Who Do We Write For?
Pick Of The Week – 17th February 2026
This newsletter is a curated cornucopia featuring some of the best of Medium and Substack, and the wider world, rumoured to exist outside of these platforms.
Please note that in view of the impact of AI on the writing community, Eco has a stringent “No AI-content” policy, and will seek to actively avoid any articles we consider to be partly or fully generated by AI, and not feature authors believed to be using it in this way again. We are fully committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. In support of our aims and objectives, 10% of earnings from this series will be donated to Greenpeace.🌈
This newsletter is currently published free on Substack, but if you would like to support us please do pay to subscribe.
Sponsors – a link to donors and paying Substack subscribers 🦄 will appear here:
Ecosia; The Environmental Transport Association; Mary Grindeland; Writer Chick With A Ukulele; Adéla Valčíková; Rob Moir; Ripton Gree
Pick of Medium – (advisory allergy note – may contain poetry)
Tze Lin Sam @samtzelin ponders who we write for:
https://medium.com/@samtzelin/something-unexpected-happened-when-i-stopped-writing-for-an-audience-9024a1b0eb77
Roz Warren warns of a scam by fake promoters:
Vincent Halles anticipates some book releases due later this year:
https://medium.com/books-are-our-superpower/the-2026-book-releases-im-watching-closely-ede01f80f745
Anne the Vegan discusses hypocrisy:
https://medium.com/bouncin-and-behavin-blogs/hypocrisy-reeks-11fbddd704ec
Carlo Zeno rises above it:
https://medium.com/catharsis-chronicles/those-above-the-law-92aac923751d
Ripton Green explores the world of coffee:
Adela Valcikova on a lost diary:
https://medium.com/no-instructions/the-last-ten-minutes-7dd64bff4d79
Maria Rattray explores changing trends of food and exercise:
https://medium.com/@mariarattray/a-childhood-underscored-with-sugar-3907f5737e52
Brett Langridge interviews a Norwegian Trump fan (trigger warning!):
https://medium.com/the-geopolitical-economist/norways-biggest-trump-fan-returns-5fa3d4ccd178
Adrienne Beaumont is decluttering:
https://medium.com/the-challenged/my-most-precious-collection-52dd5e836e94
Vincent Halles explores creative boundaries:
https://medium.com/counterarts/a-book-so-strange-it-needed-new-technology-560c6ed1a8d4
Robin Wilding explores the spectrum of sexuality:
https://medium.com/@robin_wilding/the-gayest-things-straight-men-do-6a82bc371407
Sean Corcoran tackles the em dash:
https://medium.com/the-daily-cuppa/confessions-of-a-hyphen-man-6b6bee7166d4
Tips of the week –
Harsha Sharma offers advice on writers supporting each other:
Sriram Yaladandi has some engaging advice:
https://medium.com/pen-with-paper/the-real-reason-people-dont-engage-with-your-writing-b9884a186776
Substack launches new design features for publications:
Christina Piccoli shares some tips on digital products:
https://medium.com/hustlinghousewife/9-mini-digital-product-gems-that-give-big-results-ad4ff87be846
Pick of Substack:
Carole Cadwalladr reflects on a very American coup:
Kiran Bilal reports on the return of a kite-flying tradition to Pakistan:
Steffany Ritchie lets rip:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-186772647
Viktor Kravchuk highlights a case of when a Ukrainian athlete put principles before a medal opportunity:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-187789698
Peter Murphy is going to the dogs:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-187263986
Rebecca Bonnington goes speed dating:
Yoofi Biney pushes some boundaries:
Priyanshu Jha on love month:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-187370739
Life is a bowl of cherries for Brett Langridge:
On a worrying aspect of the Epstein files – eugenics and propaganda:
Sean Corcoran is not picking up:
Moral Fibres suggests some plastic-free ways to start seedlings:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-186077984
The wider world:
Environmental News
Catastrophic tipping points are being approached due to inaction on climate change:
The Trump administration continues to undermine efforts to combat climate change:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0zdd7yl4vo
Romania is leading the way in decoupling economic growth from pollution:
Natural adaptation is not keeping pace with climate change:
https://phys.org/news/2026-02-nature-halt-climate-gains-pace.html
Ancient trees have been lost due to wildfires:
On complexity economics and how to model the world:
Some positive news about tree planting in China:
High levels of PFAs have been detected in some water sources:
Two economists suggest a route to a better world:
Global News
The average vocabulary of children may be shrinking due to screen time:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/feb/12/susie-dent-tips-tricks-child-vocabulary
Political News
The experience of a Ukrainian banned from the Winter Olympics:
AI News
Interestingly, the first two examples in this article are (former) writers:
Safety is taking a back seat in the race to make AI profitable:
Health
A truck stop is encouraging drivers to look after their hearts:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98pzd98j2jo
A mild electrical shock to a specific part of the brain can make us less selfish!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20znqe2yqlo
How one person’s life changed after a near-death experience:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jvxwvdy4zo
Life Hack of the Week –
Money-saving tips to improve your home:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2g1k8enleo
A “chatty café” aims to improve well-being:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz6ex6qgjgzo
Quote of the Week:
Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly.
Robert Schuller
Joke of the Week:
(Health warning – swallow coffee before reading)
A priest, a pastor and a rabbit walk into a blood donation clinic.
“What blood type are you?” asks the nurse.
“I think I’m a type O” says the rabbit.
‘Hacker – “I have all your passwords.”
Me – “Fantastic, could you let me know them?”
Did you know?
The Winter Olympics have produced some astonishing moments: the Games were first held in 1924 and have since featured sports played on ice, snow, and even steep mountain tracks at speeds over 80 mph; Norway has won more medals than any other nation in Winter Olympic history despite its small population; figure skater Sonja Henie won three consecutive gold medals before becoming a Hollywood film star; the coldest Games on record took place in 1994 with temperatures plunging below −30 °C.
Not a good time to eat the frog as Carol Finch reveals:
https://medium.com/@carol.finch1/one-minute-facts-poison-dart-frogs-ad3a0387fe88
Word of the Week:
Sook – an Australian insult that might be best translated as “crybaby” that is used in an article about the term in “The Guardian”. Apparently, it has been used several times in the Australian parliament recently, a country not known for its love of whingers, and the term is considered so insulting that those using it were asked to withdraw the accusation:
Clip of the Week:
A reporter experiences a self-driving car being tested in London, where they may soon be permitted for general use:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/clyvkdm1j8do
As always, thank you for reading, and enjoy your day.
Editor’s comment: It is noted that the authors featured above have not consented in advance to their inclusion - I have assumed that authors appreciate a mention and sharing of your work – but if you do not wish to be featured please let me know and apologies.
Thanks so much for including my tip on plastic-free ways to grow seedlings! Much appreciated!
Read Rebecca's.... She such a fierce strong wowan. Loved it all. Thanks for always putting this together. It’s a good way to catch up. I sent a DM sir, please do check out.