Substacks recommended by Toby Neal | PASSAGES: Travel the USA and more!

Recommended by Toby Neal

Danielle Nava, CFP®

Progressive CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ guiding like-minded individuals through the world of wealth and politics.

Poems for Dark Days

By Anthea

Hoping to make the world a little brighter, one poem at a time.

Only Murders In The Inbox

By Reda Rountree (she/her)

A newsletter written by Reda Rountree, all about The Classic Murder Mystery — whodunits, twists and turns, with memorable detectives — in all its forms.

Cold Antler Farm

By Jenna Woginrich

Jenna Woginrich's dispatches from 6.5 acres of trouble. Writing on homesteading, rural queer life, pop culture, fly fishing & falconry.

Inside an Editor's Brain

By Kristen Weber

Advice on writing and publishing from an editor who has helped hundreds of authors publish successfully.

A skillful editor with a laser eye takes a kind scalpel to writers in this ongoing column. Her Notes are excellent, too. She edited my first ten or so books and it was like doing an MFA!

- Toby Neal

The War of Art

By Steven Pressfield

The “war of art” is not about genius, it’s about work. We can’t control the level of talent we’ve been given. We have no control over the nature of our gift. We can control how hard and how smart we work.

Letters From Turkey Town

By Tina Hedin

What happens after the worst happens? After tragedy struck, we left home to travel the US. I write about love, loss and hope from the road.

Forgotten Lands Project

By Josh Jackson

Written and visual dispatches from our least understood, least protected, and largely unknown public lands managed by the BLM. Part guidebook, inspiration, and travelogue.

A Day Well Spent with Leyla Kazim

A newsletter about purposeful living. By BBC presenter, journalist and writer, Leyla Kazim.

Incidental Comics

By Grant Snider

Impossible thoughts and complicated feelings, illustrated. With bonus musings on how to live a creative life.

Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

Build the Substack you really want with expert guidance from the leading Substack Strategist, Sarah Fay. A top-10, featured Substack.

The ultimate guidess to mastery on Substack is generous and interesting as well.

- Toby Neal

Letters From Love with Elizabeth Gilbert

This is heart work

When I need a warm fuzzy or a bitter tear, these are always there for me.

- Toby Neal

The Villager

By Tom Cox

New writing on landscape, music, books, folklore, psychedelia, the natural world and other misty magical things outside the mainstream.

The Nonfiction Book Party

By Jaymi “the OC BookGirl”

A newsletter for nonfiction-curious readers with easy book recs and a growing list of nonfiction authors worth following on Substack.

I love her in depth book reviews!

- Toby Neal

They Keep Telling Me I Should Write My Memoir

By Beth Robinson

All the stories I sometimes tell and some of the stories I never told.

A truthful and engaging exploration of the process of writing a memoir.

- Toby Neal

Chasing Nature

By Bryan Pfeiffer

Essays on wildlife, wild places and the human condition.

A paen of praise to the natural world.

- Toby Neal

THE NEAR BEYOND

By Matthew Propert

A conscious gathering place for stories (some from my life, some from my imagination), and glimpses of the world through my lens. I am a writer / photographer / surfer / climber / 15 years as a National Geograhic Photo Editor

Enjoying the voice of the writer and exploits shared in this newsletter!

- Toby Neal

A Thin Space

By Emily Conway

For those who feel and live deeply, personal essays of awareness and intention with an emphasis on healing and wholeness.

The Creative Shift by Dan Blank

Helping writers and creators share their work and connect with readers in meaningful ways. Digging deep into marketing, book launches, and platform development. Get my weekly newsletter every Friday.

A.M. Sketching

By Sue Clancy

A bit of creativity, often whimsical, from Clancy's sketchbook to go with your morning coffee.

Love the approachable style and open, tenderhearted expression of this creativity journal. Inspired to do my own by it!

- Toby Neal

Writers Are Superstars

By Kern Carter

Writers Are Superstars isn’t just a read—it’s a resource. It's a blend of sharp cultural commentary and deep craft education, designed to help writers think critically, write with intention, and get clear about how your writing fits into the world.

The Habit of Art by Kelcey Ervick

Illustrated stories about the ups, downs, twists, turns, and life-changing power of making art and telling stories. From a writer who draws.

On the Journey

By Sarah Styf

Reflections on middle age, family, faith, citizenship, and travel

Beyond with Jane Ratcliffe

The internet’s most intimate, illuminating interviews with today’s greatest writers—get an in-depth look into the craft of writing and what it means to be a heart-centered human in a hard world.

I eagerly gobble through these essays, Interviews are often with some of the best writers and influencers in the creative sphere.

- Toby Neal

Trish Tails

By Dishkitty

Hi. I draw a diary comic every day. Some of them are pretty good! Sign up, you'll love it.

Art and thoughts that make me nod, smile, pause...

- Toby Neal

Natural Wonders

By Heather Wall

A photo-illustrated newsletter that asks and answers random questions about weird natural phenomena

Go-to newsletter for bedazzlement with nature and its mysteries.

