The hottest Writing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

Why Write?

Passing Time • 234 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. Writing has different motives including egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose.
  2. Writing is a way to communicate your current self in a moment of time.
  3. Good writing reflects the creator at a specific moment and aims to communicate emotions effectively.

Are Small Books The Future? | #256

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 150 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Writing shorter books can be a hidden market with high reader satisfaction as people tend to recommend books they finish.
  2. Experimenting with different ways to package writing and breaking traditional book length norms can lead to new perspectives on what a book can be.
  3. Launching a podcast series interviewing diverse individuals about their work challenges and offering free coaching sessions can be engaging and informative.

Quarterly Roundup for 2023: Books, Podcasts, AI Developments, Prediction Markets, and Previewed Posts

Holodoxa • 59 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Writing
  1. The author shares their favorite books of 2023 and aims to read more fiction in the future. Recommendations are welcomed!
  2. The author discusses their favorite podcasts and shares new and interesting podcast recommendations they've been enjoying.
  3. The author explores recent AI developments, including large language models, chatbots, and text-to-image generators, encouraging others to experiment with these resources.
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After Cybernetics and Ghosts

gen yeet • 39 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The piece reviews three novels with machine-generated text, praising 'Do You Remember Being Born' for its compelling narrative about an aging poet collaborating with AI.
  2. The author discusses past essays on large language models, noting a shift in their view from tools to potential threats based on tech companies' profit-driven motives.
  3. The Italian novelist Italo Calvino's idea of a 'literature machine' that could create poems and novels independently of human personality is explored, highlighting the concept of writers as writing machines.

Danny Miranda - Interview With a Creator vol. 2 | #92

Letters for Creatives • 39 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🎙 Podcasts Writing
  1. Danny Miranda's podcast is insightful as he asks deep questions and gives guests space to tell their stories.
  2. Celeste Tsang's newsletter includes writing and creativity tips as well as interviews with various creators.
  3. Paid subscribers of Celeste Tsang's newsletter get exclusive challenges and content related to writing and creativity.

Meeting Yana Frank

Elad's Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. Yana Frank has insightful productivity strategies, such as tracking time spent on tasks and leaving room for spontaneity in her schedule.
  2. Algorithmic feeds can significantly impact the audience and content of creators, as seen in Yana's experience on LiveJournal.
  3. Yana's approach to writing teaches the importance of sharing content that resonates personally, rather than waiting for perfection.

The character as a composite entity

The Leftovers • 39 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Characters in fiction are often a blend of real people and made-up elements, drawing inspiration from the world around us.
  2. When writing characters, it's crucial to visualize them, give them a distinct personality, and make them believable to yourself as the author.
  3. Even when creating fantastical characters in alien worlds, there should be some connection to reality to make them relatable and engaging.

Diary #19

Autoscriptorium • 39 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. There are three gradations of oblivion: to forget, to sleep, and to die, possibly sliding from one to the next easily.
  2. Imagination allows shifting one's awareness, almost disappearing from reality at will.
  3. Change is inevitable, yet sometimes oblivion shrinks, leaving one wide awake in unfamiliar places.

branching dialogue

button mash • 39 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. Learning to make games involves reimagining the creative process.
  2. Making games is different from writing or knitting but allows room for experimentation.
  3. Coding games is like knitting with data bits, offering a puzzle-like experience.

Experiments in style: Computer-generated version

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 5 implied HN points • 16 Nov 25
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Computers can create stories, but human touch in writing is still valued. While computerized stories can be generated, they often lack the depth and creativity that a human author brings.
  2. Experimenting with writing styles can improve skills. Attempting to rewrite a piece in a different style helps writers learn and grow by challenging their usual methods.
  3. AI-generated content can be surprising and funny. Sometimes, the results can be both unexpected and entertaining, showing that computers can produce amusing or interesting twists on stories.

Hello

Tumbleweed Words • 14 implied HN points • 21 Aug 25
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Life can get busy and hectic sometimes, and that's perfectly fine. It's okay to take a break when things become overwhelming.
  2. There will be times when you may feel disconnected from your creative side. It's normal for inspiration to come and go.
  3. New experiences, like moving or starting a new job, can refresh your perspective and possibly stimulate your creativity.

So you’re a millennial female autist substacking about your special interest

Sex and the State • 21 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. Choosing a clear topic helps you find your audience better. Having a specific niche makes it easier to write and connect with readers.
  2. Getting attention is crucial for your writing to be read. You can either pay for ads or create content that sparks strong emotions to get more people talking.
  3. Experimenting with different strategies helps you learn what works best for your content. Using advertisements can teach you valuable lessons for your organic outreach later.

