Reading! Recommendations!
If you like this newsletter, you might like some of these too.
Because you don’t already have enough to read, I want to recommend some other newsletters.
The couple months ago, while scrolling Substack Notes instead of doing whatever else I was supposed to be doing, I came across this lovely post from Eric Falden suggesting readers take some time to promote other writers besides themselves.
I thought this was a great idea. Thanks in part to recommendations, this newsletter audience has been growing at a clip, and I’d like to share the love.
So without further ado, here are some other newsletters you might like if you enjoy A Book Designer’s Notebook.
If you like writing about book design and illustration, check out:
Looking at Books by Renee | Looking at Books
Hello book & design friends! I’m writing about looking at books - the designs and the people behind them.
The Art of Being Real by Rachael Dean
Children’s book illustrator based in Merseyside, working on new titles with Dame Jacqueline Wilson. On The Art of Being Real, I share insights into my creative process, life experiences, and the beautiful, challenging journey of being a young artist.
talk covers to me by starryarose
Don’t lie: we all judge books by their covers. A visual expression of the story, a standalone piece of art and a marketing tool all in one, book covers are absolutely important in the process of selling books.
The Art of Cover Art by Rachel Cabitt
Not your “Best Album Covers of All Time” listicle. We’ll dive into everything from cover art across decades and genres to trendy and niche design elements, specific artists’ discography, and how technology and culture have changed the importance of the album cover.
Looking at Picture Books by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Looking at Picture Books is a Substack about how picture books work, made by two award-winning, bestselling children’s book authors, Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett.
Picture books are real literature. The best ones are artworks as great as any books humans have made. But like all children’s literature, picture books are misunderstood and undervalued, a centuries-old problem we expect to have fixed after two or three posts.
Meanwhile by Daniel Benneworth-Gray
I’m Daniel Benneworth-Gray, a designer/art director based in York, UK, primarily working on books and film posters – have a look at danielgray.com. I’ve written about all sorts of design matters for the likes of Creative Review, Empire, Eye, Grafik and MacUser. Social-wise, I’m @gray on threads and x and instagram.
What is this newsletter about?
I harvest the finest design-related links haunting my tabs and drop them gracefully into your inbox – fuel for the week ahead. Expect to read about art, architecture, books, collage, comics, design, ephemera, film, magazines, photography, typography, a bit of everything.
In summary: inspiration, fascination, procrastination.
If you like writing on creative process, check out:
Mitchell's Newsletter by Mitchell Volk
This is my weekly visual journal where I document and share prints, designs, zines, stamps, comics, drawings, animations, and other creative experiments.
I wanted to create a space online where I could post and interact with other people without algorithms, ads, or pressure. If you’re interested, click this link to read why I started a newsletter. I don’t really post on social media so this is where you can see what I’m up to.
KBBBLOG by Kate Bingaman-Burt
I draw, teach, and own a small print shop and community space in Portland, Oregon.
This digital dispatch is part diary, part pointing to things that I am reading, watching, hearing (the occasional mix tape), doing, drawing, pop culture tangents, internet k-holes, and the occasional review and/or interview.
Sign up because I miss having a blog, and we can pretend that it’s 2006 again.
Duane Toops by Duane Toops
Some of us have no idea who or what we are. A few of us will even admit it. For me, essays, poetry, and collages are confessions, the ways I admit that I know nothing…
Austin Kleon by Austin Kleon
Every Friday since 2013 I’ve sent out a list of 10 things I think are worth sharing. The emails feature an eclectic mix of both my own art and writing + books, music, movies, and other interesting links that have inspired me.
The Typochondriac Weekly by Francis Chouquet
Talks about Art/Illustration/Mental Health in any order. In my newsletter I like to share my process, but also my struggles and my big wins. This is like a journal.
Michael Macfadden by Michael Macfadden
I’m Mike Macfadden, and I am a high school teacher that writes about creativity and innovation in teaching and learning. You can learn more about me here.
When you subscribe to my publication, you’ll get:
My weekly round up the coolest things I’ve come across online and their creative takeaways
Occasional essays and deep dives into creativity and innovation
Full access to my publication archives.
Access to a growing community of creative teachers and learners in my moderated chats
If you like writing on aspects of the publishing industry, check out:
Notes from a Small Press by Anne Trubek
Publisher, Belt
Pine State Publicity by Cassie Mannes Murray
Pine State Publicity is a newsletter about book publicity and publishing: how to do it & do it well.
