About Fieldnotes from a Watcher
A literary journal that publishes creative nonfiction stories monthly
A Watcher's Notes
Scientists and researchers, professional or amateur, keep qualitative notes to aid their field studies. Birdwatchers for example often keep fieldnotes of sketches, behaviors, and songs of birds that they discover. The watchers observe, examine, and wonder about the beauty they witness in nature. The words and illustrations they keep help them capture and commemorate that beauty.
Since adolescent years when self-awareness emerged, I've often found myself in a strange position of watching my own lived experiences unfold from a third-person perspective - a watcher of life, so to speak. That strangeness grew after I left home of 18 years and moved overseas for college. Another 18 years has flown by since, and I've come to learn that the position I often found myself in isn't strange after all. Socrates famously articulated "the examined life" millennia ago, and even went so far as to argue that an unexamined life is not worth living. That conclusion sounds almost like a moral high ground, but self-righteousness is not as relevant to the watcher in me as the desires to connect and make meaning out of life's countless messy and miraculous moments. Luckily, writing has been one of the most fulfilling ways for me to satisfy those desires, whether I'm home, away, or in between.
Themes
Fieldnotes from a Watcher was born out of a hunger to immerse in the work of writing and publishing full time. The literary journal publishes creative nonfiction stories monthly for readers and kindred souls who also diligently watch the timeless moments in life. As personal as they are universal, these human moments are woven deeply into the social fabric, shared by many yet voiced by few, and eager to be uncovered if we're willing and courageous.
Every month, you'll access creative nonfiction essays from myself (learn more about my writing journey) and guest writers that explore the following timeless themes, with the diligence and care that they deserve:
- The unsolvable puzzle that is our families of origin and of choice
- The enigma that is our grief journey, making meaning from the loss of a loved one, a job, a period of time that’s forever passed, a part of self, or an ideal parent that you meet only in a two-chair therapy session
- The eternal connection between the body and mind
- The cross-cultural stories that bridge the east and the west, and depict individual lives against the historical and cultural backdrop
- The subjects that are both magical and relentless, like parenthood, biology, or the human mind
- The creative process and inspiration, films, music, and words that astonish and bemuse
These nonfiction stories aim to reveal an open space for contemplation and connection among readers. You may find that you're not the only one peeling back the curtain to examine what lies behind.
Your Readership and Support
So welcome, and peruse away. If you find yourself moved by these stories, there are a few ways you can help to sustain their creation:
- Share the stories with someone that may benefit from them.
- Subscribe and become a paid member to gain full access to the latest essays, private newsletters, and more.
- Consider a one-time contribution instead of monthly paid subscription.
Your support empowers a literary journal in its nascent stage, and directly fuels an independent writer's ability to continue this work for years to come.
Savoring these words? Become a member of Fieldnotes from a Watcher and access more creative nonfiction essays exploring life's timeless moments that are as personal as they are universal.