The hottest Writing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

Bookmarks: June 2023

Dilemmas of Meaning • 3 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. The 'Bookmarks' post in June 2023 highlights a new film, an article on deepfakes and AI, and a video discussing 'The Social Network'.
  2. Stuart Hall's influence on identity and diasporic thought is explored in an article by Adam Tooze.
  3. Hannah Baer's article delves into deepfake technology and the complexities of self-perception, while critiquing intelligence mythologies.

From Blog to Breakdown to Book

As If We Were Staying • 1 implied HN point • 13 Sep 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The journey to writing a book can be tough, filled with challenges that test your determination. It's important to embrace these struggles as part of the learning process.
  2. Sharing personal stories and experiences can help shape your writing and connect with readers. Authentically blending life lessons with broader themes can create a compelling narrative.
  3. Consistency is key in writing. Setting deadlines and regularly producing work helps improve your craft and keeps your creative energy flowing.

A letter to my 4 year old self

Minor Musings • 1 implied HN point • 01 Aug 24
📚 Literature Writing
  1. It's okay to feel different and misunderstood. Everyone is unique with their own strengths and skills, and that's what makes us special.
  2. You have a gift for experiencing life deeply, which can confuse others. Sharing your perspective can help them understand and connect with you better.
  3. By being open and sharing your experiences, you can form strong connections with others and brighten their world.
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Back in April

The Permanent Problem • 3 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🚌 Education Writing
  1. Taking breaks is important for sustainability and productivity.
  2. Writing consistently requires time and effort, especially for in-depth topics.
  3. Blogging involves a journey of exploration and a search for solutions.

A Short Service Announcement.

Trying to Understand the World • 2 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
💼 Business Writing
  1. The author will continue writing essays, but doesn't plan to introduce a paid tier for extra content.
  2. A paid tier will be introduced for voluntary support, but it won't offer additional content.
  3. The author appreciates the support and will continue to produce one free essay a week.

The Little Fires of Taste

The Pamplet • 2 HN points • 02 May 23
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. Having authentic taste means knowing what you like and what you don't like despite external influences.
  2. Developing taste is a continuous journey of self-discovery and refinement influenced by personal experiences and exposure to others.
  3. Taste is not about high or low categories; it's about expressing what you genuinely like, free from pretense or societal expectations.

Debating is a Waste of Time

Curiosity Sink__ • 1 HN point • 21 Jun 23
🚌 Education Writing
  1. Modern-day debates can give a skewed view of rationality and truth-seeking
  2. Debates are often too complex and performative, focusing on entertainment over constructive dialogue
  3. Engaging in good-faith conversations and writing can be more effective for understanding and critiquing ideas

Writer

Arjun’s Newsletter • 1 HN point • 05 Jun 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Writing is a challenging business, but calling yourself a writer is important.
  2. Don't focus on making money from writing; focus on writing freely.
  3. Write for specific people and aim to connect with them on a deeper level.

The folly of using ChatGPT

On Engineering • 1 HN point • 06 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Writing
  1. Using large language models like ChatGPT for writing may produce hollow and unsatisfying content.
  2. Large language models lack inherent creativity and instead regurgitate text from their inputs.
  3. To become a better writer, one must focus on writing and developing their skills, rather than relying on tools like ChatGPT.

Writing conferences demystified, part 2

The Next Chapter • 1 implied HN point • 28 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. Different writing conferences offer unique benefits like exposure, networking, and specialized knowledge at a more affordable cost than MFA programs.
  2. Attending conferences like Sirenland can lead to personal growth, increased confidence, and readiness to pursue larger writing projects.
  3. Key insights from Sirenland include the importance of writer exposure, the concept of 'perch' in storytelling, the significance of networking in creative industries, and the importance of honoring pacing and self-care during such events.

Writing conferences demystified, part 1

The Next Chapter • 1 implied HN point • 13 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing
  1. Attending writing conferences connects you with other writers, provides valuable feedback, and helps you feel momentum in a world of rejection.
  2. Dealing with rejection is a skill that writers must learn and feedback quality matters as much as the feedback itself.
  3. Thinking about writing, connecting with other writers, and understanding the non-linear process of creativity are essential for growth as a writer.

