Discover these Five Things I've Learned Friends on Substack

, “explores what it means to travel through time in a human body—of any gender, at every phase of life. It focuses on the good, the bad, and the ugly we experience with each milestone, starting early in life. It’s about the experience of getting older, and what that means at different junctures.”

Subscribe to Sari’s substack right here:

AND: On Wednesday, February 28th, join Sari in her live two-hour class and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about getting older by inviting people to share their own personal experiences of aging.

View Sari's personal invitation.

Award-winning cartoonist

Liza Donnelly

’s Substack, Seeing Things
is, as Liza puts it, a “community of people who love cartoons but are sort of serious too, and like to not only see and read observations about life, make them as well. And for people who have concerns about the world, but know how to be funny.”

Subscribe to Liza’s substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Liza’s two-hour class right here on Substack.

And, check out the full archive of Liza’s class at myfivethings.com and discover the Five Things She’s Learned from a lifetime of drawing and writing, and from the fulfillment that comes with looking inward and observing the world around you.

View Liza's personal invitation.

Random House copy chief and author of Dreyer’s English

Benjamin Dreyer

’s substack, A Word About...
is a free dive into Benjamin’s process, his observations of the world and specifically, the world of copyediting.

Subscribe to Benjamin’s substack right here:

Check out the archive of Benjamin’s two hour class and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the roll-up-your-sleeves-and-do-the-work work that makes writing more effective, clearer, and sharper.

View Benjamin's personal invitation.

Writer and Executive Director of National Writing Month

Grant Faulkner

’s Substack, Intimations: A Writer’s Discourse, is, as he puts it, “a dose of creative writing for the soul.” As Grant writes, “I like to think about writing. I like to think about creativity. I like to think about how the creative process informs every aspect of our lives, whether it’s parenting or leading, loving or learning. And I like to write it all down and share my thoughts and enter into a conversation with others. Because life is just one wonderful series of conversations.”

Subscribe to Grant’s substack right here:

Check out the archive of Grant’s two-hour class and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about what happens when writers share the most difficult parts of their story in service of truths that would otherwise go untold.

View Grant's personal invitation.

Plus: Check out the first five minutes of Grant’s classes, Five Things I’ve Learned about The Art of Brevity and Five Things I’ve Learned about What It Takes to Finish a Book, right here on Substack.

Sarah Fay

’s substack Substack Writers at Work
is designed to help writers grow their Substack platforms by offering expert guidance, proven strategies, and community support. Through workshops, personalized advice, and networking opportunities, Sarah empowers writers to increase subscribers, revenue, and reader engagement based on her experience helping over 600 clients and her personal success on Substack.

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And: Sarah will be joining us on Five Thing I’ve Learned this October to share the Five Things She’s Learned about what it means to write our stories of illness, injury, and recovery. Learn more and view Sarah’s personal video invitation using the following link:

View Sarah's personal invitation.

Eddie

S. Glaude Jr’s substack A Native Son seeks to explore America's present struggles with race, democracy, and identity, drawing on history, literature, and personal reflection. Through various media formats — writing, video, and audio — he aims to create a community focused on reimagining a more just America, where diversity becomes the foundation of national unity.

Subscribe to Eddie’s substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Eddie’s two-hour class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the full archive of Eddie’s class at myfivethings.com and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about keeping connected to the voices and visions of our country’s past – and about James Baldwin’s America and its urgent lessons for our own.

View Eddie's personal invitation.

Ann’s Substack shares insights into Ann’s writing process, current projects, knitting adventures, and personal reflections on travel and life. Readers get a blend of literary updates, knitting tips, and musings on her nomadic experiences.

Subscribe to Ann’s substack right here:

And: Ann will be joining us on Five Thing I’ve Learned this November to share the Five Things She’s Learned about how to bring the characters, conflicts, and plot points that keep you up at night from your heart to the page. Learn more and view Ann’s personal video invitation using the following link:

View Ann's personal invitation.

