For authors and aspiring publishing professionals alike, understanding the inner workings of the publishing industry feels a lot like peering through frosted glass. Luckily, the growth of Substack as a platform means that agents, authors, editors and other publishing professionals can communicate with the public directly and share valuable insights about publishing. Each of these Substacks contain indispensable guidance for those interested in the industry, such as job boards and query letter feedback, that help to demystify publishing.

Agent Antics

Seasoned literary agents Vicky Weber and Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong offer a broad range of advice about both the writing and querying process with a humorous twist. Many posts are free to read, allowing you to test-drive the Substack before committing to a subscription.

Start here: 10 Things Writers Do in Queries—and What Agents Really Think

Erin’s Third Act 

Erin Niumata has worn many hats, from editor to literary agent, and she has recently embraced the role of educator through her Substack posts. If you want to take a peek at the daily professional life of a literary agent and pick up a few tips to make your manuscript shine in the process, you will not be disappointed.

Start here: The Elusive It Factor

How to Glow in the Dark

Headed by two literary agents at Neon Literary, this Substack is a veritable mother lode of information for anyone who wants to learn more about publishing. Everything from the history of the American publishing industry to advice on writing book proposals and “industry gripes” exists in this space.

Start here: The Seven Cognitive Distortions Behind Every Bad Publishing Take

Inside Agenting

Richard Curtis has been a literary agent for decades, and he created a Substack last year to share his wisdom for aspiring and established authors alike. Those interested in the place of e-books in the publishing industry, as well as the legal side of agenting, will find his insights particularly informative.

Start here: Should You Hire a Lawyer to Review Your Book Contract?

Jenna’s Substack

Publishing’s gatekeepers have historically lacked transparency, making it difficult to understand what is really going on inside an agent’s head when they’re reviewing queries. Agent and author Jenna Satterthwaite’s Substack serves as a breath of fresh air in this regard. As a newer agent still in the process of building a client list, her content is especially helpful for aspiring literary agents or anyone curious about what a career in agenting entails.

Start here: A Day in the Life of a Literary Agent

Publishing Confidential

Kathleen Schmidt has spent over 25 years in the publishing industry and started her Substack to provide behind-the-scenes insight about the industry that traditional outlets don’t cover. Paid subscribers get access to a space called “Book Therapy,” where Schmidt answers questions about any aspect of the publishing industry.

Start here: 30 Years in Book Publishing: What I’ve Learned

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

An offshoot of the podcast of the same name, this Substack is led by a powerhouse team: literary agents CeCe Lyra and Carly Watters and USA TODAY bestselling author Bianca Marais. You’ll find general craft advice as well as “Books With Hooks,” a monthly segment where Carly and CeCe critique queries submitted by subscribers. Listen to the podcast for even more insights!

Start here: On Writing What You Know; & Indie Authors Outearning Their Traditionally Published Counterparts

Unsolicited Manuscript

Abigail Monti’s Substack is somewhat of a rarity in the publishing industry Substack sphere in the sense that she is an early-career professional still establishing a foothold. She currently works as a publicist at a nonfiction imprint of Penguin Random House and is passionate about using her knowledge of the industry to help others get their foot in the door. There’s truly something for everyone here, from a running list of agents accepting submissions to “Imprint Insider,” a collection of pieces about the inner workings of the industry.

Start here: A Day in the Life of a Penguin Random House Publicist