“I can feel the longing of a future self waiting impatiently to take me to the other side of things.”

Bringing you personal essays about the meanderings of life.

About the author:

Sophia Hembeck is a bilingual writer and artist based in Edinburgh. She has published two books (Things I Have Noticed, 2020 & Things I Have Loved, 2023) which are compromised of her essays and short prose as well as artwork that she specifically created for the books. They are part of her poetic-memoir trilogy, which she intends to conclude in 2025. She’s a fierce advocate for literary essays and teaches essay writing classes for writers of all levels.

You can buy her books here.

Instagram: @sophiahembeck

What is the Muse Letter about?

I write personal essays, short or longer observations on the quotidian, pop culture, and sometimes I interview interesting artists. I started the Muse Letter in May 2020 during the turbulent times of the first lockdown to inspire and feel connected to the outside world.

The Muse Letter is driving on artistic excellence, read all about it here.

What is for free subscribers?

Occasional public posts, are highly limited. I believe that art must be cherished, and thus be paid for. If you believe that, too, see what is for paying subscribers. xx

What is for paying subscribers?

With a paid subscription you get the monthly Sunday Muse Letter and irregular long-form essays, that are published when they are ready.

You also get to read the special essay series’ only for paying subscribers that are published through the year, e.g. the Glimpse of Summer series and you have access to the archives which are mostly paywalled.

Plus: discounts on museletterpublishing.com x eternal gratitude.

The Top 3 of my favourite and most successful Muse Letters of all time:

tightrope act

Sophia Hembeck

·

May 19

What a shit dream, I think as I wake up. A single mother of four, applying for benefits, trying to convince the case officer of my dire situation an…

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I often wonder why I'm not THERE yet and I'm afraid: I know now why.

Sophia Hembeck

·

April 9, 2023

In the last week’s I wrote about a lot of big changes: I learned how to recognise a toxic friend and know when it’s time to end a friendship, I accepted to do nothing, I embraced chaotic energy and f…

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on excellence: must i write?

Sophia Hembeck

·

September 3, 2023

it’s 3 am and i lie awake in a bed that is not my own, in a city i occasionally visit. the cool late summer air is floating through the half-open…

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SUBMISSIONS TO THE MUSE LETTER:

THE MUSE LETTER is always on the lookout to support fresh, new voices.

Please submit your best nonfiction and nonfiction only. I am interested in literary essays and memoir. Please submit only one essay at a time. Essays should be between 1200 and 3000 words. It may take up to ten weeks to respond but I will respond to all submissions. Please provide a short biography of 150 - 300 words and list your social media handles/website etc..

Currently there are no funds to provide payment for successful applicants however if I choose your essay to be published on The Muse Letter there will be a paypal/ko-fi link for readers to donate tips to the contributing author.

Submissions will only be accepted at

themuseletter@substack.com

Please make yourself familiar with the tone and writing of The Muse Letter before you submit.