Some newsletters become as stale as a forgotten sandwich in a lunchbox, don’t they?

Green mold on the words. Stench seeping into your inbox.

Unread messages numbering in the thousands.

It happens to all of us, and it was happening to me too. So, I’ve gathered 11 of the best author newsletters for your enjoyment.

Let’s get to it.

Total Annarchy

Sunday morning feeling meh? No more. Anna Handley’s newsletter will spice up your inbox every other Sunday morning.

Not only will you get writing tips, marketing ideas, and tools to become a better writer, but you’ll get some unbelievable stories from this wild woman.

Now, since this bestselling author’s newsletter comes out every other Sunday, you’ll have to get out of the house⁠ — or hop on a hilarious Zoom call⁠ — when she’s not posting.

Cost: Free

Agents and Books

Want to chat with a literary agent? Kate McKean’s got your book. Your back. I meant, your back.

In her biweekly newsletter, she answers your scalding questions about finding an agent and how to write a book.

After you pay, you’ll get more in-depth answers and a weekly Q&A with her.

Cost: Free email. I’m unsure what the paid subscription costs.

Electric Speed

If Saturday mornings have been your time to sleep in, don’t. Jane Friedman’s got tons of years of book publishing expertise, and her newsletter has the tools and resources you need to connect with more readers.

Cost: Free.

Her biweekly newsletter, The Hot Sheet, costs $59 per year. When you give her some money, you’ll get market analyses, author earnings, and innovations in digital marketing.

The Write Life

For all of us writers who’re looking everywhere⁠—and ending up nowhere. The Write Life not only runs a helpful website filled with tips on publishing, editing, freelancing, and more, but they’ve made it even easier for you by sending their best posts.

Cost: Free. The Write Life posts weekly.

CraftTalk

In her newsletter, New York Times Bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, gathers tons of fun facts about productivity, creativity, and writing.

To help you write, she runs the #1000wordsofsummer project, which challenges writers to write 1,000 words for two weeks straight. She’s run this challenge since 2018 and helped thousands of people write millions of words.

Cost: Free.

$5 or $50 per year for subscriber-only discussions and archives.

Austin Kleon

Yup, that artist-writer guy who encouraged a generation of creatives to steal… like an artist. Austin’s newsletter combines his trademark art with inspirational articles and helpful information on writing.

If you learn nothing from him, which is impossible, you’ll learn about consistency. Since 2013, he’s sent out his newsletter every Friday. Since 2013.

Now, that’s consistency, and it’ll do all us writers some good.

In his newsletter, he offers “10 things he thinks are worth sharing.” These things could be anything inspirational to him⁠—that may help you.

Cost: The Friday email is free.

$5 per month or $50 per year for paid subscribers. You’ll get access to behind-the-scenes stuff, a creative community, all of the archives, and special offers.

Notes

Dana Miranda’s been writing and editing for years, so she’s brought all of her experience, likes, and dislikes to help you become “your editor’s favorite writer.”

Not only does her newsletter have her pet peeves and advice, but she’s mined the minds of other editors to offer you more.

So, subscribe to Notes if you want advice and insider tips on pitching, writing, and getting that “yes” from an editor.

Cost: Free for the regular, monthly newsletter.

$7 per month or $70 per year for Field Notes, which has a ton of stories and tips on feasting as a freelancer.

The Practicing Writer

When you add your email address to this newsletter, you’ll get massive lists of competitions and submission calls, success stories, and other resources. These companies don’t charge you to enter⁠—and they’ll pay you if you win.

Cannot. Beat. That. Deal. And. Yes. It’s. Real.

So, if submitting your fiction, poetry, or other writing is a constant to-do on your list that you want done, subscribe to Erika Dreifus’s newsletter.

Cost: Free. There may be a fee, but I couldn’t find one.

Diana Urban

Writer of chilling psychological thrillers, Diana Urban’s newsletter keeps you updated on her “books, short stories, blog posts, and offers behind-the-scenes looks into her writing process.”

Since she’s a brilliant writer, you’re bound to learn a lot from her newsletter.

Cost: Free archives before March 2019.

Newer issues are exclusive to VIP members.

vi Editions

Focused on the LGBTQ+ writing community in the UK, vi Editions is the newsletter you’re looking for if you want real, personal stories, essays, and images. They’re dedicated to “queer survival, expression, discovery, and comradeship.”

vi Editions focuses on the experiences of every kind of queer person and the ways we can combine our communities.

Cost: Free