Substacks recommended by C. Elyse | A Sip, A Shout Out & A Sentence

Recommended by C. Elyse

Ex-tool of the Empire 🎖️ I wasn’t a “problem” until White people started to listen, engage, and transform their thinking.

If a dose of "truth" isn't what the physician prescribed, this isn't the pharmacy chain you're looking for!

- C. Elyse

Love + Travel

By Rachel Leeke Alexis

For people who enjoy exploring landscapes within themselves and the world.

It's been said that it took seven days to create the universe, and we know for certain that there are seven wonders of the world. Perhaps that is why one can and should learn many things from the Desk of Rachel Leeke!

- C. Elyse

love & liberation daily

By dear someday

poetry, fiction, essays, leftism, latinx vibes, queerness, quotes, music, and memory ✨

Love is liberating... and what is life without being liberated or loved?

- C. Elyse

LèShea's Garden

By teisha leshea

LèShea’s Garden is a digital sanctuary where ideas, inspiration, and honesty take root, part letter, part journal, part celebration of growth.

Because it only takes three minutes to fuel your muse and unleash creativity...

- C. Elyse

Kara Westerman's Suitable Vessel For Magic

By Kara Westerman (she/her)

This is a book in the making, a co-creation with the dead, a suitable book vessel. Here I dismantle perfectionism, chase resurrection, and lead a kick-ass writers group called Writers Daily Dive.

Because a daily dive is all it takes...

- C. Elyse

Musings From A Broken Heart

By Robert the contemplative

Theology, poetry, reflections, and restful meditations from a Black man in process

Because pieces of peace are often found when everything is broke...

- C. Elyse

Literary Liberation

A learning community for artists, writers, and activists offering workshops and space to work toward collective liberation. Stay radical.

Because a focused companion space centers every marginalized creative...

- C. Elyse

The Canvas & Cause

By the canvas and cause By Shareece Williams

On The Canvas & The Cause, I share my journey as an artist and thinker, diving into the impact of art, media, and culture while fostering deep conversations about resilience, storytelling, and change.

Because... intellectual pursuits are lonely, yet passionate endeavors!

- C. Elyse

When and Where I Enter

By Sharifa

Author of When We Talk to God: Prayers and Poems for Black Women, coming in May 2025. Filtering life, faith, anger, and peace through the lens of my experience, my social location, and my God.

Because we often forget our individual and collective magnificence, and regardless of where we are, if we tap in, Spirit is where we need it when we need it!

- C. Elyse

Francia

A writing, painting, and photography memoir reflecting on inspiration and social consciousness.

Because the Bodhisattva is inspiration in and of itself...

- C. Elyse

Decolonized Journalism

By Arturo Dominguez

An investigative newsletter providing important context to political, human rights, and racial justice stories.

Because human rights and racial justice lenses should never be refracted or myopic...

- C. Elyse

Black Book Stacks

By Joshunda Sanders

Books by, for & about Black Folks

Because everything relevant to the Black Diaspora lies between the pages of Black books...

- C. Elyse

Letters From African America

By You Are The Genre

Sign up for podcasts, jokes, comics, text interviews and updates from the predictable mind of Tim Barnes and the unpredictable minds of his friends.

Because laughter is the best medicine, and there are very few billboards in African America....

- C. Elyse

Afro • Reads

By Afro•Reads

Book Reviews On 54 African Books — One To Represent Each Country Of The Motherland

here comes the sun

By Ashleigh Vaughn

an ethical peek at my journal and inside of my mind. my space to house my musings about my lived experiences and bipolar disorder.

There are far too many nuggets of wisdom buried in Ms. V's "ramblings" to assume that her insight isn't legitimate, or that her perspectives fall short.

- C. Elyse

this.

By Camille

musings on the things that keep us connected

Because there are instances when Spirit speaks softly and using as few words as possible...

- C. Elyse

B Stings

Captain B or Tio El Sileb or Nate B writes poetry and prose and dances too.

Journaling with...

By Benivia Lee

A curious + honest + grateful + ever-changing HUMAN, writing my way to restoration + learning along the way...

Because there is beauty in writing the intimate truth...

- C. Elyse

The Coldest Truth

By Carmelia

Views on Black music and culture

Because entertainment is an industry, and truthfully speaking the entertainment industry matters most because of Black music and culture...

- C. Elyse

Mirth as Medicine

By Ana Bosch

Confessions of an Opinionated Oncologist

Because the 'small stuff' will make you sweat, find merriment in the minuscule!

- C. Elyse

Michael Mohr's Sincere American Writing

I write about almost everything, from personal essay and memoir to fiction to travel essays to politics to book reviews to thoughts on literature to novels and stories and much more.

Because subjective truth is only as interesting as the subject.....

- C. Elyse

Marinarena Travel & Poetic Deep Dive

Musings, Observations and Journeys by Marinarena, fellow wanderer and wonderer. File under: blogs, commentaries, listicles, poetry, prose, travel

Because powerful statements are often softly spoken, Marinarena indirectly embeds truth into every statement she makes.

- C. Elyse

Four In the Morning

By John Onwuchekwa

Every new day begins in the dark.

Because the veil thins and the messages, guidance, and energy are more powerful every day at four in the morning...

- C. Elyse

off the record

By monique

storytelling is a revolutionary act. here are some of mine.

Because everything about the writing life is on record, at all times...

