Substacks recommended by Brian Watson

Recommended by Brian Watson

Something odd will cross my mind, or a memory will catch me off guard, or my monkey mind will swing from the ceiling fan, or a tiny ant will crawl up the bookcase next to my chair. Then I get curious and curiosity is the first step in an unknown direction

SOS (Save Our Serotonin)

By Greg Mania

Life, Lols, & Lexapro

Entertainment, Weakly

By Patrick Nathan

Essays and letters against feeling absolutely hopeless about entertainment, culture, and politics, and the way art touches all of them.

SLANT LETTER

By Stephanie Duncan Smith

A newsletter on writing craft and style—from an editor in publishing who believes in the spiritual practice of the creative process.

JAPAN ORDINARY -photos-

By Japan Ordinary

I photograph ordinary moments in Japan. Streets, light, silence, and small details of everyday life. Nothing special — and that is exactly what I want to share.

A Word About...

By Benjamin Dreyer

Words. Words about words. Words about copyediting. The occasional cultural observation.

Solace and Flight: A Writer's Journal

By Lahim

I write about writing, Queer stuff, disability, a little horror/fantasy, Black stuff, the life of inner liberation and the many many awkward missteps in between. Let's inspire each other and remember to marvel.

Before and After the Book Deal

By Courtney Maum

Real talk about the writing + publishing industry from 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).

It’s nice to have writing friends who’ve been where you are and who know the anxieties you face.

- Brian Watson

The Word Cave

By Lilly Dancyger

Short essays and missives about writing, reading, and art from Lilly Dancyger, author of Muscle Memory, First Love, and Negative Space. Plus occasional writing course listings.

The Querent

By Alexander Chee

The person asking a question at the beginning of a Tarot card reading. Or, a newsletter project by Alexander Chee.

John Paul Brammer

Writing, art, and more from John Paul Brammer.

Fun AND educational. A winning combination.

- Brian Watson

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.

Back when I was charting my writing path, Lauren was an inspiration. Her writing continues to inspire in its raw honesty and passion.

- Brian Watson

Kyota Ko

Nihongoism

By Bob Myers

Encounters with the Japanese Language

Backup Account

By OttO Kent

TikTok meta-cultural critique sparked by my gay-ass algorithm. This is my backup account.

Adventures in Writing

By Allison K Williams

An intermittent postcard of travel, writing and wonder.

Reading the Queer Classics

By Garrard Conley

exploring influential queer literature, #bannedbooks that have defined our culture, from the author of Boy Erased

The fox gaze 🏳️‍🌈🦊

By Tales Gubes

Stories of gay life from the perspective of a Brazilian polyamorous human gatherer.

Tales embraces vulnerability for the reader. Their work is honest and, above all, loving.

- Brian Watson

The Queer Love Project

By Jerry Portwood

What do we know about love? Find, accept and explore love and commitment among gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people in queer relationships through storytelling and interviews with LGBTQ+ folx.

Ariel Gore

Ariel Gore is the LAMBDA Award-winning editor and author of a dozen books of fiction and nonfiction including the experimental memoirs We Were Witches and the forthcoming Rehearsals for Dying: Digressions on Love and Cancer from the Feminist Press

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

By The Shit About Writing Team

A twice weekly newsletter chock-full of guidance and support from publishing industry insiders. Expect author interviews, guest blogs, giveaways, and more!

From BK to TK

By Baye McNeil

Memoir, commentary, and stories from a Brooklyn-born writer living in Tokyo, tracing the people, places, and realities that shaped him in both worlds.

Imperfect Dispatches

By Lauren O'Malley

Sanity and humanity in marketing and communications for writers.

Unabridged

By Stefan Fatsis

Words about words and sometimes more

✍🏻 Journal Your Path with Jennifer Zarin

✍🏻Mindful embodied journaling prompts & intergenerational journaling community, personal essays leaning into creativity, identity, grief & life. Writer. Nearly 20 yrs exp. -Expressive Writing Facilitator, Creative Arts Therapist, Drama Therapist, Singer

Dreaming in Japanese

By Leanne Ogasawara

A Newsletter of Life, Love, and Language

Always lyrical, always beautiful.

- Brian Watson

Pursuing Joy

By Jay Kibble (he/they)

Jay is an AuDHD & trans expat seeking out more joy in life and a platform for his writing. He/they. #amwriting and #amquerying a hybrid memoir, also #amwriting a chapbook centering trans joy 🏳️‍⚧️🌈✨ contact: jay.a.kibble@gmail.com

Embracing the Full Catastrophe

By Casey Mulligan Walsh

Casey Mulligan Walsh writes about life at the intersection of grief and joy and embracing the in-between. Her memoir, The Full Catastrophe: All I Ever Wanted, Everything I Feared, was published by Motina Books in February 2025.

I've known Casey for a few years now, and her writing is a good mix of delicacy and emotion.

- Brian Watson

External Monologues

By Zev Good

"If it comes up, it comes out."

Another Gen X writer who reminds me of both the universalities and the uniqueness we experienced in growing up queer in the 1970s.

- Brian Watson

Keaton Fuller

Keaton Fuller is an Iowa-based writer usually found journaling in dive bars or long-distance running from his demons. His most recent work is a comedy series called Friendly Faces, a bright-dark comedy about a rent-a-friend service.