You’re so welcome, Richard! You’ve really been kicking ass on here. Your writing is so strong.
You should do a list like this of who your favorites have been lately. I’m planning to do this every season and maybe sometimes monthly. People doing good work need to be affirmed so they know to keep doing it.
Yep I need to read and follow more people! My issue is I get pulled in so many directions as I've been also building followings on TikTok and YouTube and Threads and Instagram and BlueSky! It's a lot!
That sounds like too much. You’re a great writer, Richard. You should focus on your writing and growing here on Substack. You may be spreading yourself too thin. ❤️
A name that jumbled out because I read and reread everything she writes is Farida Khalif in Mexico City. Where and how do all her great ideas come to her!
I learned the secrets to her great ideas when she and I had a wonderful chat recently. She has a tremendously diverse range of cultural experiences - a real unique blend - and she has a very mathematical mind. She speaks many languages. Definitely reach out to her - she might be someone with film project ideas. She has thoughtful views on film too.
So she is a singular writer. Her background, math-centered approach, and range of topics she focuses on make her totally unique.
And as unique as she is - you too are like her. Your perspective is unique and singular. That is what I most value on here in writers - who is offering something true and unique.
BTW - I have to geek out for a moment with a fellow film geek: I am absurdly excited by the update to the new Criterion Channel app this week. It now enables sorting and searching by director name, genre, country, and decade. So silly that something as simple as that can inspire such enthusiasm. Check it out if you haven’t seen it already. ✌️
Interesting list David. I have been on Substack for over three years and only heard of a couple of these folks. Joel Miller and I have been in each other's circle for a long time which is how I saw this post. It just goes to show how many people and variety is out there. I look forward to checking out some of these publications.
I think there is a plethora of good writing on Substack and I have always enjoyed Joel's. Most of what I read is bookish or things related to the natural world. You can see the full list of my subscriptions here: https://substack.com/@matthewmlong/reads
Some of my favorites from that list are Susie Mawhinney, Petya Grady, Ruth Gaskovski, Peco, Bill Davison, Barrie Thomson, Simon Haisell, Jay Adler, Ted Gioia, Sam Alaimo, and Mary Roblyn.
To be honest, there are too many good writers for me to keep up with.
I suspected you might feel that way and wouldn’t be used to being publicly affirmed in your art and character like this.
But people need to be affirmed and encouraged when they’re doing meaningful work and they’re on the right path.
The key thing for you to continue to advance in your art and writing is simply taking in as broad a range of new authors and different writing styles as you can. Everything. Could be from Africa, South America, India. Could be from the Middle Ages or Ancient Greece. Could be serious literature or a supermarket tabloid gossip paper. Appreciating both high culture and low culture is important. Both have their values.
Hence why I’m throwing book recommendations and excepts of this and that to you and others. These are tools and you can build great things with them.
Just making my way through this list now - thanks for putting this together - I've been looking for more people to follow and subscribe to!
And thanks again for the mention!
You’re so welcome, Richard! You’ve really been kicking ass on here. Your writing is so strong.
You should do a list like this of who your favorites have been lately. I’m planning to do this every season and maybe sometimes monthly. People doing good work need to be affirmed so they know to keep doing it.
Thank you!
Yep I need to read and follow more people! My issue is I get pulled in so many directions as I've been also building followings on TikTok and YouTube and Threads and Instagram and BlueSky! It's a lot!
That sounds like too much. You’re a great writer, Richard. You should focus on your writing and growing here on Substack. You may be spreading yourself too thin. ❤️
Ok. Look...I just discovered a writer who can joke about black coffee...I think I am in some modern bohemian heaven. F the decaf. Just saying.
Great list David, and honoured to a ‘chosen’ one
Some newbies on here i need to check out
A name that jumbled out because I read and reread everything she writes is Farida Khalif in Mexico City. Where and how do all her great ideas come to her!
Thank you. You deserve it.
Yes, she is wonderful.
I learned the secrets to her great ideas when she and I had a wonderful chat recently. She has a tremendously diverse range of cultural experiences - a real unique blend - and she has a very mathematical mind. She speaks many languages. Definitely reach out to her - she might be someone with film project ideas. She has thoughtful views on film too.
So she is a singular writer. Her background, math-centered approach, and range of topics she focuses on make her totally unique.
And as unique as she is - you too are like her. Your perspective is unique and singular. That is what I most value on here in writers - who is offering something true and unique.
BTW - I have to geek out for a moment with a fellow film geek: I am absurdly excited by the update to the new Criterion Channel app this week. It now enables sorting and searching by director name, genre, country, and decade. So silly that something as simple as that can inspire such enthusiasm. Check it out if you haven’t seen it already. ✌️
Interesting list David. I have been on Substack for over three years and only heard of a couple of these folks. Joel Miller and I have been in each other's circle for a long time which is how I saw this post. It just goes to show how many people and variety is out there. I look forward to checking out some of these publications.
The problem for you is that you have been spoiled by how good Joel is. There are very few on Substack at his level. He was #4 on my previous list: https://godofthedesert.substack.com/p/my-75-favorite-substacks-for-2026s?r=14q4c&utm_medium=ios
Who else do you like to read on Substack?
I think there is a plethora of good writing on Substack and I have always enjoyed Joel's. Most of what I read is bookish or things related to the natural world. You can see the full list of my subscriptions here: https://substack.com/@matthewmlong/reads
Some of my favorites from that list are Susie Mawhinney, Petya Grady, Ruth Gaskovski, Peco, Bill Davison, Barrie Thomson, Simon Haisell, Jay Adler, Ted Gioia, Sam Alaimo, and Mary Roblyn.
To be honest, there are too many good writers for me to keep up with.
Hey I appreciate you!
I enjoy these roundups, even when I'm not in them! ✌ Thank you!
This feels strange, David, I’m not used to this. I appreciate it very much. Thank you. 🙏
I suspected you might feel that way and wouldn’t be used to being publicly affirmed in your art and character like this.
But people need to be affirmed and encouraged when they’re doing meaningful work and they’re on the right path.
The key thing for you to continue to advance in your art and writing is simply taking in as broad a range of new authors and different writing styles as you can. Everything. Could be from Africa, South America, India. Could be from the Middle Ages or Ancient Greece. Could be serious literature or a supermarket tabloid gossip paper. Appreciating both high culture and low culture is important. Both have their values.
Hence why I’m throwing book recommendations and excepts of this and that to you and others. These are tools and you can build great things with them.