i only wrote this substack 4 u
In an algorithm-driven age, people are seeking authentic, organic content now more than ever. With the rise of Substack — one of the biggest newsletter platforms to date — you’re able to curate your own digital library and stuff it with articles best aligned with your preferred genres. Since its launch in 2017, Substack's creator-friendly format has spotlighted independent voices and fostered unique communities across every imaginable niche. Without the barrier of saturated feeds and the pressure of publishing giants, both writers and readers benefit: writers can build their own personal publications with ease and complete creative freedom, even offering a paywall if desired, and readers can opt-in on the topics they want to read about. Think of it as a basket filled with handpicked goodies from your internet friends regularly landing in your inbox.
The Substack universe contains crevices and corners that seem endless, and its abundance is gratifying this generation's appetite for insightful, evergreen content and intimate connections. As of late, a scroll on TikTok will land you on a 20-slide post with recommended Substack articles, encouraging you to quit doomscrolling and indulge in personal essays on empathy or the meaning of love. What I found most fascinating were the conversations amongst total strangers brimming in the comments as they discussed what articles deeply moved them, followed by recommendations for other pieces they should read. The profundity of Substack even lies in the camaraderie that blooms outside of the platform itself. At the end of the day, people want to resonate with the content they consume. Meander around the platform long enough, and you’ll find authors who’ll give you words to the language you’ve been trying to speak.
If you don’t know where to start, below are a handful of Substack’s up-and-coming literary stalwarts who are shaping the media landscape. They’re for the thought daughters — the two-hour debriefers who are ardent supporters of movies, literature, music, and everything in between. Who knew checking your email could become a treat rather than a dreary task?
Chloé In Newsletter
NYC-based writer Chloé Williams mulls over everything under the sun, turning a seemingly mundane slice of a moment into an intricate mosaic. With paid and free newsletter options that go out each month, both feature a personal essay that explores a theme she’s been pondering, resulting in a piece that feels as intimate as a diary entry. Williams knows exactly how to weave words together to create a tapestry every reader of her work can find themselves in.
Her piece titled “To Live a Textured Life” is for the deep thinkers and feelers.
Cafe Histeria
Originally from Seattle, WA, Madison Huizinga is an LA-based writer with her finger on the pulse of pop culture. Landing in subscribers' inboxes weekly, Huizinga writes about “women, media, art, and growing up,” all while examining how the internet shapes our patterns of thought on these subjects. Her ability to turn brain-rot trends into rich, introspective commentary is a testament to her craft.
If you’ve been on the Heated Rivalry train, I recommend reading her post on why Straight Women Love Gay Romance.
Movie Mondays with Gina
Gina Wurtz writes for the cinephile girlies who dream of stepping into the Criterion Closet and religiously re-watch Legally Blonde. Graduating from The New School with a degree in Screen Studies, Wurtz’s weekly newsletter offers rich insight and analyses on films ranging from the 90s to those in contention for Oscar nominations. If you’re someone who loves a long debrief after watching a film, she’s your girl.
Revisit a classic 2000s film with her analysis of Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Girls On The Page
Beginning as an Instagram account during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Girls On The Page was a place of retreat for literary enthusiasts. Since then, founder Emma Leokadia Walkiewicz has cultivated a space that celebrates women in literature and sparks curiosity for the books we scan over at the library. Each month, subscribers will receive reading recommendations and chew on enlightening conversations with some of today’s best authors. If you ever find yourself in a reading rut, Walkiewicz is like the best friend whose list of “Must-Reads” you can always count on.
Read her most recent interview with award-winning author Souvankham Thammavongsa.
