Who Are You Reading in 2024?

Newsletter recs for the curious mind (plus a surprise announcement!)

Photo by Erin Hervey on Unsplash

Travel & Newsletter Updates

1. Before we dive into the meat of today’s discussion I have a quick but important announcement…I’ll be traveling Japan from February through April! Surprise!!!

To create a maximally immersive cultural experience, I’ll be staying with locals for most of my trip, devoting half my time to exploring the cities and half my time to exploring the countryside. Meanwhile, on top of fiction, you’ll also start receiving 1-2 travel essays each month highlighting the most interesting lessons and moments from this trip. More details to come!

If you know someone interested in Japan travel, feel free to share this newsletter with them.

2. Last week, we wrapped up “The Little Robot Who Waited”. If you missed any episodes from this series and would like to catch up click here.

3. Next week, I have a rather peculiar story in store for you. It combines the threads of fiction as well as nonfiction to create a story that is grounded in reality as much as it is rooted in fantasy. Consider it a fictional memoir of sorts, complete with original photos from my past year of travel. If you’re intrigued by the sound of this cross-genre experiment, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss its release. :)

Now, on with the show!

Newsletter recs

For the last few weeks, I’ve been contemplating taking a break from both fiction and travel writing to bring you a different treat. You might know me as the writer of this newsletter, but did you know that I’m also an avid reader of 40 others? Today, I want to share with you a handful of my favorites as well as why I look forward to hearing their voices in my inbox each week.

In reading this list, I hope you’ll be able to find other newsletter communities where you can cultivate your curiosity and connect with kindred souls. Although we mainly focus on fiction and travel in Macy Sees The World, this curation I put together is far more eclectic. Niches range from mental health to linguistics to fiction. Despite their topical diversity, all newsletters mentioned share a dedication to quality, consistency, and creative passion manifest in both their storytelling and research.

I’ve also included a few lines explaining why I’m a fan of each; however, if there’s one that particularly intrigues you, I strongly recommend visiting their newsletter and reading a few of their articles for yourself.

Lastly, don’t forget to leave a comment sharing some of your top newsletters as well! I look forward to discovering new writers with you.

1. Create Me Free by

Kathryn Vercillo

Kathryn’s newsletter will intrigue anyone interested in learning about the relationship between art and mental health through studying the lived experiences of artists and writers. My favorite type of articles are the personal interviews. You can’t help but admire the courage it takes for someone to share how their darkest moments have shaped their creative journey. Hearing others’ stories has helped me to see my own in a new light. Perhaps it’ll help you understand yourself better as well. I’ve linked two particularly memorable interviews for anyone curious about this topic. Check them out!

Article Recs:

Art and Mental Health Interview with Photographer/Painter/Writer Terry Lee Nelson

Answer in Images: Art and Mental Health Interview with PerfectLight

2. Kunstleroaming by

kora kwok 🌊

Kora is a fellow traveler with a gift for moving people with his words. Something I appreciate about him as a writer is the pure authenticity of his voice. He doesn’t hesitate to reel you into the depths of his mind, giving you a raw, unfiltered perspective into the woes and thrills of leaving behind everything you know to pursue a passion for adventure. If you want to vicariously travel the world and become inspired to live with intentionality, definitely give him a read!

Article Recs:

letter to myself, half a year ago

what eluded us in the places we once called home

3. Cosmographia by

M. E. Rothwell

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that I adore learning and discussing history and culture, so it’s only natural this list includes a newsletter that specializes in these two topics! What makes Cosmographia stand out to me is its incorporation of primary sources—artwork, maps, literature, photographs—in its exploration of history. Each newsletter you read feels akin to opening a time capsule that transports you to a different epoch or civilization as seen through the eyes of those who experienced it firsthand. I recommend reading the articles linked below to get a taste of Cosmographia for yourself.

Article Recs:

How did the Holy Land come to be holy?

Tlaxcala

4. The Books of Our Lives by

Matthew Long

Besides being a history enthusiast, I’m also a literature lover (no surprise there) who loves conversing with other literature lovers. In writing about how the books we read influence how we live and how our life experiences influence our reading choices, Matthew has fostered a thriving community where life-long learners gather to discuss how reading has strengthened, healed, and overall changed us for the better. Below are a few of my favorite recent articles of his. If you’re a bookish soul looking to connect with other bookish souls, give them a gander!

Article Recs:

A Season for Everything

Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone

5. Talebones by

S.E. Reid

Don’t you love stories with descriptions so striking and characters so three-dimensional, that they whisk you off into a different reality with the unrelenting force of a literary tornado? Though I’ve only read a handful of Sally’s short stories and I just started her latest series, Freelance and Fishmaids, a few weeks ago, her writing has had this effect on me multiple times. I appreciate how her stories always leave you thinking, questioning, and wanting more. Seeing the next episode of her serial fly into my inbox never fails to zap me with a hefty dose of dopamine each time. Episode one is linked below and is a great place to start. Check it out!

Article Recs:

Freelance and Fishmaids Episode One

The White Horse

6. Everybody Talks by

Rebecca Ericson-Hua

As someone who studied Communications in college, getting to learn about the way language use shapes our society and our individual identities from an applied linguist has been a real treat. Rebecca not only has a flair for explaining complex concepts in layman’s terms but also for piquing your curiosity toward a subject you didn’t even know you’d be curious about! Each time I open one of her newsletters, I’m guaranteed to learn something surprising that’ll make me immediately want to do a deep dive into the subject. I’ve linked a couple of my favorite articles below. Definitely check them out if interested.

Article Recs:

Language = Communication? Not Always

I’m Scared to Use My Own Language

Now, it’s your turn!

In the comments, share 1-3 newsletters that you’re excited to read in 2024. Feel free to link to your favorite articles and let us know why you’re a huge fan of their work. I look forward to reading your responses 🤗!