- C. Elyse

Bijibilla’s Substack

By Bijibilla Rama Rao

EVERY DAY IS A CHANGE TO BE BETTER! EACH DAY PROVIDES ITS OWN GIFTS! WORK HARD IN SILENCE! LET YOUR SUCCESS BE YOUR NOISE!

Because humans overlook the obvious as the mundane, the Universe sends Bijibilla to translate its signs and symbols with peace and ease...

- C. Elyse

The World According to Teef

By Al-Lateef Farmer

Stories and reflections capturing the rhythms, resilience, and realities of Black life in America.

Because the stories and reflections capturing the rhythms, resilience, and realities of Black life in America deserve to be told...

- C. Elyse

Alpha’s Newsletter

By Boakye D. Alpha

Writing, Books, Reading, basically being creative.

Creatives create -and being creative exceeds being basic!

- C. Elyse

I Write Hard Things

By Karen Wesley

I share stories of grief, healing, and resilience from the perspective of a black woman in midlife. With humor and honesty, I explore the complexity of motherhood, marriage, parenting, autism, mental health, creativity, self-discovery, and black culture.

The Art of Flash Fiction

By Kathy Fish

Free monthly Flash Fiction Craft Articles & Prompts / Weekly Posts & Community Writing Events for paid subscribers from Writer & Teacher, Kathy Fish

A Civil Rights Power Couple

By Chandra A. Hardy

My maternal grandparents, born in the 1920's, dedicated their lives and careers to civil rights and social justice. This publication covers 534+ years of US history, including Black and women’s history, Pan-Africanism and personal family history.

A Gentle Landing

By rose j. percy

A poetic playground for restless dreamers.

Because artistic minds are free to poetically ponder and restlessly dream...

- C. Elyse

Scarlet Ibis James Writes

A place to allow fictional seeds to grow and bloom.

Writing Rhythm

By Craig Strickland

Tips & tricks for jump-starting your fiction-writing engine and keeping the damned thing running.

Raising Myles

By Marc Typo

A first-time dad writes letters to his newborn son, Myles, every Monday, sharing the joy he didn't experience himself with the world. Inspired by Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me."

Most first-time dads are too overwhelmed to admit that it's difficult to operate "with an eye to the future" - Marc's newsletter is a gentle reminder that the "overwhelm" is merely fertilizing the love to be had!

- C. Elyse

the mundane mercies

By Jayeesha Williams

a newsletter. where the multitude of God’s mercies, meet our everyday exhale.

Because even the ordinary can evoke a sense of peace...

- C. Elyse

Pensées (pas si) volatiles

By Keva Epale

Chaque dimanche, recevez une pensée (pas si) volatile accompagnée d'une petite histoire qui complète la pensée et qui apporte une étincelle et des réflexions inspirantes à votre journée.

Because the creative and the creative process is a multiple in one...

- C. Elyse

The New Now

By Russell C. Smith

Welcome to The New Now. I publish manifestos, essays, prose poems, novel chapters, short stories, noir prose poems, and flash fiction. I also touch on living through these historical times, quotes on life, writing, books, and freedom of thought.

Because freedom of thought should include lucid moments and highs that should be above standard!

- C. Elyse

Carer Mentor: Empathy & Inspiration

By Carer Mentor by Victoria Chin

Heartfelt empathy for Caregivers. A hub of practical tools, resources, and insights. A community support network—Human-ing hard. A portal of hope. ❤️

Because caring is the initial step towards love and loved…

- C. Elyse

Made From What's Not Real

By David Perlmutter

The writings and musings of Canadian historian and speculative fiction writer David Perlmutter

THE BLK PRSPCTV (TBP)

By New From THE BLK PRSPCTV

Where Black Creativity Shines Brightest: Honoring Our Voices and Visions, Showcasing the Depth of Black Creativity: Every Story, Every Stroke, Every Note!

Because the range of Black art created and yet to be created, is a beautiful and varied as the Black diaspora...

- C. Elyse

Fitting the Pieces

By Manuel A Garcia

Exploring life and the events of our day, seeking the truth with humility.

Because there is truth in humility...

- C. Elyse

Just LaShanna

By LaShanna Moore

Writings to inspire us. Words to challenge us. Wellness to heal us.

Because writing is healing, and healing is wellness….

- C. Elyse

Garbage Notes

By Franco Amati

from the writer who brought you Scuzzbucket—the original home for dirty realism, grunge lit, creative confessions, speculative fiction, and assorted literary atrocities—comes an even deeper level of personal poetics ... this is ... Garbage Notes

Silky Whispers In The Moonlight

By Word Witch Sable Fox

Here reside steamy tales of the supernatural and paranormal where the romance is inferno hot, love is love along the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+, and a hellacious happily ever after is 100% guaranteed.

Because the supernatural & paranormal only whisper under romantic moonlight...

- C. Elyse

Finding the Right Words

By Jolie Doggett

A Substack and podcast all about journaling and self discovery. There's no right or wrong way to journal, you just have to find the right words.

Because the journey to self-exploration, self love and self acceptance should be documented in journals...

- C. Elyse

Postcards from Life

By Odinakachi Nwonu

I share lessons from my life and that of those around me to help you move through yours with a little less chaos.

Because life requires one to teeter the edges, and a postcard from life ensures that one lands safely....

- C. Elyse

A Million for My Thoughts

By Jamiya

A look at the world and life through the eyes of a 20-something Black woman. Written in truth, creativity, and authenticity, while holding space for those who are like myself. Welcome.

Because everyone's thoughts are worth a million...

- C. Elyse