Substacks recommended by Scott Neumyer

Recommended by Scott Neumyer

THE BIG ONE explores the practical aspects of creative living in a world that makes this lifestyle really tough.

Honoring art as therapy and catharsis while exploring the shadow side of how mental health challenges impact creative process, medium, content, productivity, identity and business and exploring how this intersects with social and cultural issues.

Author Hannah Mary McKinnon / Holly Cassidy's Newsletter

By Hannah Mary McKinnon

Hannah Mary McKinnon is a thriller author who also writes holiday romantic-comedies under the pseudonym Holly Cassidy. This is her (ir)regular newsletter about what's going on in her writing world.

Substack Writers at Work

By Sarah Fay

The only expert guide to Substack ✦ For those serious about Substack and ready to earn an income, produce your best work, and have the career you want ✦ Home of the Substack Growth Cohort

The Enthusiast by Brad Montague

A weekly reminder there are things worth celebrating.

Full of hope, inspiration, and joy, The Enthusiast is always a welcome addition to my inbox.

- Scott Neumyer

Sarah’s Smorgasbord

By Sarah Allen

From the world of kid lit: insider interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, good resources, and bad drawings, delivered 2x a month from award winning children's author Sarah Allen.

Shaved Meats, Piled High

By Laura Lippman

Blatant self-promotion for my novels because I never want to have a real job again. But, hey, it's only monthly and it's free.

In Retrospect

By Frederick Joseph

In this ever-evolving thing we call life, we find ourselves at the crossroads of society's reckonings and personal awakenings. Here, we delve into the profound nuances of our global narrative, while traversing the corridors of politics and culture.

Inkygirl by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

By Debbie Ridpath Ohi's Inkygirl Newsletter

Debbie Ridpath Ohi writes and illustrates books for young people. Her posts include nuts & bolts tips about the craft and biz, behind-the-scenes process, bibliophile comics.

In the Flash

By Dina Litovsky

Adventures in the unseen world of photography.

Poetry Today

By Maya C. Popa

deepening your practice of poetry, mindset, and wonder

Decoding Everything

By David Chen

A newsletter by David Chen about movies, TV, tech, the media, and being an online creator.

Things That Don't Suck

By Andrea Gibson

One poet's quest to uncover what shifts when we shift our attention

Noted

By Jillian Hess

Tips from the world's best note takers

Deeply researched, beautifully written, and utterly fascinating, Noted is one of my favorite newsletters.

- Scott Neumyer

Saratonin

By Sara Benincasa

A delightful weekly newsletter that is sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant & often full of useful recommendations & weirdly enchanting ideas

Cup of Stars

By Carmen Maria Machado

Essays, nostalgia, big feelings, writing thoughts, rage.

For Dear Life with Maggie Smith

A newsletter about writing & other things that make this life dear—from the poet, not the dame

Hands down one of the best newsletters around. Always informative, always interesting, and always exciting when it pops up in your inbox.

- Scott Neumyer

Listening in the Dark with Amber Tamblyn

Creative-minded community and cultural catharsis. Full of feminism and always algorithm-free.

Garrett Francis

A Seattle-based author of ambitious yet approachable literary fiction. Instant access to my entire catalog for less than $1 per month at www.authorgarrettfrancis.com.

Skipping to the Fun Parts

By Dana Jeri Maier

Tricking yourself into creating art, one Post-It note doodle at a time

Zoe Sees

By Zoe Si

Words & Cartoons by Zoe Si

Peak Notions with Laura Kennedy

The digital world is full of voices (often loud and disgruntled), but this is a place where you won’t find the obvious perspective, or the one you see everywhere else. By an Irish writer, editor and ex-philosopher.

Beyond with Jane Ratcliffe

The internet’s most intimate, illuminating interviews with today’s greatest writers—get an in-depth look into the craft of writing and what it means to be a heart-centered human in a hard world.

The Reverse Cowgirl

By Susannah Breslin

I cover the business of sex.

Before and After the Book Deal

By Courtney Maum

Real talk about the writing + publishing industry by an author who doesn’t want you to feel confused, bewildered, or alone. Plus: craft tips, reading recommendations, writing support + solidarity (unless you are a jerk to people in the comments).