Non-fiction writer, podcaster, and occasional TV host

Steven Johnson

’s Substack newsletter, Adjacent Possible, is, as Steven explains, “about innovation—past, present, and future. It explores the two questions that have really been at the center of his work for more than two decades: where do good ideas come from, and how can we keep those ideas from turning against us?” It’s also the best place to continue Steven’s ongoing exploration of the history of ideas, where good ideas come from, and the things that sometimes happen next when a good idea arrives.

Subscribe to Steven’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Steven’s two-hour class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the full archive of Steven’s class at myfivethings.com and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the critical tools innovative thinkers use to nurture their creative practice – and the five key questions consistently innovative people ask themselves most often.

View Steven's personal invitation.

Scott Klug's substack, Lost in the Middle: America’s Political Orphans delves into the experiences of America's politically disenchanted centrists, uncovering how the country reached its current state and spotlighting inspiring stories of individuals working to reshape the political landscape.

Subscribe to Scott’s substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Scott’s 90-minute class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the full archive of Scott’s class at myfivethings.com and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about America’s political orphans – the great majority of our fellow citizens who want leaders who approach their jobs with civility and are more interested in getting things done than political gamesmanship.

View Scott's personal invitation.

Stephanie Land

’s substack, The Privilege to Feel
is a reflection on her five-year journey as a published author and public speaker. It focuses on her desire to return to the roots of her writing, moving away from external pressures and deadlines to embrace self-reflection, personal storytelling, and the joy of writing for fun, while also addressing themes of resilience and navigating success after a period of financial hardship.

Subscribe to Stephanie’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Stephanie’s class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the full archive of Stephanie’s class at myfivethings.com and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about writing that breaks down walls and encourages empathy toward others – and about how you can claim and share your personal expertise in your own writing.

View Stephanie's personal invitation.

Julie Lythcott-Haims

' substack, Julie’s Pod
, offers personal reflections on life, human interactions, and the lessons she learns from everyday experiences. A New York Times bestselling author, she writes to connect with readers, sharing her honest thoughts and stories to help others feel understood and less alone. Her focus is on fostering connection, truth, and growth through candid storytelling.

Subscribe to Julie’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Julie’s two-hour class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the full archive of Julie’s class at myfivethings.com and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about deepening her ability to love others, and the practical steps that help her build, maintain, and celebrate her most important relationships.

View Julie's personal invitation.

Best-selling writer

Rebecca Makkai

’s Substack, SubMakk, is, as Rebecca declares, “mostly writing and books! but also Zillow, true crime, etymology, food, general inanity.” It’s also a great way to get writing prompts and advice, direct from Rebecca, as well as her thoughts on books – her own and others. Rebecca also offers special posts for subscribers, and a writing advice column for subscribers only. She also posts things like deleted scenes from past books or sneak peaks of upcoming ones.

Subscribe to Rebecca’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Rebecca’s two-hour class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the archive of Rebecca’s class at myfivethings.com and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about breaking free of the ideas, fears, and ambitions that can block creativity – and about how artists of all kinds can get back on track and back to work.

View Rebecca's personal invitation.

Singer/songwriter, producer, and author

Allison Moorer

’s Substack, Allison Moorer: The Autotelic is where as Allison puts it all – “writing, singing, anything I dream up – to chronice and share about this wild, beautiful, and imperfect journey.”

Subscribe to Allison’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Allison’s two-hour class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the archive of Allison’s class at myfivethings.com, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about sharing her family’s stories in prose and in song – and about all that taking ownership of our most personal stories makes possible.

View Allison's personal invitation.

Award winning author Susan Orlean’s Substack, Wordy Bird is a diverse exploration of the Susan’s interests, including fashion, writing, and everyday serendipities, offering musings, inquiries, and instructive insights on these subjects.

Subscribe to Susan’s Substack here:

View the first five minutes of Susan’s class, right here on Substack.

Then, check out the archive of Susan’s class at myfivethings.com, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the ways that writers and readers can look at the world – and at stories – in new and inspiring ways.

View Susan's personal invitation.

Writer, editor, and teacher

Maya C. Popa

’s Substack, Poetry Today began, as she puts it, so she could “talk about my great passions: poetry, wonder, and mindset, with a nice helping of apocryphal and weird literary stuff (see: Emily Dickinson’s gingerbread recipe) sprinkled in.” Maya also wanted to debunk the idea that academic writing must be inaccessible or riddled with jargon. Thus, Poetry Today was born.

