Browse newsletters about personal essay

Homeward

by Amanda Hesser

Food52 co-founder Amanda Hesser chronicles her personal journey of building a new home, sharing design insights, practical tips, and witty reflections on domesticity.

Oldster Magazine

by Sari Botton

Editor Sari Botton's Oldster Magazine explores the universal experience of aging, de-stigmatizing it through essays, interviews, and intergenerational dialogue.

Secret Society

by John Hodgman

Join John Hodgman's Secret Society newsletter, where he shares unique insights, secrets, and humorous truths. Paid members unlock exclusive words, sounds, and pictures.

An Irritable Métis

by Chris La Tray

Montana Poet Laureate Chris La Tray, a Métis storyteller, shares irritable, meandering thoughts on Indigenous issues, white supremacy, capitalism, and the world, often with poetry.

Are You Mad At Me?

by Lane Moore

Lane Moore, award-winning author and humorist, delivers empathetic advice on relationships, mental health, and life's struggles, spiced with pop culture analysis.

Saratonin

by Sara Benincasa

Author Sara Benincasa shares funny, smart, and weird original writing and recommendations, co-edited by a powerful elderly cat. Covers creativity, mental health, and humor.

Colin Meloy's Machine Shop

by Colin Meloy

The Decemberists' Colin Meloy shares his creative process from his "Machine Shop," dissecting songs, sharing demos, and serialized stories.

Bad Brain

by Ashley Reese

Ashley Reese's Bad Brain: An authentic, unapologetic exploration of life, death, pop culture, and the internet, ranging from grief to smutty fanfiction.

Cheryl Strayed's Dear Sugar

by Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed, the original Dear Sugar, answers reader letters with profound, empathetic advice on life's toughest questions, delivered monthly.

You've Got Lipstick on Your Chin

by Arabelle Sicardi

Arabelle Sicardi explores the power of beauty, questioning its promises & lies. She links it to anti-fascism, finance, and the pursuit of freedom.

Songs in Four Dimensions

by Shara Nova

Shara Nova delves into the creative process and the essence of song. She shares provocations, poems, and insights to inspire deeper thought and creative living.

Out of It

by Mary Gaitskill

Acclaimed author Mary Gaitskill offers personal reflections on connecting with the world through writing, exploring topics from literature and AI to politics and society.

A Fan's Notes,

by Nick Hornby

Novelist Nick Hornby offers his takes on music, books, movies, writing, football, TV, and occasional politics. Some longer pieces will be paywalled.

Time & Temperature

by Rhett Miller

Rhett Miller, Old 97's frontman, offers a direct connection to his writing, music, songwriting tips, and behind-the-scenes tales from a life in rock.

Parakeet’s Substack

by Parakeet

Polymath artist and Harvard alum Parakeet shares unreserved musings, covering symphonic metal, amateur astronomy, and AI's impact on art and poetry.

Tara Dublin Is An Untapped Writing Goldmine

by Tara Dublin

Tara Dublin provides commentary and 'truth-telling' pieces on current events, social issues, and personal interests like music.

Pášșíòņ Pįť | Pąșśìóň Pïț | Substack

by Pąșśìóň Pïț

Michael John Angelakos, frontman of Passion Pit, shares exclusive, personal content and 'weird stuff' direct to fans, offering a unique, unfiltered look into his world.

Love, Juliet | Juliet Diaz | Substack

by Juliet Diaz

A devotional space by Juliet Diaz for reflections on right relationship with self, Earth, and others, rooted in liberatory and decolonial practices.

Inconspicuous Consumption | Paul Lukas | Substack

by Paul Lukas

Paul Lukas explores the hidden stories and minute details behind everyday objects, design, and consumer culture, turning the inconspicuous into the fascinating.

Micelio - La Newsletter di Daniela Collu | Substack

by Daniela Collu

Daniela Collu's weekly Micelio newsletter offers personal insights on culture, art, relationships, and society, with interviews and curated recommendations.

phone notes | Kayti Christian | Substack

by Kayti Christian

Kayti Christian shares her personal journey through IVF, infertility, and deconstructing purity culture, with insights from her upcoming memoir.

Scheer Nonsense | Paul Scheer | Substack

by Paul Scheer

Paul Scheer (How Did This Get Made?) brings 'Scheer Nonsense,' a weekly love letter to the chaotic internet, with pop culture essays, rants, and funny conspiracies.

Melanie Benjamin: The Reluctant Extrovert

by Melanie Benjamin

Author Melanie Benjamin invites readers to a cozy corner for updates on her novels, behind-the-scenes stories, and chats about life's mysteries.

Richard Herring's Substack | Substack

by Richard Herring

Richard Herring shares his daily blog Warming Up, new writing projects like short stories and episodic novels, and exclusive audio/video. He aims to foster a friendly community for fans.

By Nina Hendrick | Substack

by Nina Hendrick

Nina Hendrick, a writer and homebody, shares essays on home, memory, and creativity. Discover reflections on intentional living and her journey of writing novels.

