What is SmallStack?

With all this talk about growing audiences and subscriber numbers on Substack, it was bound to come up that there are a lot of really amazing publications out there just getting started, some of which literally have zero subscribers. It’s so tough to be small and feel like you’re competing with established writers, creators, and big league names.

But some of those small newsletters have truly great content, and many of us would rather see those than the big names with thousands of followers. SmallStack is like the local food movement, the 100-mile diet, or a CSA from your neighborhood farm. We’re ready to cultivate a great selection of posts from folks you haven’t heard of. If you like what you find, you can help their publication grow!

SmallStack is passionate about finding the quiet folks whose work deserves attention. This is the place for writers with a smaller audience to be found, seen, and appreciated. Substack writers with fewer than 1,000 subscribers1 are eligible to be listed on SmallStack. Those with fewer than 500 subscribers are given priority in this space.

Should I Subscribe?

Of course you should! And here’s what to expect when you do…

SmallStack is a growing library of “local”2 content from writers, creators, and artists with fewer than 1,000 subscribers. These are the folks you’re not going to find on the leaderboards or recommended lists elsewhere. Search the library to find your next favorite podcast, poet, or sports analyst.

SmallStack also features a regular series of articles by writers in our library to help boost the visibility of their work. Articles will range in topic depending on the nature of the publication we link to that week. Here at SmallStack we’re all about having a varied menu, and that means boosting the work of people from marginalized groups, across the multiverse of neuro expression, and from a wide array of social and cultural backgrounds.

For a lot of newsletters this will lead to an increase in subscriber numbers, for others there might be a desire to stay small. If you’re a writer looking for your audience or an audience seeking the lesser-known voices on Substack, this is where to find your community!

Around here, small is beautiful.

What Else Should I Know?

With any community, rules help us thrive. SmallStack creators are folks who believe in kindness and generosity first. This collection serves as a hand reaching back to fellow creators as we all grow, improve, learn, and collaborate. Hate speech, bullying, racism, queerphobia, ableism, or abuse of any member is not tolerated. Comments containing such things will be removed. Building safe spaces requires intentional action, and SmallStack is designed to be welcoming to all.

How Do I Join the Library?

SmallStack is NOT currently accepting submissions. We will reopen that process again soon!

*Inclusion in the SmallStack Library is at the sole discretion of