Literary nemeses

Men Yell at Me • 145 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The author used to have a list of literary nemeses.
  2. Seeing the success of these nemeses motivated the author.
  3. Desire to be published in certain outlets fueled the author to keep trying.

On Political Writing

Story Club with George Saunders • 70 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. When writing political stories, it's important to elevate the narrative beyond just being an opinion piece. Aim for the story to resonate on a deeper, more universal level that will last beyond current events.
  2. A good story explores complexities instead of presenting a single viewpoint. This helps avoid alienating readers and opens up a space for deeper discussions within the narrative.
  3. Instead of forcing a political stance, let the story unfold naturally. Sometimes, the most powerful messages emerge when you allow the characters and plot to guide the direction.

Screenwriting

Story Club with George Saunders • 57 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Writing for film and TV is different from writing books. In screenwriting, many choices depend on how the scene is shot and performed, which isn’t just up to the writer.
  2. Screenwriting can feel frustrating because it limits the writer's control over language and detail while also feeling liberating since writers can imagine big, wild scenes without needing to describe every detail.
  3. It's common for writers to have strong opinions about their work in fiction, while they might be more unsure when writing scripts. This can lead to both hesitance and exploration in screenwriting.

Thirty-One: Week Thirty-Nine

lettersonbeing • 19 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The author writes daily for a year as part of the project 'Thirty-One'.
  2. Memories and scents of daily life are beautifully described in the writing.
  3. Kindness and smiles are highlighted as positive reflections in life.

All the prompts & ideas

Both Are True • 24 implied HN points • 28 May 25
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Joining the BATCAVE gives you access to many prompts and ideas for writing.
  2. New prompts are added regularly, especially after live writing sessions.
  3. It's a membership for paid subscribers, so sign up to get involved!

Pity the Short Story Writer

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 54 implied HN points • 15 Dec 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Getting published as a writer can be really tough. Many writers spend a lot of time submitting stories and getting rejections before they find success.
  2. The traditional path to publishing, like getting into the New Yorker, is harder now. Writers may need to build their own audience through platforms like blogs or Substack instead.
  3. Self-publishing is becoming more accepted now, and many talented writers are finding ways to share their work without relying on big publishers.

reading / writing

bookbear express • 132 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The author is experimenting with splitting weekly recommendations into reading and writing sections to share what they've been reading and writing, and encouraging readers to share their own recommendations.
  2. The author mentions one of the books they are looking forward to is 'Splinters' by Leslie Jamison, which is going to be released soon. They express admiration for Leslie Jamison's writing.
  3. The content of the post is for paid subscribers only, indicating exclusivity and special access for those who subscribe.

Writers lying online

The Leftovers • 59 implied HN points • 16 Nov 22
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Fiction writers often use lies in their work intentionally, so it's unfair to criticize them for it.
  2. Online writerly lying commonly revolves around extraordinary relatives or life events, but focusing on mundane affairs can make lies more believable.
  3. The challenge for writers is to expand the possibilities of storytelling by being creative with everyday elements, rather than relying on extraordinary events.

Revisiting 2024: Favorite Posts and Quotes

Neckar’s Notes • 48 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. Reflecting on past experiences helps us see how much we've accomplished, even when we feel lost. It's important to keep moving forward despite challenges.
  2. Money is more than just currency; it influences our lives in deep ways. Understanding our feelings about money can lead to meaningful insights.
  3. Mentorship plays a key role in personal growth. Being open to learning and seeking guidance can help us achieve our goals.

Writing What You Can't Say

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 60 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Listening to how you speak can help improve your writing. Pay attention to moments when you hesitate or struggle to find the right words; this is where your best ideas can emerge.
  2. The search for the right word can be difficult, but it's a valuable process for a writer. Those tricky moments highlight what you really want to express and push you to find better ways to describe it.
  3. Saying what you feel but can't easily put into words is a key part of writing. Embracing confusion and uncertainty can actually lead to more compelling stories and ideas.

On Titles

Story Club with George Saunders • 57 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Titles should be simple and not give too much away about the story. A good title can grab the reader’s attention without being too clever or obvious.
  2. Many titles come to the writer naturally while working on the story. They might pop into the writer's head without much effort.
  3. It's important for a title to resonate with the story after it's read, adding extra meaning while still not being overly complicated or distracting.