From around 2017, platforms such as Substack enabled writers to publish directly to paying subscribers, bypassing traditional gatekeepers. Poets and essayists found sustainable income streams outside legacy publishing, while niche literary communities formed around individual voices. This decentralisation of publishing echoed earlier pamphlet cultures and revived debates about the economics and independence of literary authorship.

The rise of Substack and newsletter platforms in 2017 has transformed the landscape of poetry publishing. Poets now have the opportunity to directly monetize their work and build audiences, fostering a new wave of independent poetry that thrives outside traditional publishing structures.