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Can literary Substack save the American novel? | Vox

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In a time of noise, confusion, and spin, we’re committed to clarity, truth, and depth — even when it’s hard. That kind of journalism isn’t easy. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today? On literati Substack, it’s still 2005. In book world, the summer of 2025 is officially the summer of Substack. Over the past few years, Substack has been slowly building a literary scene, one in which amateurs, relative unknowns, and Pulitzer Prize-winning writers rub shoulders with one another. This spring, a series of writers — perhaps best known for their Substacks — released new fiction, leading to a burst of publicity that the critic, novelist, and Substacker Naomi Kanakia has declared “Substack summer.” Culture reflects society. Get our best explainers on everything from money to entertainment to what everyone is talking about online. “Is the Next Great American Novel Being Published on Substack?” asked the New Yorker in May. Subs

Culture The sad young literary man is alive and well on Substack On literati Substack, it’s still 2005. by Constance Grady Aug 5, 2025, 11:30 AM UTC J Studios/Getty Images Part Of Vox Book Club see all Constance Grady is a senior correspondent on the Culture team for Vox, where since 2016 she has covered books, publishing, gender, celebrity analysis, and theater. In book world, the summer of 2025 is officially the summer of Substack. Over the past few years, Substack has been slowly building a literary scene, one in which amateurs, relative unknowns, and Pulitzer Prize-winning writers rub shou

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