Emotional Support Lady

By Allison Raskin

A weekly newsletter of mental health musings from a New York Times best-selling author who has a master's in psychology and has been mentally ill since childhood!

The Writing Shed with Tommy Tomlinson

Something interesting in your inbox a couple times a week.

Seeing Things

By Liza Donnelly

New and unpublished drawings and thoughts for people who want to see more of life, from a New Yorker cartoonist. Drawings, cartoons, words, live drawing, process, more...

Whether it's a behind-the-scenes look at the process or topical cartoons, Seeing Things is a great addition to any inbox from one of today's best artists.

- Scott Neumyer

Story Club with George Saunders

A place to explore the way the short story works.

Kate Baer's Newsletter

updates on books, tour dates, and more from Kate Baer

Jeff Pearlman's Journalism Yang Yang

The journalistic thoughts and musings of a man who writes a lot.

A deep dive into journalism and sports from one of the genre's foremost writers. Highly recommended!

- Scott Neumyer

Write What

By Stephanie Danler

A newsletter about reading & writing & the never-ending conversation.

Oldster Magazine

By Sari Botton

Exploring what it means to travel through time in a human body, at every phase of life.

From the mind of the inimitable Sari Botton, Oldster Magazine is the quintessential look at life and aging in all its various forms.

- Scott Neumyer

Cartoons by Hilary

By Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell

Weekly cartoons from the sketchbook of New Yorker cartoonist Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell

Somebody's Notes

By Ashley C Ford

A continuing conversation you can read, listen to, or join.

David Yoon Shares Everything He Knows

I once read that the most valuable thing a human being can do (besides love) is share everything they know without expecting anything in return. Let's try it!

Austin Kleon

Weekly art, writing, and creative inspiration from the author of Steal Like an Artist and other bestsellers.

Walk It Off

By Isaac Fitzgerald

That was tough. Let's go for a walk.

DrawTogether with WendyMac

By Wendy MacNaughton

Drawing explorations, lessons, and weekly art assignments from New York Times-bestselling artist Wendy MacNaughton. Paying subscribers get full access to the DrawTogether Grown-Ups Table creative community and the 30-Day Drawing Habit.

An incredibly vibrant, engaged community from one of the best artists working today.

- Scott Neumyer

Notes From the Margin

By Lisa Unger

Observations, musings and updates from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger. Exploring the psyche, culture, and relationships through story.

Liana’s Newsletter

By Liana Finck

A weekly selection of drawings by New Yorker cartoonist and matador Liana Finck, sent out on Wednesdays. Paid subscribers will also get a Sunday email of autobiographical comics, process drawings, and other behind-the-scenes things.

Witty, clever, and poignant all at once, Liana's work is groundbreaking in so many ways.

- Scott Neumyer

The New Fatherhood

By Kevin Maguire

"Like one big group text with other guys fumbling their way through fatherhood." — Esquire

The Creative Edge

By J.T. Ellison

A deep dive into literature and fiction, popular books, creative writing, and more from NYT bestselling author and serial storyteller J.T. Ellison, aka @thrillerchick. Free and paid content. Lots of writing advice. Eat the fish, leave the bones.

The Anxious Overachiever

By Kathleen Smith

Therapy homework for busy humans who want to build better relationships.

Uncut Slang

By Nate Marshall

Thoughts, recommendations, and ramblings from a Spades Champion who moonlights as a poet.

Process by Wesley Verhoeve

"Process" is a weekly newsletter about photography and finding your creative voice, by a pro with a decade of experience.

FlakPhoto Digest

By Andy Adams

A curated newsletter for photography people

Abortion, Every Day

By Jessica Valenti

All things abortion. Feminist commentary & community.

Memoir Land

By Memoir Monday

Three verticals: Memoir Monday: A collaboration among Granta, Guernica, Narratively, The Rumpus, Orion Magazine, The Walrus, Electric Literature, Literary Hub, Oldster Magazine; First Person Singular original essays; The Lit Lab interviews + craft essays.

Evil Witches Newsletter

By Claire Zulkey

We are people who happen to be mothers.

Cranky Guide to Writing Newsletter

By Ines Bellina

A curmudgeon's guide to making it as a Real Writer™

Alex Segura

News and updates about my novel and comic book-writing work, plus reading recommendations!

Culture Study

By Anne Helen Petersen

Think more about the culture that surrounds you