The Anti-Hustle Newsletter Revolution

Hey honeys and hustlers,

Sometimes I read something and it makes me rethink everything I know about storytelling. These women authors are breaking every rule in the digital publishing playbook, and each of them has written an article or 3 that has given me that very feeling. Perspective, packaging, and writing styles are vastly different across each of the women authors and newsletter writers in today’s issue – as they should be.

According to recent data from Substack, women newsletter writers have seen remarkable growth, with a 156% increase in paid subscriptions between 2023-2024. The Women Writers Report 2024 shows that women-led newsletters have an average open rate of 45%, significantly higher than the industry standard of 21.5%. The newsletter economy is projected to reach $1.8 billion by 2026, according to Newsletter Market Data, and these newsletters are ones I expect to be leading the pack.

1. Workman Shit. Neela Singh writes spicy but practical takes on operations and personal growth, sharing what actually works (and what definitely doesn't).

2. Analog Social. They curate elevated screen-free experiences for deep thinkers to find in-person community, support local third spaces, and explore big ideas. Read this. Touch grass. Meet people.

3. Work Unseen. This newsletter is a space to explore the messy, creative process of figuring out what comes next in life and work.

4. Brand Burnout. A brand strategist's guide to ditching toxic hustle culture so you can build a better-for-you brand and business.

5. Creators Getting Paid. This newsletter helps creators discover the monetization approach that best fits their energy, personality, and community needs. She’s also bringing back her Podcasters Getting Paid articles soon.

6. Growth in Reverse. Chenell Basilio reverse engineers how top newsletter creators grow from 0 to 50k+ subscribers. There is also a companion podcast to this newsletter.

7. Internetly. Written by Alex Lemee, this is a newsletter for those who want to use writing on the internet to attract a delicious medley of opportunities, from podcast interviews to dream clients and remote freedom.

8. Harlem Queen. Yhane Washington Smith writes about and creates audio drama podcasts. She’s also working on season 5 of her companion podcast show, so be sure to catch up on episodes.

9. ICYMI. This newsletter helps you become the marketing talent everyone wants on their team. You’ll get creator marketing and social media insights to make you better at your job.

10. The Case. The newsletter is making the business case for brand. One new case study each week plus 3 actionable tips for brand builders. These deep dives are sooooo good.

11. Ness Labs. “-ness” is a suffix that means “state of being”, as in awareness, mindfulness, consciousness. Ness Labs is a playground for curiosity – a place where you can learn how to experiment with ideas, explore creative projects, make better decisions, and reflect on your progress. Anne-Laure Le Cunff also just released a book called Tiny Experiments.

12. Eurowaves. Connecting European stories through podcasting, and this newsletter. If you’re an international podcaster or want to learn more about podcasting, I highly recommend this newsletter.

13. Beck At It. Becky Isjwara writes about how to add more creativity to your life, especially if you have a 9-5. She’s also writing her book, Bite-sized Creativity, in public, which is awesome!

14. Laid Off. Normally, talking about being fired is taboo – but this is the coolest place on the internet to talk about being laid off. Honestly, genuinely love how she’s able to have raw and vulnerable conversations with people so soon after they’ve been let go and the experience is fresh on their mind.

15. Earbuds Podcast Collective. This podcast recommendation newsletter sends five podcast episodes on a theme each week, curated by someone new. Submit your podcast with other similar podcasts to be featured!

16. Grants for Creators. Danielle and her team have been on a tear sending creators grants each week to apply for across all niches. People trust them for a reason.

In the next and final article of the series, I’ll be sharing women who are creating incredible videos and films on YouTube. I want this series to be one people can refer back to and share whenever we see “lists” of top creators that don’t include women. Check out the first article in this series in case you missed it.

First Order of Community

// I’ll be live on Substack this evening at 7PM with Corey and Michelle talking about newsletter monetization. We all have different perspectives to bring to the conversation, and we’ll be taking questions from the audience so join us in the chat/comments! Good news! Substack now allows us to schedule podcasts now, so put a hold on your calendar and come through! You can tune in on the Substack app or on the Substack desktop website (sorry to those who downloaded the app just to tune in, but I appreciate the love and dedication!).

// I’ll be in Chicago next week for Podcast Movement Evolutions! I’ll be hosting a 30-minute roundtable event in between sightseeing. Let me know if you’ll be there or if there are any meetup events I should be sure to attend! Food and sightseeing recommendations are also welcome.