Substacks recommended by Laura McKowen

Recommended by Laura McKowen

Dedicated to practice, study and small transformations.

The only expert guide to Substack—where you grow your Substack, earn an income, and produce your best work ✦ Home of the 2024 Substack Growth Cohort

SubMakk

By Rebecca Makkai

Rebecca Makkai's Substack: mostly writing and books! but also Zillow, true crime, etymology, food, general inanity

Big (huge) fan of Rebecca Makkai's work. Her newsletter is irreverent, funny, helpful, and honest at once. A candid view into the writer's life.

- Laura McKowen

XO, MU by Melissa Urban

By XOMU

Helping you navigate life with firm boundaries, a kind heart, and a just the right amount of f***s.

Writing in the Dark with Jeannine Ouellette

For people who do language.

The most generous, insightful offerings about writing and the writer's life. As if Mary Oliver and Rilke had a brain child.

- Laura McKowen

Wild Letters

By Nic Antoinette

A weekly newsletter about self-exploration and building a right-fit life

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).

A treasure of a resource for writers from a pro. So smart, so honest, so helpful.

- Laura McKowen

Badreads

By Lauren Hough

Essays, bad jokes, rants, and unsolicited advice from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Hough, and a dog named Woody Guthrie.

Some of the best writing around, period.

- Laura McKowen

Poor Man's Feast

By Elissa Altman

The James Beard Award-winning narrative journal about the intersection of sustenance, nature, and the creative spirit (and sometimes, a recipe).

Elissa writes gorgeously about the creative life, especially memoir. Delicious recipes included.

- Laura McKowen

Cheryl Strayed's Dear Sugar

This is the home of two newsletters. Paid subscribers get Cheryl's Dear Sugar Letter monthly, plus her free newsletter several times a year, which includes her "Tells Us" author series. Free subscribers get everything but the monthly Dear Sugar Letter.

The Department of Salad: Official Bulletin

By Emily Nunn

Step into our salad laboratory. We got your leafy greens, your grains, your veg, and protein. Plus: salady guests, salady books & recipes, recipes, recipes 🥗

The life-giving rainbow of food, fun, and feelings we all need.

- Laura McKowen

Men Yell at Me

By lyz

Written from a journalist in a red state, this newsletter is personal, political, sometimes funny and always raises hell.

Love Story

Recommended by Laura McKowen