At Pine State, I attempt to merge my many pivots through publishing in order to be as transparent as possible for writers entering an industry that feels often exclusive and closed-off (particularly for those of us not in NYC). When it comes to publishing, I’ve worked in almost every capacity: literary magazine editor, literary magazine accountant, designer (yes, I’ve designed book interiors, covers, and marketing materials), literary agent, book publicist, bookstagrammer (with over 10k following, I could kick myself for deleting that orange-tone page now), book blogger, high school English teacher, and I’ve taught Intro to Book Publishing and Book Building at the college level. I can read and negotiate a book contract, but I prefer not to do that ever again.
Publishing Confidential by Kathleen Schmidt
Publishing Confidential is written and edited by Kathleen Schmidt, a publishing industry vet with over two decades of experience in publicity, marketing, and almost everything else required to get a book into the marketplace.
The purpose of Publishing Confidential is to provide analysis and insight into issues facing the publishing industry outside of what trade publications & traditional media cover.
Agents and Books by Kate McKean
It attempts to answer the most common questions I get about literary agents, publishing, and writing.
If you like notebooks, check out:
Noted by Jillian Hess
I’m an English professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) and the author of How Romantics and Victorians Organized Information: Commonplace Books, Scrapbooks, and Albums (Oxford University Press, 2022). I’ve spent the past two decades studying hundreds of notebooks, and I’m excited to share the most interesting, inspiring, and unique notes with you.
Every week, I’ll send a newsletter focused on a particular note-taker with an overview of their note-taking life, inspiring quotes, archival photos, and meditations on what I’ve learned from their notes. Recent favorites include posts on Beatrix Potter, Eminem, and a history of the daily planner.
Austin Kleon by Austin Kleon (again)
If you think I’m a cool nerd and want to read some other stuff I like, check out:
Field of View by Patrick Witty
Observations, analysis, criticisms, commentary, and opinions on photography1. Deep dives into the many ways of seeing. Viewer discretion is advised.
I’m a photographer, editor, and researcher based in Tulsa. Previously, I was a photo editor at The New York Times, International Picture Editor at TIME, Director of Photography at WIRED, and Deputy Director of Photography at National Geographic. Forever fascinated with how different photographers “see” the same scenes.
Walk It Off by Isaac Fitzgerald
In the fall of 2020 I wrote about my newly discovered (pandemic-related) love of walking for The Guardian. The piece received an incredible reaction, with folks reaching out to me from all over the world to share their love of putting one foot in front of the other. It is with that hope for human connection that I first started Walk It Off in the spring of 2021.
A year later Walk It Off is still going strong—a small, pleasant online community focused on walking and sharing stories. I hope you’ll join us.
The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker
The Art of Noticing is a newsletter about creativity, work, and staying human. It’s written by me, journalist and author Rob Walker. I share useful ideas, practical prompts, and unexpected inspiration that will help you pay attention to what you care about, and care about what you pay attention to. It’s for people who want to stay interested in life.
Letters of Note by Shaun Usher
The Letters of Note newsletter about letters. Interesting ones. That’s it, in a nutshell.
The Neighborhoods by Rob Stephenson
This weekly newsletter is a not-so-deep dive into every neighborhood in NYC in an effort to create some sort of photographic document of modern-day New York, or at least a record of what I find interesting* on any particular day.
Good Graf! by Carly Ayres
Good Graf is a newsletter that cuts through the noise, offering sharp insights and practical wisdom for creators, designers, and writers navigating our rapidly evolving digital landscape. Each issue blends observations and occasional hot takes to explore the intersections of creativity, technology, and culture.
Your recommendations
I’ve probably missed a few. I’m tired and forgetful—sorry!
Your turn: What did I miss?
An “oops, all notes about AI” edition of Nathaniel’s Notebook. Probably gonna shut up about AI for a while now. It’s exhausting.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading! I hope that today you found your new favorite newsletter, even if it isn’t mine. Thanks to Eric Falden for the great idea. He writes Falden's Forge and you should check it out if you’re into fantasy fiction and medieval history.
If you’d like to keep this newsletter going and help me say no to designing soul-sucking books about corporate events, email marketing, and raising capital, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Paid subscribers get access to How to Design a Book Cover, my bonus series illuminating the book design process, and Book Design Critiques, a bonus series in which I kindly and candidly critique a paid subscriber’s book design.
Until next time,
Nathaniel
Thanks so much for including my publication! 😊🙏🏻
Dude! This is awesome! I'm so sorry it took me so long to get to this! Thanks so much for the mention! Really made my day!