Substacks recommended by Iowa Writers Collaborative

Recommended by Iowa Writers Collaborative

Hey there! We are Jason and Emma Walsmith - we call ourselves racontourists - and yes we made that word up, a beautiful mish mash of two words we are very fond of. We will write about music, travel, people, places and things.

The Paragraph Stacker

By Daniel P. Finney

Uncensored columns from an exiled newspaper man

My Integrated Life

By Dartanyan L. Brown

Stories and Sounds from a Life In Jazz and Journalism

From Red Earth Drive

By Ray Young Bear

Narratives from a Meskwaki on modern day America in the Midwest.

988: Mental Healthcare in Iowa

By Kali White VanBaale

Stories from the front lines of Iowa's mental healthcare crisis and beyond

Arnold Garson: Second Thoughts

A unique perspective on public affairs built on commentary, historical perspective, and subject matter that is deeply researched.

This Stays Here

By Nicole Baart

A Substack about community for people who want to be better neighbors. Life in my small, rural, Iowa town is idyllic--and also really hard. I imagine the same can be said about wherever you live. Come join the conversation!

J. Dudley's World

By J. Dudley Gilbert

J. Dudley Gilbert is a Golden Doodle, born July 26, 2023.

The Inquisitive Quad Citizen

By Alison McGaughey

I write about places and people (including myself) that I want to learn more about, and that make the Quad Cities, Eastern Iowa, and/or the Midwest their home. Proud member of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative.

Rob Gray's Area

Musings and observations on sports, gardening, travel — and anything else I care to write about.

Sports to sourdough? What fun!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

My personal Substack

This column consists of Letters to the Editor of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative.

Dave Price's Perspective

An award-winning Iowa journalist's observations on politics, current events, family and some random things, too.

Dave Price is a trusted news source in central Iowa.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

My personal Substack

Exploring the Hawkeye (Cyclone!) State through history, road trips, and more. Posts appear about every 10 days.

Cedar Creek Nature Notes

By Robert Leonard

Almost daily, Violet the Dog and I take a walk at the Cedar Bluffs Natural Area above Cedar Creek in Mahaska County, Iowa, and these are my observations, photos, and Merlin bird logs.

Listening to the Land

By Larry Stone

Join me on my travels in Iowa outdoors.

The Swine Republic

By Chris Jones

Writing about confluence of agriculture and environment from the heart of the big ag beast here in Iowa

Wini’s Food Stories

By Wini Moranville

With 25-plus years of restaurant reviewing and food writing, I'm taking a close, weekly look at Des Moines food and dining.

Ice Cube Press: The Pulse of A Heartland Publisher

By Ice Cube Press: On Beats & Off Beats the Heart of Publishing

The thoughts, ideas, pulses, and opinions of a long-time indie Midwest publisher, since 1991.

Ice Cube and publisher Steve Semken are providing a real service to readers and writers in the Midwest. I’m eager to read this column!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

The Crossover

By Jane Burns

Women's sports stories from Iowa - a place where new generations of female athletes carry on a century of success.

Jane Burns offers a perspective on women’s sports in Iowa you can’t find any where else but here: The Crossover.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Iowa Podcasters' Collaborative

By Robert Leonard

The Iowa Podcasters' Collaborative is a group of podcasters in Iowa creating content related to news, culture, and more. It's a product of the success of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative.

Podcast By George

Release the Truthtellers!

The Midwest Creative

By Macey Shofroth

Essays and explorations on the creative life and those of us living it in the Midwest.

The Asian Iowan

By Jane Nguyen

Born in Saigon, Vietnam. Nearly lifelong Iowan writing about people, places, and things.

Hola Iowa

Connect with the Latino communities in Iowa.

View from the Cedar Valley

By Pat Kinney

Column of news and observations from the Waterloo-Cedar Falls and greater Cedar Valley area.

Showing Up

By Kurtis Meyer

I write about the importance of simply showing up.

My Life, in Color

By John Naughton

Adventures in travel, food and fun. And Iowa sports, of course.

Naughton is not only a master sports reporter, he’s a guy with flare from head to toe. Bring it on!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Talking Good

By Teresa Zilk

In this space, I’ll write about the people, places, and learnings that have helped to shape me and my journey here in Iowa.

Teresa Zilk is a treasure.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Fern and Joe

By Fern Kupfer and Joe Geha

opinions on topics

These two are hilarious!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Mary Swander's Emerging Voices

Diverse people voice their opinions for the Iowa Writers Collaborative

Mary Swander is introducing us to a new crop of talented, and emerging writers. It's a wonderful read.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Kyle Munson's Main Street

Stories from along the thoroughfare and down the side streets, too

Kyle offers his incredible writing skills to readers of his Main Street column.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Unfinished Business

By Cheryl Tevis

Current events, rural living/consumer issues, women's challenges, Iowa life

Cheryl is an extraordinary writer who brings us heartwarming and heartbreaking stories from Boone County.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Become Inspired...

