Macy Sees The World is an album of short fiction and essays inspired by my travels around the world. To join the adventure, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Click below to learn more about subscriber benefits. Subscribe now Hiya friend! How have you been? I just arrived in Osaka after bouncing around the Izu Peninsula for the past two weeks during which I saw Mount Fuji way more times than I needed to, made friends with a backpacking French couple plus two siblings from Colorado, and ziplined for the first time. I can’t wait to share more details from that brief yet unforgetable tr ..read more

Hi friend!  This week’s story is inspired by my exploration of Shinjuku City. It’s a ghost tale that attempts to capture the sensual overstimulation of one of Tokyo’s busiest districts while investigating themes of guilt and cyclic trauma.  We’ll have three more newsletters centered around Tokyo before moving on to other places in Japan, namely the Izu Peninsula and the Kansai region.  The first will be a fictional piece set in a Japanese jazz bar (also inspired by one of my recent excursions). The second will be a travel essay about the history of Asakusa Kannon Temple. An ..read more

Pic Source “Author Notes” is a paid series highlighting the specific moments from my travels that inspired the fiction featured in this newsletter. In it, I also explain some of the writing techniques used to bring the stories to life.  If you read Sparrow Bones (click here to check it out) and you’re interested in learning about the context surrounding the story’s creation, this article is for you.   The first 25% of the article is free. To find out what happens after that, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial to keep reading at no extra cost.  Enjoy! Subscri ..read more

Hi everyone! Today’s article focuses on Meiji Shrine, the biggest shrine in Tokyo. We’ll first explore the history through a quick, character-centered fictional story in Part I before delving into what the shrine is like today in Part II. Enjoy! Subscribe now Part I: Meiji Shrine, 1920 The aroma of wet soil perfumes the air as you gently ease the oak sapling from its pot and plant it in soft soil. As you pack its roots with fertilizer, you’re reminded of your childhood on your family’s ancestral farm down in Yokohama. Though starting a new life in Tokyo has allowed you to send money home and k ..read more

Travel & Newsletter Updates I’ve made it to Tokyo! Wowowowowo! I’ll be traveling Japan for about 3 months so get ready for many exciting pictures, travel essays, and fiction to come. My “Japan Travel Log” series will explore the cultural and historical significance of the places I am visiting. If you know someone interested in Japan travel, feel free to share this newsletter with them. Share Two weeks ago, we wrapped up “The Little Robot Who Waited”. Click here to read the full series. :) I’ll be releasing our first paid article in two weeks from now. It’ll be the Author's Notes for ..read more

Hello from Baoquan Grand Canyon :) *February updates* I’ll be in Japan from February through April! If you’re interested in learning about the historical and cultural significance of the places I’m visiting, look out for my “Japan Travel Log” series coming soon! From now till February 20, there will be a 16% discount on the annual plan ($36 —> $30). The Call to Adventure When I was six, I decided I’d like to either be a paleontologist, a fairy, or an author when I grew up. Well, paleontology got thrown out the window after I realized, gee, digging in tons of dirt all day probably so ..read more

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 ..read more

Welcome to Macy Sees The World where I share short fiction inspired by my travels from around the world! This is the final installment of our latest sci-fi series. If you haven’t already, I recommend catching up on the first three parts before diving into today’s post. The Little Robot Who Waited (Part I) The Little Robot Who Waited (Part II) The Little Robot Who Waited (Part III) If you’re new to this newsletter and would like to learn more about what types of stories you can find here, check out my About page. I reply to all emails and comments, so feel free to reach out at any time. :) Enjo ..read more

Welcome to Macy Sees The World where I share short fiction inspired by my travels from around the world! This is Part III of our latest sci-fi series. If you haven’t already, I recommend catching up on Part I and II before diving into today’s post. The Little Robot Who Waited (Part I) The Little Robot Who Waited (Part II) If you’re new to this newsletter and would like to learn more about what types of stories you can find here, check out my About page. I reply to all emails and comments, so feel free to reach out at any time. :) Enjoying “The Little Robot Who Waited”? Let me know with a like ..read more

Welcome to Macy Sees The World where I share short fiction inspired by my travels from around the world! This is Part II of our latest sci-fi series. If you haven’t already, I recommend catching up on the first part before reading the rest of today’s post. Click here to read Part I (estimated reading time: 8 min). 1. Personal Update Hola friends! How has your week been? On my end, I’m gearing up for my next overseas trip (location to be revealed next week—wheeeee!) and researching for our next fiction series. This one will feature a prominent royal family from eight hundred years ago and inter ..read more