Alas | Carla | Substack

by Carla

Carla's 'Alas' is a weekly, unpredictable newsletter exploring books, gastronomy, inspiring stories, and world-changing people, delivered Fridays.

Aural Apothecary | The Shins | Substack

by The Shins

The Shins' James Mercer offers exclusive demos, new music, and behind-the-scenes content from his Aural Apothecary, exploring music and his "weird ideas."

Gary’s Journey Through Hell | Gary Shteyngart | Substack

by Gary Shteyngart

Gary Shteyngart shares his unique, personal journey through life's beauty and suffering, promising Gen-X weirdness that's anything but cringe.

Beep Beep Coming Through by Timothy Winchester | Substack

by Timothy Winchester

Webcomic artist Timothy Winchester shares creative projects, fun cultural finds, and uses this newsletter for unique experiments like conceptual candle reviews.

The Wise Wang

by Yueyue Wang

Yueyue Wang shares juicy personal stories and monthly insights on human nature and life. She also offers writing coaching.

DeSmeeOLado | Guilherme Smee | Substack

by Guilherme Smee

This newsletter by Guilherme Smee offers no specific details about its content or topics in the provided About section.

Book Enthusiast | Becca Freeman | Substack

by Becca Freeman

Author Becca Freeman (The Christmas Orphans Club) shares book recs, life updates, and novel news. Paid access includes personal essays.

Hoo've Got Mail

by Lizzy Hoo

Comedian Lizzy Hoo shares personal reflections, pop culture insights, and updates on her comedy and podcasts in Hoo've Got Mail.

rebuzno [y.] | Dromómanos | Substack

by Dromómanos

Dromómanos publishes essays on human errors and critical thought. This community explores original ignorance, questions technology, and navigates life's confusions.

The Performance Plan | Nicole Garelick | Substack

by Nicole Garelick

Nicole Garelick, an anxious mid-30s mom, details her humorous 'Performance Improvement Plan,' chronicling the comedy of errors and relatable missteps in everyday life.

Starship Casual | Jeff Tweedy | Starship Casual | Substack

by Jeff Tweedy | Starship Casual

Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) shares unreleased music, candid road stories, songwriting insights, and personal musings, creating a direct community for fans.

Interscope

by Demarcus Stokes

Interscope by Demarcus Stokes explores ideas, fragments, and quiet revolutions. A playground for thought in the Writing category.

The Open Letters | Substack

by The open Letters

A collaborative newsletter creating a living magazine where diverse voices share essays, reflections, and personal letters, published twice weekly.

Catherine Shannon | Substack

by Catherine Shannon

Writer Catherine Shannon (The New Yorker) explores diverse cultural, personal, and philosophical topics like pop music, Tony Soprano, God, and motherhood.

★ I WILL DO WHATEVER I WANT ★ | Mackenzie Thomas | Substack

by Mackenzie Thomas

Mackenzie Thomas creates a space for unconstrained online expression, sharing unique writing, videos, and links. She aims to recapture the early internet's creative freedom.

LILEKS (James) | James Lileks | Substack

by James Lileks

James Lileks, former StarTribune columnist, continues his 46-year career with carefully crafted essays, distinct from his "rambling mess" blog.

KevinJosephCMX’s Substack

by Kevin Joseph

Kevin Joseph CMX cultivates a vibrant community for readers to connect, share their interests, and engage through active comments.

Beyond the Bookshelf | Matthew Long | Substack

by Matthew Long

Matthew Long, a former submariner, explores books, reading, attention, and meaning through honest, personal essays from rural Tennessee.

Huck Gee

by Huck

This newsletter, Huck Gee by Huck, currently provides no descriptive content about its specific topic or focus based on the provided text.

Lo que nunca dije | Selena ୨୧ | Substack

by Selena ୨୧

Selena shares unsent letters, imperfect poems, and candid reflections on navigating her 20s, healing, and humor. A space for everything left unsaid.

perfume & letters

by teodoraa

perfume & letters offers unique perspectives on the world of fragrances and the art of letter writing, blending personal reflections with cultural insights.

Patti Smith | Substack

by Patti Smith

Patti Smith offers her weekly ruminations, poetry, music, and personal musings, alongside 'The Melting,' her serialized private pandemic journal.

Escaping Flatland | Henrik Karlsson | Substack

by Henrik Karlsson

Henrik Karlsson's Escaping Flatland offers essays on relationships, agency, and crafting a meaningful life, often drawn from deep conversations with his wife Johanna.

BRENT BUTT: NOT EXACTLY TV | Substack

by Brent Butt

Comedian/writer Brent Butt shares his personal thoughts, stories, doodles, photos, audio, and video, channeling his unique creativity into a fresh digital bucket.

Qualcosa | Alice Fadda | Substack

by Alice Fadda

Alice Fadda's illustrated newsletter, Qualcosa, shares her passions, fixations, readings, and cultural discoveries. A personal, evolving space published twice monthly.