We’re in a golden age for newsletters.
But, in order to take advantage of the incredible wisdom, resources, and inspiration available, you have to know where to find it.
Following are the newsletters I most often recommend if you’re looking to learn how to grow your audience and career…
1. Austin Kleon’s newsletter
It’s no surprise that a guy who writes fantastic books about the creative process also publishes an awesome newsletter about it each week. Each edition features a curated collection of ideas about writing, art, music, and creativity that inspire Kleon and will likely inspire you too.
2. Better Marketing
This is actually a Medium publication, but if you follow it you’ll also get a newsletter with links to featured articles including tips on how to market your work, use social media, grow your audience, and sell your products.
3. Check Your Pulse
Written by venture capitalist Sari Azout and described as a “tech and startups newsletter designed to make you feel human,” this newsletter is as much about what it takes to create something great as it is the business of creating value.
4. Chicken Shed Chronicles
An offshoot of the DO Lectures, this is one of the cleanest, simplest, and most enjoyable-to-read newsletters I’ve found. Each week you get a handful of curated links to great stuff about creativity, culture, technology, and more.
5. Creative Mornings
Produced by the international creative community at Creative Mornings, this weekly newsletter features highlights from talks held around the world as well as links to interesting content around a wide range of topics including design, the creative process, and more.
6. Deep Cuts
Music marketer Amber Horsburgh’s newsletter is sent sporadically, but when it shows up in your inbox it always delivers value. It revolves around tactics to grow an audience for your music, but most can be applied to growing an audience for just about anything you create.
7. Filmmaker Freedom
This is another niche newsletter with ideas that offer value beyond its niche. Rob Hardy shares “useful stories for ambitious filmmakers” on a weekly basis.
8. For The Interested
If you only subscribe to one newsletter on this list, then For The Interested should be the one! I’m not just saying that because I’m biased (though I am because it’s my newsletter), but also because the ideas I share each week to help you better produce, promote, and profit from your creations include a curated batch of the best ideas found in all the other newsletters on this list in addition to my own original suggestions.
9. Gary Veekly
This is Gary Vaynerchuk’s weekly newsletter. You probably already know him so you’ve got a decent idea what to expect in it. If you haven’t heard of him, sign up for it because he’s got a LOT to teach you.
10. How It Actually Works
Written by Trevor McKendrick, Chief of Staff at the Lambda School, this one isn’t specifically geared toward creators but I often find stuff in it that’s relevant building a creative career. It features material designed to answer a simple question: “How does the world actually work?”
11. The Idea Enthusiast
A weekly newsletter from keynote speaker Greg Roth that features original and curated ideas about how to develop habits, improve thinking skills, collaborate, and test new ideas.
12. #JessPicks
A weekly roundup of curated links and resources to help you with your side hustle, blog, or other creative projects from Jessica L. Williams.
13. Jocelyn K. Glei’s newsletter
Described as “thoughtful ideas on how to find more creativity and meaning in your daily work,” this newsletter features a combination of curated links and original writing from Jocelyn K. Glei, host of the Hurry Slowly podcast.
14. The Lefsetz Letter
This newsletter features the observations and rants of Bob Lefsetz, who’s technically a music industry analyst but in actuality so much more. His emails come whenever he’s inspired to write one (typically a couple per week) and feature insightful thoughts about art, culture, technology, media, and life in general. A unique, entertaining read.
15. Marketing Examples
This newsletter is just an offshoot of a blog, but the blog is awesome. Harry Dry breaks down case studies of effective marketing and social media campaigns and tactics.
16. Monday Musings
A weekly email from David Perell with observations and advice about writing, entrepreneurship, and culture.
17. RadReads
Khe Hy’s weekly newsletter helps creatives and entrepreneurs rethink their relationship with money and ambition.
18. Recomendo
So simple, so smart. This weekly newsletter features six quick recommendations from six different people including Kevin Kelly, the founding editor of WIRED magazine. The recommendations include apps, life hacks, books, and more.
19. Sean Conroy’s Lifeletter
A unique and entertaining look into the life of Sean Conroy, a Los Angeles-based comedian and TV writer.
20. Startup Resources
A must-read if you’re in the startup or tech space, but you’ll likely find value here if you do any kind of creative work. It’s a weekly newsletter that features articles and tools for entrepreneurs and makers.
21. Sticky Notes
Described as “Paper airplanes delivered right to your inbox containing marketing & copywriting secrets to help you sell like hell (without losing your soul),” Cole Schafer’s newsletter may be the most well-written I’ve come across.
22. Storythings
A weekly collection of 10 inspiring stories to broaden your perspective of the ways stories can be told across various industries. Published by the Storythings agency.
23. swissmiss
This newsletter is essentially just a feed of posts from Creative Mornings founder Tina Roth Eisenberg’s long-running blog, but she shares so much inspiring, interesting stuff related to creativity and design that it’s worth inviting into your inbox.
24. This Is How I Do It
Another personal favorite because it’s another of my personal newsletters, each issue features a deep-dive into exactly how I do one thing in my art and business. Topics range from how I write blog posts, to how I use social media to build an audience, to how I get clients.
25. Through The Noise
This is a relatively new newsletter, but it’s quickly become one of my favorites. Gianluca Piovani shares “hand-picked insights about media, brand-building and creative work to help you stand out in the digital age.”
26. Total Annarchy
Author and content marketing expert Ann Handley shares writing tips, marketing ideas, and assorted “shenanigans” in a fun, twice-monthly letter.
27. Trapital
Dan Runcie’s newsletter about the business of hip hop is a must-read for anyone interested in the music industry, but the lessons he shares about how artists build careers can also be applied to anyone attempting to attract an audience and monetize their creations.
28. Wes Kao’s newsletter
Designed to help you “future proof your marketing career,” Wes Kao’s newsletter offers takeaways from her experience launching new products for thought leaders and brands.
29. Weekend Briefing
Each week Kyle Westaway publishes this newsletter about innovation and society and while it may not seem a perfect fit for the needs of creators on its surface, I consistently find relevant information within it.
30. The Writing Rundown
An offshoot of Elisa Doucette’s Craft Your Content, this weekly newsletter includes tips and opportunities for writers looking to earn a living with their words.