- Toby Neal

SOCIAL MEDIA ESCAPE CLUB

By Social Media Escape Club

Quit social media and build community without algorithms. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Marinarena Travel & Poetic Deep Dive

Musings, Observations and Journeys by Marinarena, fellow wanderer and wonderer. File under: blogs, commentaries, listicles, poetry, prose, travel

A frequent surprise and haiku delight.

- Toby Neal

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shares thoughts about sports, politics, and popular culture and how they define America.

Huge fan of this blog, whether for movie recs or political rants, it's all brain food.

- Toby Neal

Red Dirt Rambler

By Holly Robinson

Never let the chores list win! Whether you want to hike, write, paint, or read, give yourself time to do it. Nobody else will.

Best friend and best writer, her blogs are delight!

- Toby Neal

The Author Stack

By Russell Nohelty

Helping create a sustainable path forward for authors to build businesses that allow them to thrive and lives that light them up inside.

Chuck Palahniuk's Plot Spoiler

Exclusive fiction too out-there for prime time, by the author of Fight Club. Writing lessons. Lurid back story.

Chuck is my writing coach and pulls no punches.

- Toby Neal

TRANSFORM with Marianne Williamson

Transform yourself, transform the world.

Sometimes you just need a love potion, yanno? Marianne's daily meditations do the trick every time.

- Toby Neal

Robert Reich

Daily newsletter exposing where power lies — and how it's used and abused

Words and Pictures by Pamela Leavey

Hello Readers! I am a Creative Writer & Photographer. I post Poetry, Personal and Photo Essays, Daily Affirmations, Quotes of the Day and more, all to Inspire and Enlighten my readers. My posts are digital collages encompassing the world around me.

The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad

A newsletter for people seeking to transform life's interruptions into creative grist

Touching, inspiring, connecting with others, this community is headed by a human who lights the world.

- Toby Neal

Austin Kleon

Weekly art, writing, and creative inspiration from the author of Steal Like an Artist and other bestsellers.

Been following @AustinKleon for years on his blog, and of course came over to @substack with him. Everything he writes and recommends is gold for creatives!

- Toby Neal

Category Pirates

The authority on category design & category creation. Sharing how legendary entrepreneurs, executives, marketers, and creators design business breakthroughs. By Christopher Lochhead, Eddie Yoon, & Katrina Kirsch

Often startling and revolutionary ideas. I need the "ZAP!" these Pirates dole out.

- Toby Neal

Travels Across America by Michelle and Chris Jacobs

Travel Reflections and Lessons in Life

Been enjoying this thoughtful and interesting travel blog!

- Toby Neal

Steady

By Dan Rather

Dan Rather's steady take on a complex and chaotic world.

As a child, Dan Rather was in the background with his Steady voice. Following him is a reassuring lifeline in the chaotic world of USA politics.

- Toby Neal

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.

Been loving this woman's writing for ages. Read with tissues at hand.

- Toby Neal

Everything Is Amazing

By Mike Sowden

A newsletter about asking better questions & a romp through science in search of a good "wow!" you can feel down to your boots.

Love the passion for nature and essential curiosity of this newsletter!

- Toby Neal

Weirdo Poetry

By Jason McBride

An illustrated newsletter about exploring creativity and accepting your weird self in a world designed to force you to be normal.

This guy is pushing the boundaries of known poetry expression and I am often surprised and inspired. Doesn't get better than that.

- Toby Neal

The SneakyArt Post

By Nishant Jain

Secretly drawn art of the world, delivered to your inbox.

An inspiring approach to capturing life

- Toby Neal

AffirmationChickens

By Affirmation Chickens

Your positive poultry message

My weekly virtual farm life smilefest. I <3 this blog and the animals with hilarious names.

- Toby Neal

The Clearing by Katherine May

By The Clearing with Katherine May

A newsletter and community for wild minds, winterers and enchantment-seekers with internationally bestselling author Katherine May.

A calm, measured voice telling important truths. Always gain a nugget of gold from her column.

- Toby Neal

The Turnstone

By Melanie Newfield

I believe that the science behind important issues should be accessible to everyone

By turns chilling, illuminating, and motivating, this blog on climate change educates even when I want to hide.

- Toby Neal

Subtle Maneuvers

By Mason Currey

A twice-monthly newsletter on the creative process, with lessons and insights from novelists, painters, poets, filmmakers, and musicians delivered to your inbox every other Tuesday. From the author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work.

Tender truth surgically handled that inspires creativity.

- Toby Neal

The Intellectual Investor

By Vitaliy Katsenelson

Value Investing, Life/Philosophy and Classical Music Explained

Letters from an American

By Heather Cox Richardson

A newsletter about the history behind today's politics.

The work that goes into this blog is intense, and it's deepened my understanding of issues by learning the context and backstory. Eternally grateful to this lady for holding up a light to dispel my political ignorance and humanize the chaos of Washington DC.

- Toby Neal