To Receive Is Better' started from a vivid dream the author had about a dark tunnel and indistinct figures, which inspired a short story about cloning that later became a novel called 'SPARES'.
  2. Timing played a significant role in the novel's success, as it was completed around the same time as the news of Dolly, the first cloned mammal, which led to its adaptation for a film by Spielberg's DreamWorks SKG.
  3. The author highlights the unpredictable nature of a writer's career, where turning a random dream into a story can lead to unexpected opportunities and successes.

You Can't Win Them All

Between a Rock and a Card Place • 358 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. Success is not always about winning or creating hits, but about the quality and impact of the work you do.
  2. Don't let pressure hinder your creativity; approach tasks with curiosity and a beginner's mindset.
  3. Embrace that not every project will be a success, as outcomes are often beyond your control, so focus on creating meaningful work instead.

Call for Subscriber Writing, December 2024

Freddie deBoer • 990 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. There's a chance for subscribers to share their writing with a wider audience, which is exciting for both the writer and the readers.
  2. To participate, you need to submit your work using a specific Google Form by the deadline of December 15th.
  3. This is meant for links to writing hosted elsewhere, not for directly posting your work here.

Street Smart Support

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 359 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. The newsletter has over 3,000 subscribers, mostly from Washington, and is reaching readers in 49 countries. It shows that there's a wide audience interested in nature and history.
  2. The author appreciates support through paid subscriptions, which help him continue writing the newsletter. Paid subscribers will receive more content and benefits.
  3. Readers are encouraged to share the newsletter with friends and family to spark conversations and outdoor activities together. Sharing can help grow the community and encourage new subscriptions.

Flying Elephants

Story Club with George Saunders • 58 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Protect your art by honestly figuring out the hours, conditions, and habits you need to create, and design a life—including a steady job if necessary—that lets you write consistently.
  2. When the world feels surreal, move past disbelief and treat strange events as material to investigate; ask why they happened and note the small, telling details you can use in fiction.
  3. Accept that fiction often works on a long arc and may not directly argue a political point; aim to write stories that show care, complexity, and human qualities that quietly console and change readers.

The Poems of Maxim Morel I

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 345 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Maxim Morel II has taken his father's old poems and created a new work that includes his own writings and thoughts. This blend helps to show the relationship between them and the themes of love and loss.
  2. The poems are not just about his father; they also explore complex feelings around love, grief, and memory, especially regarding a young girl named Faustine, who has a significant impact on his father's life.
  3. Getting this poetry published has been a challenge, but it’s important to share these unique voices that often don't fit into mainstream poetry, emphasizing the value of personal and unconventional stories.

Unstylish style in Vanity Fair.

The Common Reader • 956 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. There is a difference between 'style' and 'stylish'. Style is about how someone expresses themselves, while stylish means following trends or being fashionable.
  2. William Shakespeare, for example, has a diverse range of styles but isn't necessarily considered stylish because he doesn't conform to any one fashionable way of writing.
  3. Modern writers are often seen as stylish because they write in a polished manner, but not all styles, even if they are complex or intricate, are considered stylish.

The First and Best Writing Advice I Ever Received

Counter Craft • 2350 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing
  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

How I Write

Democratizing Automation • 395 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Writing
  1. Writing improves with practice and prioritization. The more you write, the better you get at it.
  2. Finding your passion and voice is key to writing well. When you write about what you love, it becomes easier and more enjoyable.
  3. AI tools can support writing, but they also make it harder for new writers to learn. With auto-complete options, it takes more effort to become a good writer.

Do our stories matter?

Men Yell at Me • 1024 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Our personal stories and memories are really important. They help us remember who we are, especially when we feel lost.
  2. Writing can be a powerful way to express ourselves and connect with others. It gives us a voice in difficult times.
  3. Even when things feel hopeless, sharing our experiences through words can create hope and understanding among people.

Just Do It

Development Hell • 612 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Writing
  1. Getting things done is not an alternative to getting things done.
  2. Consider using Obsidian to write and organize your work effectively.
  3. Get a 7-day free trial subscription to Development Hell to continue reading and access full post archives.

How I write...

Development Hell • 612 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. The author received feedback from readers about their content and what topics they want to see covered.
  2. There are many resources available on Substack for growing subscriber numbers and improving content quality.
  3. Readers can access the full content and post archives with a 7-day free trial and subscription.

Books in the World

The Biblioracle Recommends • 609 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Free books can be found in unexpected places like airports and hotels.
  2. There's a vast collection of human experience available through books left behind by others.
  3. Consider sharing books with specific people who will appreciate them rather than keeping them unused.