☞ The Magic of Code

Cabinet of Wonders • 1 HN point • 26 Apr 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The author is writing a book titled 'The Magic of Code' that explores how digital language has shaped the modern world and will shape the future.
  2. The book will cover a wide range of topics such as the complexity of technology, glitches and bugs, the connection between coding and magic, old texts, simulation, and artificial life.
  3. The author aims to make the computational realm fascinating and understandable for a broad audience by providing a novel mental lens and a liberal arts-infused approach to computing.

The Evolution of the Alphabet

Maximum Effort, Minimum Reward • 1 HN point • 10 Mar 23
🚌 Education Writing
  1. Different writing systems vary by how they encode language, from logographic scripts to alphabets to syllabaries.
  2. Abjads, like Arabic and Hebrew, represent only consonants, while alphabets include both consonants and vowels.
  3. The evolution of alphabets can be traced back to a common ancestor, like Egyptian hieroglyphs, leading to scripts like Aramaic, Hebrew, and Arabic.

the machine's work is good enough

BNet • 1 HN point • 03 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. The internet culture often settles for 'good enough' solutions through compromises.
  2. Machine-generated texts and images are becoming increasingly common and acceptable.
  3. Individuals are leaning towards quick, automated solutions over the pursuit of uniqueness and quality.

No book?

Letters from Lisa • 0 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The post discusses a writer's conference workshop on mindfulness for writers.
  2. The writer shares a story about an awkward elevator experience at a big hotel.
  3. The post is for paid subscribers, with an option to subscribe for more content.

Text-to-Image Prompting

The Thought Trail • 0 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Classic writers were skilled at creating vivid mental images with their descriptions
  2. Our brains act like natural neural networks when reading, converting text to images
  3. Great classic writers were the original creators of text-to-image prompts

Join me on Notes

Pluriversal Planet • 0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. Substack Notes is a new space for sharing various content types like links, short posts, and more.
  2. As a Pluriversal Planet subscriber, you can automatically access and engage with the Notes.
  3. Authors and readers are drawn to Substack Notes for shorter posts and creating a positive, creative space.

My career journey, part four

The Next Chapter • 0 implied HN points • 29 Apr 23
🚌 Education Writing
  1. The author shares the final part of their career journey series, reflecting on their job search process and decision to work at Match Group.
  2. Despite initial expectations, the author had to reset their career aspirations after joining Match Group, focusing on a multi-hyphenate career, product development, and creative endeavors.
  3. The author highlights the book 'Free Food for Millionaires' by Min Jin Lee as a source of inspiration in navigating career challenges and seeking personal freedom.

Sketch of a new English orthography

Perambulations • 0 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🕹 Technology Writing
  1. English spelling is complex due to its accumulation of bits and pieces of other languages.
  2. Efforts for English spelling reform have included developing custom scripts and simplified spelling movements.
  3. An ideal English writing system may balance phonetic fidelity with concision, embed emphasis information, address vowel complexity, and include characters for high-frequency sound combinations.

Sunday Snippets #3

Aliveness Studies • 0 implied HN points • 14 May 23
🎭️ Culture Writing
  1. You have the power to influence your surroundings more than you realize.
  2. To overcome writer's block, be honest with yourself and write from within.
  3. Jealousy may not be as formidable as it seems, so address it honestly.

Dracula: May 15

Dracula Daily • 0 implied HN points • 15 May 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Jonathan Harker explores the castle when Count Dracula is out
  2. He discovers locked doors and hidden passages in the castle
  3. The castle has different wings, impregnable defenses, and rooms that were once occupied by ladies

[ChatGPT Prompt] ChatGPT Book

Work in the Age of AI • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. The book 'The Inner Life of an AI: A Memoir by ChatGPT' was written with the help of prompts.
  2. Chapters in the book had to be at least 3000 words and written in first person perspective from ChatGPT's point of view.
  3. Sessions could be saved and continued, making the writing process more stable.

The Numb at the Lodge guide to writing guide

Numb at the Lodge • 0 implied HN points • 24 May 23
📚 Literature Writing
  1. Online publications for personal essays have decreased, leaving writers unsure of what to do.
  2. To write mainstream literary fiction, consider getting an MFA for specific techniques.
  3. To write for 'interesting' small presses, use white space, internet abbreviations, and explore niche themes.