Substack

• The “news” offers commentary on current events and Lee’s particular interests and knowledge areas.
• “Reviews” can be of just about anything, ranging from books and articles to film and television, or fashion, architecture, events and miscellaneous “fancy things”.
• Lee notes it provides a useful way of generating regular income between her longer form, traditionally published writing.

How Substack works

• Rather than charge writers a fee, Substack takes a cut of revenue generated by reader subscriptions.
• Might Substack newsletters emerge as a viable alternative to print and digital books, and the conventional model of literary publishing?
• Read more:
  Is Salman Rushdie's decision to publish on Substack the death of the novel?

New writing by leading authors

• This seemed like a possible direction in 2021, when several prominent authors began to publish their new fiction through the platform.
• However, literary authors are not really using Substack as a replacement for conventional books.
• Often authors are using Substack for forms of writing that wouldn’t always be viable in other mediums.
• According to Saunders, discussion of the mechanics of writing and narrative construction should not just be confined to creative writing classrooms.

Immediacy and intimacy

• The appeal of author newsletters has probably come to reside more in the immediacy and intimacy of these kinds of writings, rather than the prospect of an advance look at forthcoming or developing fiction.
• Mackellar’s Sydney Review of Books essay on the merits of the newsletter as a literary form is worth investigating.

The Paris End

• The Paris End typically delivers two to three long-form essays each month (illustrated by cartoonist Aaron Billings) and a bi-weekly review section covering trends, books, dining and more.
• The Paris End is hyperlocal in its focus and very conversational in style.
• By contrast, the Paris End writers get involved – they put themselves into the stories.
• The Paris End is like the New Yorker if the entire magazine consisted of feature-length “Talk of the Town” pieces.

Is it sustainable?

• They are in good company with the unwatched shows on my Netflix list, and the unread books on my shelves.
• While there are benefits to the regular writing habits demanded by the newsletter model, it may not always be sustainable.
• The matter now appears to be resolved, but it demonstrates how the current volatility surrounding X can impact Substack writers.
• Its rapid adoption by both local and international authors has resulted in the creation of fascinating and innovative new content.

• "We're thrilled to have Mary, Joanna and Tom on the News Items team," said John Ellis, the founder and editor of News Items and Political New Items.
• Williams Walsh will oversee daily operations in addition to serving as a financial columnist.
• Before joining News Items, Williams Walsh worked at The New York Times as a reporter covering the intersection of finance, public policy and the aging population.
• Ellis recently announced News Items raised $1.5 million during a friends and family round of equity funding.

• The newly secured backing will be used to expand News Items’ staff and amplify its visibility.
• "I am grateful for the support of our investors and for their confidence in the enterprise,” said John Ellis, founder and editor.
• “The filter that we use for story selection -- ‘items’ we call them -- is ‘interesting, important or both,’” said Ellis.
• Our subscribers greatly appreciate how News Items helps them cut through the clutter and save time.”
  Some of the world’s most influential people are News Items subscribers.

• Veriten, a research, strategy and investing firm focused on the long-term challenges and opportunities in the energy sector, today announced that Arjun Murti, who has served as a Senior Advisor since August 2022, has been appointed as a Partner leading the firm’s Energy Macro and Policy efforts.
• Maynard Holt, Veriten’s Founder and CEO, said, “We are thrilled Arjun has accepted this new leadership role.
• Our global Veriten community of COBT subscribers, leading energy companies, long term investors and overall energy enthusiasts share our excitement about his promotion to Partner.
• Murti’s well-regarded Super-Spiked channel on Substack explores many of the complex issues surrounding the energy macro discussion, consistent with many of the themes Veriten covers.