8 of the Best Newsletters for Poetry In Your Inbox
Founded in 2017, Substack is a growing online platform where writers, journalists, and content creators publish subscription-based newsletters. If you’re looking for fresh, high-quality content about poetry and writing, Substack is a great place to find it. But you don’t have to go searching yourself—we’ve collected a list of 8 of the best Substack newsletters for poetry analysis, prompts, writing tips, submission calls, and more.
8 of the best poetry newsletters on Substack
Poetry Unbound
“I wonder what words adorn walls where you frequent. I don’t mean the ones put up — and maintained — by city authorities. I mean the words that go up when others aren’t looking.” — Pádraig Ó Tuama in a recent edition of Poetry Unbound
With over 34,000 subscribers, the Poetry Unbound newsletter on Substack was created by poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama as an offshoot to a podcast of the same name. Described as “a home for both poetry lovers and the poetry-curious,” it shares poems, writing prompts, events, recommendations, and other related commentary from Pádraig about how poetry can spark conversations with yourself, with others, and with the world. It’s published every Sunday, and includes a prompt for followers to respond to in the comments.
Poetry Trapper Keeper
“For me, perhaps ‘precious’ poems are either saccharine (something that would be found in a greeting card or on a tampon wrapper) or are poems that use lofty language that doesn’t reflect the poet’s regular speech. (‘For whence the tide roll’d yon.’)” – Anne Marie Wells, from a recent edition of Poetry Trapper Keeper
If you’re looking for a newsletter with sassier vibes, you might enjoy Poetry Trapper Keeper. The creators, Kelly Mullins and Larissa Fantini, describe their newsletter as “an online poetry magazine for hot people … a space that celebrates our tween selves, the color pink, and un-precious poetry.” With over 1,000 followers, they share poems, in-person events, merch drops, workshops, and more. Plus, twice a year, they invite experienced writers and artists to take over the newsletter with a unique creative theme.
Poetry 15
“One hot day oozes into another, and I find myself observing everything around me in the heat as though the hot air is lit by a stage light. Look how red that fire truck is. Look at those dragonflies! Look at that kid carrying an automatic soap bubble blower. The bubbles twirl around everything.” – Tyler Mills, from a recent edition of Poetry 15
For straightforward, reliable inspiration, check out the Substack newsletter Poetry 15. Created by poet and essayist Tyler Mills, Poetry 15 shares a poetry prompt every month on the 15th. This paid newsletter costs $5 per month, but you can check out a free sample edition here to gauge if it’s worth it to you and your writing goals.
Astro Poets
“Week of 7/14 in Libra: In the peaceful sense of it. All you feel is love. What reflects upon the water sees the sky as immense as it is. Somewhere there is the sense of everything. Pure love is what you feel.” – A horoscope from a recent edition of Astro Poets
With over 88,000 subscribers, the Substack newsletter Astro Poets is a great option for pairing your love of poems with your love of astrology. Created by poets Alex Dimitrov and Dorothy Lasky, Astro Poets shares weekly and monthly horoscopes, poems and musings based on zodiac signs and moon cycles, compatibility descriptions for every astrological pair, and other related content. They offer both paid and free content, so you can decide your level of engagement. If you’re looking for more astrological poetry inspiration, check out Read Poetry’s poetry and zodiac pairings.
Poetry Bulletin
“Gentleness! If gentleness and tenderness are not the someday-fruits of these so-called politics, then what is? It’s work like Pat’s that reminds me that true gentleness is not a distraction from—it can be a way into better possibilities. As long as we call each other in to create those possibilities. As long as our gentle methods also refuse silence.” – Emily Stoddard, in a recent edition of Poetry Bulletin
Poetry Bulletin is “a poet-to-poet effort to make the publishing process friendlier and easier.” Created by the writer Emily Stoddard in 2018, Poetry Bulletin shares resources for writers on a monthly basis, including calls for submissions, quotes and advice, and more. Plus, the Poetry Bulletin community runs a financial support program to cover submissions fees for poets; since 2021, they’ve donated over $5,000 to cover submissions fees for over 75 poets.
Poetly
“every morning the world cracks open. and the sun spills out like yolk. all runny and smiling, pleased with itself. Sunburst, really. laughter pretending to be light. every morning i get up early just so that i can witness the world becoming new again. so that i can see the city cleaning up quietly, after itself; and catch the day as it hides the residue of its night of revelry. this is the time of day i like best,/ and this the hour/when i can call this city my own…” – Aranya, from a recent edition of Poetly
Poetly, is described by its creator Aranya as “an evolving archive of sensation,” is a Substack newsletter that features a new poem and short commentary with each letter. Generally, the commentary includes a short personal story by the writer, exploring creativity as a means of self-inquiry and self-expression. Although lesser-known with over 1,000 followers, Poetly is the perfect newsletter for anyone looking to discover new, diverse voices in poetry while engaging in a uniquely intimate conversation with the newsletter’s author.
Poetic Outlaws
“Who is he that shall control me?
Why may not I act & speak & write & think
with entire freedom? What am I to the
Universe, or, the Universe, what
is it to me?” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, in a recent edition of Poetic Outlaws
As the name suggests, Poetic Outlaws is a poetry newsletter with a more rough-around-the-edges approach than most of the content you’ll find on Substack—so it’s no surprise that it’s become widely popular, with over 50,000 subscribers. The poems, quotes, and resources you’ll find in this newsletter explores all aspects of the human condition, from the good to the ugly. Poetic Outlaws offers both free subscriptions for limited access to poems and passages from the newsletter, and paid subscriptions which allow full access and also come with a weekly book recommendation.
Poetry Today
“I spent the early hours of this morning reading through poems about fathers and looking for wisdom or reminiscences writers have shared about their relationships with them. I wanted to offer a 10-minute space where you could suspend your own feelings and connect with others, living and dead, through the vehicle of the page—and then, do some writing of your own. Sometimes, swimming in language is the best respite for a teeming mind.” – Maya C. Popa, from a recent edition of Poetry Today
Last but not least, Poetry Today is a Substack newsletter created by Maya C. Popa, poet and founder of the Conscious Writers Collective. With over 13,000 subscribers, this popular newsletter shares a curated list of poems every Friday, as well as musings, book recommendations, and other resources from the author about poetry, wonder, and mindset. Although you can access occasional public posts with a free subscription, the bulk of the value from this newsletter comes with a monthly or annual subscription.
Can’t get enough of poetry in your inbox?
This list only scratched the surface of the many incredible poetry newsletters floating around the internet. Explore more with this roundup of 6 poetry newsletters to subscribe to.
