Spencer’s Cult of Forbidden Horrors alternatives: newsletters like it

SubstackSeveral times a week · last post yesterday

From recent posts: ONLY POEMS DAILY publishes a mix of original poetry, interviews with poets, and seasonal or thematic verses. Content ranges from reflective pieces on grief and mortality to satirical takes on social media and…

Likely audience: Creative writers

3 shared topics

SubstackMonthly or less · last post Sep 1, 2026

From recent posts: Regards, Marcel publishes weekly essays by Marcel Beyer focusing on mental health, trauma recovery, and the intersection of writing with personal crisis. The publication mixes reflective memoir with updates on the…

Likely audience: Readers of personal essays

3 shared topics

SubstackEvery two weeks · last post 24 days ago

Original poetry and short fiction by David Moran — Pushcart-nominated, internationally published. Minimalist verse and literary prose, written on trains, in bedsits and strange cities across the globe.

Likely audience: Poetry enthusiasts

3 shared topics

Substacklast post Jun 21, 2026

Dispatches from the Front and Back Ends of Primary Care

Likely audience: Healthcare professionals

3 shared topics

mailchimpWeekly · last post 33 days ago

Marginalia on the search for meaning.

Likely audience: History enthusiasts

3 shared topics

SubstackWeekly · last post 6 days ago

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…

Likely audience: writers and poets

3 shared topics

SubstackEvery two weeks · last post 15 days ago

Horror in verse, folk horror, Gulf Coast Gothic, and other dark tales that make your tummy hurt.

Likely audience: Poetry enthusiasts

3 shared topics

SubstackEvery two weeks · last post 9 days ago

Nature writing, memoir, poetry and prose from a meaning-making marine biologist.

Likely audience: Poetry enthusiasts

3 shared topics

SubstackMonthly or less · last post 9 days ago

Short ramblings about literature, culture, life, and my 20s.

Likely audience: Book lovers

3 shared topics

Substacklast post Jul 9, 2026

Crystallizing poetry from the oxidized margins of existence.

Likely audience: philosophy enthusiasts

3 shared topics

SubstackWeekly · last post 6 days ago

From recent posts: The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad publishes personal essays, poetry, and artist interviews focused on life during and after illness. Recent issues feature a poet reflecting on pandemic experiences and leukemia…

Likely audience: Art enthusiasts

2 shared topics

SubstackWeekly · last post 6 days ago

Open your world with poetry

Likely audience: Literature enthusiasts

2 shared topics

SubstackSeveral times a week · last post 2 days ago

A celebration of poetry and historical interest pieces

Likely audience: Literature enthusiasts

2 shared topics

SubstackSeveral times a week · last post yesterday

From recent posts: The Metropolitan Review publishes literary criticism, book reviews, and narrative fiction covering diverse topics from rural farming life to French philosophy and Korean cinema. The publication serves a general audience…

Likely audience: Literary critics

2 shared topics

SubstackEvery two weeks · last post 15 days ago

Likely audience: Poetry enthusiasts

2 shared topics

SubstackMonthly or less · last post 22 days ago

Once a month: an essay on the creative life, a recipe worth making, what I'm reading, a giveaway, and a kitten.

Likely audience: Authors and writers

2 shared topics

SubstackEvery two weeks · last post yesterday

From recent posts: Image Pilgrimage w/ Scott Erickson publishes personal essays and creative reflections on spirituality, mental health, and art, targeting readers interested in self-discovery and mindfulness. The publication mixes…

Likely audience: readers of Scott Erickson

2 shared topics

SubstackEvery two weeks · last post yesterday

Meditations on Exiting the Matrix, Being an Artist, and Awakening to Your Nature

Likely audience: content creators

2 shared topics

SubstackMonthly or less · last post Sep 8, 2026

From recent posts: Elusive Nostalgia publishes personal essays and literary reflections on mental health, memory, and emotional resilience for an audience interested in introspective nonfiction. The publication mixes formats including…

Likely audience: Literature enthusiasts

2 shared topics

SubstackMonthly or less · last post 44 days ago

From recent posts: Lost in Los Angeles publishes reflective essays and cultural critiques covering mental health, art criticism, and the city's social dynamics. The publication targets readers interested in personal growth, gender bias in…

Likely audience: writers and creative professionals

2 shared topics

SubstackWeekly · last post 3 days ago

From recent posts: Existential Reflections publishes essays on psychology, existentialism, and identity, including book lists and clinical observations. It is written for readers interested in mental health, self-understanding, and the…

Likely audience: Psychology students

2 shared topics

SubstackEvery two weeks · last post 13 days ago

Author Payout = $100 + 50% of subscription revenue. No Fee to Apply. Readers get one quality story a month and support artists with their contributions.

Likely audience: Literature enthusiasts

2 shared topics

Substacklast post May 30, 2026

From recent posts: The Alipore Post publishes a rotating mix of personal essays, poetry, and literary reflections on themes like nature, digital wellness, and artistic residencies. It serves readers seeking introspective content and…

Likely audience: Poetry enthusiasts

2 shared topics

Substacklast post Aug 11, 2026

Historic South Asian Literature and Art

Likely audience: Poetry enthusiasts

2 shared topics