Subscribe to Maya’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Maya’s two-hour class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the archive of Maya’s class at myfivethings.com, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the ways that poetic form both organizes and conveys our essential emotions and insights.

View Maya's personal invitation.

Writer and teacher

Laurie Stone

’s substack, Everything is Personal
, seamlessly blends fiction, memoir, criticism, and social commentary in a conversational tone, offering readers a distinctive literary experience. The platform fosters a vibrant community through interactive discussions and features monthly Zoom conversations and workshops focused on creative writing and literary craft.

Subscribe to Laurie’s Substack right here:

Then, check out Laurie’s upcoming class at myfivethings.com, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the ways that great writing delivers genuine pleasure for the reader – and the writer. Learn more and view her personal video invitation using the following link:

View Laurie's personal invitation.

Writer, feminist, mother, traveler, & extroverted hermit

Cheryl Strayed

’s Substack, Cheryl Strayed’s Dear Sugar, delivers one letter from a month in both written and audio form, access to the full Dear Sugar archives, occasional bonus content, all her free newsletters (which I publish 4-6 times a year), the ability to comment on all posts, and – as she puts it – “my eternal gratitude.”

Subscribe to Cheryl’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Cheryl’s two-hour class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the archive of Cheryl’s class at myfivethings.com, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about how to honor your desire to create and see your projects through – even when your demanding life makes it feel impossible.

View Cheryl's personal invitation.

Retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel

Alexander Vindman

’s Substack,

Why It Matters

focuses on providing concise and insightful analyses of geopolitics and national security. Drawing on Alexander's decades of defense and national security experience, the newsletter offers accessible assessments of complex global events, translating them for an audience seeking informed perspectives without the need for extensive time or expertise.

Subscribe to Alexander’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Alexander’s 90-minute class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the archive of Alexander’s class at myfivethings.com, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about this critical time in history from his years engaging with Russia’s military and political leadership.

View Alexander's personal invitation.

Editor and publisher

Brooke Warner

’s Substack, Brooke’s Substack, tracks some what she sees happening in the book publishing industry—all its wildness and ups and downs. As she explains, her Substack is written from the point of view of “an insider who’s been in publishing for the past 23 years, who’s seen a lot of changes and upheavals and who still knows there’s no place else she’d rater be.”

Subscribe to Brooke’s Substack right here:

On Sunday, February 4th, join Brooke in her live, two-hour class and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the ways that women can move past the self-limiting assumptions, conditioning, and habits that can keep them from living full creative lives.

View Brooke's personal invitation

Plus: Check out the first five minutes of Brooke’s classes, Five Things I’ve Learned about How Women Writers Thrive, Five Things I’ve Learned about Giving Voice to What Matters in the New Year, Five Things I’ve Learned about What It Takes to Finish a Book, and Five Things I’ve Learned about What It Takes to Get Published right here on Substack.

Ex-Republican political strategist, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, and best-selling author

Rick Wilson’s Substack

is a fearless space for truth-seekers and democracy defenders, where Rick battles against authoritarianism, cruelty, and chaos while building an enlightened community.

Subscribe to Rick’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Rick’s 90-minute class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the archive of Rick’s class at myfivethings.com, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about what we can do right away to ensure that America survives – and about the perspective you need to make sure your time and your attention are focused on all we need to do together.

View Rick's personal invitation.

Investigative journalist

Larissa Zimberoff

‘s Substack, Technically Food, is her bi-weekly newsletter about food and technology. As she explains, her aim is “to give you the context behind what’s bubbling up in the food world.”

Subscribe to Larissa’s Substack right here:

View the first five minutes of Larissa’s 90-minute class right here on Substack.

Then, check out the archive of Larissa’s class at myfivethings.com, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about how technology is reshaping our food and reimagining our food system – and what these changes mean for people who love food.

View Larissa's personal invitation.

Subscribe for free to MyFiveThings on Substack and get $10 off any individual class at myfivethings.com. You’ll also receive timely Substack newsletters with details of great upcoming live classes.

My Five Things

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