By The Seven Times

Highlighting Black triumph from the West Coast to the Midwest - and beyond. Posting multimedia stories about small Black-owned businesses.

Barry Piatt on Politics: - Behind the Curtains

Consistently ahead of the curve political commentary and analysis

Welcome to the Iowa Writer’s’ Collaborative!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Benign Inspiration

By Jody Gifford

Consider this a warning: I write about whatever inspires me. It's random, I know.

Jody Gifford's byline has been around the Des Moines metro area for years. She has a keen interest in the local arts scene, and beyond. I look forward to learning more about her 'benign inspirations.'

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Dispatches from the Heartland

By Suzanna de Baca

Reflections on change and transformation.

We are delighted to read Dispatches from the Heartland.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

A Whole New World

By Debra Engle

We can make the world new every day.

Debra is an outstanding coach, writer, editor and friend to the world. I can't wait to read her new column, A Whole New World.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Dave Busiek on Media

Viewpoint on current issues in media

We are thrilled to have Dave Busiek a member of our Iowa Writers' Collaborative!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Along the Mississippi

By Ed Tibbetts

News, opinions and ideas from the Quad-Cities, where the river runs east to west

Ed Tibbetts is a pro. He has covered politics and the Quad Cities for decades. His view from along the Mississippi gives us a look at a vital area of the state and nation.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Black Iowa News

Black Iowa News is an independent news platform designed to highlight Black perspectives, showcase the Black community and amplify the voices of Black Iowans — online and in print.

Dana James is a professional journalist who brings other unique experiences to her writing. She's an entrepreneur, and turned to blogging when she felt stories of Black Iowans were not being covered adequately in mainstream news sources. I look forward to her writing eagerly!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger

...Iowa, small towns, and saddle shoes

There probably isn't a journalist alive who has covered more square miles of the Hawkeye state than Chuck Offenburger. He's a beloved storyteller who understands the beating heart of this state, through the people he meets. Subscribe!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Mary Swander’s Buggy Land

By swandermary@gmail.com

The Amish, sustainability, and the wider rural environment.

I cannot wait to read what Mary is going to share with us. She will be sharing her life, both past and present, in a way that will make you pause, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and reread her work. My hunch is she'll use Substack tools to bring her interst in music, the arts, and sustainable agriculture to you in new ways. She has much to say about her teaching career at ISU, and I'll bet the Iowa Poet Laureate will teach us a thing or two. Oh, and she's funny. Subscribe!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Art Cullen’s Notebook

A view from rural America: immigration, agriculture, environment, politics

Art is a keen observer of state and national policies and understands their impact - or lack thereof - on Iowans. He’s a quintessential newsman, who happened to win a Pulitzer Prize along the way.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

The Iowa Mercury

By Douglas Burns

Iowa's Politics, People, Economy and Culture

Doug Burns runs a family-owned, independent newspaper in Carroll, Iowa. His life experiences and commitment to keeping local journalism alive makes him a hero to me. AND, he's an elegant writer, and dogged reporter. He deserves our support!

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Iowa politics with Laura Belin

What an Iowa political reporter is reading and writing

Laura Belin is one of the smartest people I've ever met. She covers Iowa politics with the energy of three reporters. And her analysis is beyond compare. If you want to know about what is going on under the gold dome, subscribe to Laura. And become a paid subscriber. She is a mission-driven journalist who needs our support.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture

By Robert Leonard

The politics and culture of Iowa, the midwest, and beyond.

Iowa Writers' Collaborative member

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Brecht's Beat

By Tory Brecht

On Iowa sports, life on the Upper Mississippi and other subjects.

Relatively Minor

By Vicki Minor

a weekly newspaper humor column

In the Dirt

By Beth Hoffman

I dive into the the economics of growing food, give you the dirt on the politics of agriculture and occasionally share a funny tale from our ranch, Whippoorwill Creek Farm.

Beth Hoffman brings a depth of experience and craftsmanship to covering contemporary farming.

- Iowa Writers Collaborative

Julie Gammack's Iowa Potluck

By Julie Gammack's Potluck

Julie unearths stories you'll want to read, and or listen to via podcast. She's in the know, so you'll be in the know. She was into 'reader engagement' before 'reader engagement' was a thing. Join the community!

Iowa Writers' Collaborative member

- Iowa Writers Collaborative