LiB is going away for a while

London in Bits • 609 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. The London in Bits newsletter is taking a break, maybe forever, due to the editor's need to balance other life priorities.
  2. The editor is choosing to cancel all paid subscriptions for transparency and will refund recent subscribers.
  3. Readers are encouraged to explore other newsletters in the meantime and stay tuned for the possible return of London in Bits.

How to Write an Action Sequence.

Development Hell • 454 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. Action sequences in scripts are crucial for storytelling and should always serve a purpose in moving the plot forward.
  2. When writing an action sequence, structure it with a three-act pattern: beginning, middle, and end to create a well-paced and engaging narrative.
  3. Use the 'three-act' principle, like in Snyder's 'Save The Cat' structure, to build tension and drive the action forward in your script.

SITREP

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 1139 implied HN points • 31 May 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Upcoming MEET-UP in Chicago on 6/9/2023 may have changes; stay tuned for updates.
  2. Exciting developments in content creation with Season 2 of MINDPHASER podcast and 7HOMAS TV channel in progress.
  3. Dedicated time on book manuscripts, including the third installment of the STEELSTORM series and a book on international jurisprudence.

The Ishiguro-Waits Edition

Why is this interesting? • 241 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Kazuo Ishiguro was inspired to improve his book after hearing Tom Waits' song 'Ruby's Arms.' It shows how music can impact writing and creativity.
  2. Ishiguro thought his manuscript for 'The Remains of the Day' was done before the song inspired him to change it. This highlights the importance of revisiting and editing one's work.
  3. Winning the Booker Prize and Nobel Prize shows that the extra effort can lead to great recognition and success in writing. Persistence can pay off big time.

Introducing Maria Theresa

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 362 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. The publication is looking to explore poetry more, feeling it is an area they haven't fully tapped into yet. They want to find a poet whose style fits their evolving themes.
  2. Maria Theresa, a pseudonymous poet, is introduced as someone who holds strong feelings of connection to her literary influences. Her poetry is deeply personal and tied to her admiration for another famous poet.
  3. Despite her reluctance to publish her work, Maria Theresa has agreed to share her poetry on this platform, noting her desire for her work to reflect a spiritual connection rather than a commercial one.

On not trying so hard

the process • 589 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Writing
  1. Effort does not always lead to better results in writing or activities.
  2. Sometimes, it is beneficial to relax, be less strict with oneself, and embrace a more effortless approach.
  3. Learning to balance effort with ease can lead to breakthroughs and better outcomes.

Notes on Memoir Structure

The Fairest Writer • 259 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Start writing by keeping a memory journal. Write down significant moments to help you remember what to include in your memoir.
  2. Listen to your material while writing. The best structure for your story often comes from how you feel about your experiences, so be flexible and adjust as needed.
  3. During revisions, be willing to cut parts that don't fit. Always ask if you can make it better, instead of just wanting to be done with it.

Captain Obvious: a personal essay

Design Lobster • 579 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. Obviousness in writing can be seen negatively for lacking depth but celebrated in design for clarity and ease of use.
  2. Good writing avoids clichés and offers fresh perspectives, while good design balances between obviousness and experience for effective outcomes.
  3. Finding the right level of obviousness in design is crucial based on the project's focus on creating an experience or an outcome.

Needs more Flair

Austin Kleon • 1358 implied HN points • 24 Jan 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. The Paper Mate Flair pen is great for writing, especially in notebooks. Many people love how it writes smoothly and that it doesn't bleed through the pages.
  2. Using the Flair pen can be a bit tricky as it's water-based ink, which can fade if washed. Some people prefer more permanent inks after experiencing this.
  3. Despite past issues, the Flair pen is making a comeback in some people's writing routines because of its unique feel and style. It's fun to use and can bring creativity to note-taking.

My 1500th Published Story - 10 Kickass Medium Writing and Monetization Tips

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 859 implied HN points • 29 Apr 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Online writing requires mastering the craft to improve your skills. Practice makes perfect, so writing regularly is important.
  2. Monetizing your writing can be achieved through different strategies. Finding the right approach will help turn your passion into income.
  3. Engagement with your audience is key to success. Building a strong connection can lead to more readers and better reach.

MUSIC: Writing music

So Here’s a Thing • 570 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🎶 Music Writing
  1. Sometimes background music can help keep you focused and productive while working.
  2. Classical or soundtrack music is often preferred as the lyrics don't distract from the task at hand.
  3. Listening to music with a strong atmosphere can help create a mood and inspire creativity.