Second Chapter Resources: Substack Edition
Substacks worth subscribing to for writing and publishing.
Hello to some new subscribers! This Substack normally publishes weekly interviews with authors sharing how they moved from their first career to becoming a published writer (i.e. their ‘Second Chapter’), but some weeks we’ve started to share resources that can help with writing and / or publishing.
Welcome to one of those weeks!
If you’re reading this, you’re likely aware of how amazing Substack is for writers. Not only does it seem like every writer and author has now flocked here to share more of their writing, there’s also so many resources for the craft of writing and for dismantling the black hole of publishing.
I’ve listed some of the writing and publishing Substacks I read daily, but I would LOVE to hear from you! Let me know what other Substacks you’re enjoying in the comments, and I’ll add them to the post.
Don’t quote me on this, but I think Kate McKean has been writing Agents and Books before Substack became the *thing* that it is now. She was one of my first subscriptions when I joined the platform a couple years ago. Agents and Books “attempts to answer the most common questions I [Kate] get about literary agents, publishing, and writing.” What I love the most is Kate’s brutal honesty and bravery to sometimes say ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ because a lot of getting a book published and / or getting amazing sales can be out of anyone’s control. I appreciate that honesty over the Substacks trying to sell you a way to get published and / or increase sales.
The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Arguably one of the most popular podcasts about writing and the publishing industry, the team behind TSNOTYAW have a twice weekly Substack spin-off that complements their podcast. In my opinion, their podcast is one of the most unique ones because of their Books With Hooks Query Critiques, where Bianca and Carly read out submitted queries and opening chapters and then critique the writing based on an agent’s perspective. On Substack, they provide their direct feedback to the authors for paying subscribers to see and learn from. So, if you are querying, this is a perfect one to subscribe and learn from.
Written by a publishing vet,
breaks down and explains events, trends, and the machination behind one of the most ‘black hole’ industries. She isn’t one to just accept the industry as it is though, often adding her own critiques to the industry and how authors can work with and around them. I always walk away from her posts learning something new. If you’re ready to start thinking about marketing or publicity for your book, this is a great Substack to subscribe to.Present Tense: Suspense Fiction and More
and , two authors of suspense fiction, read a variety of books and break down the lessons of what made those books stand out. Whether that’s going into design cover tropes, lessons from a Pulitzer Winner, or how to Gone Girl in 3 Steps. In a world where the craft can get overwhelming, what I love about their lessons is that they are built on what we can learn from what we’re already consuming.Before and After The Book Deal
This is a new Substack for me, but in
’s words it’s a Substack that offers “real talk about the writing + publishing industry from an author who doesn’t want you to feel confused, bewildered, or alone.” I’ve really been enjoying her video lessons lately.Potentially Substack famous for her #1000wordsofsummer project that runs (I think?) twice a year,
writes a daily letter encouraging you to write 1,000 words a day for two weeks. It’s more attainable than NaNoWrMo, but still an actionable deadline that most writers need. Outside of that project, she shares a weekly newsletter about writing, publishing and generally living a creative life. is a writer of over 25 books (!) and while her writing certainly keeps her busy, she also loves to teach and help writers with their own stories (hence the name!). Her Substack is filled with great writing tutorials and peeks behind the publishing curtain.Others…
While these Substacks don’t necessarily focus only on writing or publishing, I wanted to share some others that offer incredible insights interspersed within their other content.
- by
The Hyphen by
Okay, your turn! What writing and / or publishing Substacks are you inhaling at the moment? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add them to this list.
As with our Books Resource post, save this post to refer back to when you’re in the trenches.
As always, thanks for reading! You can find Second Chapter also on Instagram. If you find yourself enjoying these interviews, please consider hearting and / or subscribing :)
I read so many of these -- this is a great list, honored to be on it!!
Thank you so much for the shout out!