33 Small Joys
A few things that made me happy in 2024
Hey y’all! I really enjoyed putting together 2023’s Ten Small Joys, so I decided to expand the project a bit in 2024. Over the course of the last twelve months, I’ve been assembling a list of things that’ve made me happy — and here it is! Feel free to bookmark and come back whenever you need a spark of joy.
Watch:
1. The Up documentary series
Back in 1964, a group of children were selected to participate in a very unique documentary project. Once every seven years since, director Michael Apted (RIP!) continued to interview each person about topics like class and family. It’s fascinating to watch the participants grow over the course of the project, and frankly an honor to witness the evolution of their opinions, dreams, griefs, and joys.
There are now nine entries in the Up series spanning the last six decades, and it remains one of the most vulnerable and important documentary projects I’ve ever encountered. Roger Ebert put it best when he selected 28 Up as one of the Ten Greatest Films of All Time:
No other film I have ever seen does a better job of illustrating the mysterious and haunting way in which the cinema bridges time.
2. This Blair Witch Project 25th anniversary panel
If you’re a creative person in need of some inspiration, WATCH THIS PANEL. The three stars of The Blair Witch Project had a very unique experience working together on a tiny indie film that took the world by storm, and they have so much insight to share — not just from the whirlwind of that summer in 1999, but continuing to pursue their passions through all the years that followed. Something Josh said (around 28:45) has stuck with me ever since:
There is this public notion of success and failure that has nothing to do with the path of a lifetime… The validation is gonna come and it’s gonna go. That’s not why you do it. You do it to try to find your own voice, your own humanness.
If we’re making art with the goal of external validation, we’re in for heartbreak. But if we make art for ourselves first, it’s a whole different ballgame.
3. Any competition documentary
As y’all might remember, June’s Microfascination was a roundup of competition documentaries heavily inspired by this tweet:
Watching a competition documentary continues to be a great way to bask in the energy of people who just really like stuff. Puzzles, pinball, pizza — check out my list and take your pick!
Listen:
4. Katherine Cordova’s instrumental piano covers
Speaking of competitions, I participated in essay tournament earlier this year with my piece on “Mr. Brightside,” “A Song Is a Room Off the Hallway of Your Life.” While putting together the accompanying bonus issue of Microfascination, I stumbled across the work of pianist Katherine Cordova, who covers pop songs, film scores, and more! A highly recommended (and very soothing) sonic rabbit hole — check out her take on The Killers’ iconic song, for starters:
5. My top film scores
Each year I fall in love with a couple different film scores, and these end up serving as the soundtrack to most of my writing time. This year my writing owes a debt of gratitude to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ exhilarating Challengers score, as well as tomandandy’s ethereal work on The Mothman Prophecies.
6. Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf
Speaking of Mothman, I went down a real rabbit hole this year for my Bright Wall/Dark Room piece, “13 Ways of Looking at The Mothman Prophecies.” I listened to a few interviews with TMP screenwriter Richard Hatem and found myself really resonating with his personal search for answers through books and writing. Good news for me: he started a literary podcast!
Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf is a unique blend of memoir and book review from someone who’s spent his entire life trying to figure out what happens to us after we die — and amassed a whole lot of weird books in the process. Each episode takes a look at a different book on his shelf and where he was in life when he came to it. In Hatem’s own words, “I may not know what all of them mean — but I know what they mean to me.”
Highly recommend starting with “They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers,” which gives a behind-the-scenes peek at his experience adapting The Mothman Prophecies.
7. An entire album (while not doing anything else)
In April, I wrote about attending a fan experience which entailed listening to the new Pearl Jam album in a pitch-black movie theater. It felt unusual to only listen like that, especially in our current smartphone era. Of course, you don’t have to go to a movie theater to recreate the experience! Listen to a new release from a favorite band, or an old album you love a lot. No distractions. Just listen. See what you notice.
Read:
8. The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series
This book series is a huge part of my recent interest in philosophy! I’ve found I have a much easier time grasping concepts that feel more abstract with the aid of familiar pop culture touchstones. Which one should I grab next — Batman? The Hobbit? Alien?
9. Bright Wall/Dark Room
One of my favorite things to do after first watching a movie is dive into Bright Wall/Dark Room’s index for further reading. BW/DR has been publishing essays exploring the relationship between movies and the business of being alive since 2013, and independent (ad-free!) media needs our support now more than ever.
Subscriptions run you just $5/month or $25/year and mean that people like me can keep delivering you search histories about cave horror (The Descent), explorations of grief and genre (The Night House), and thoughts on learning how to live with mysteries (The Mothman Prophecies).
10. Favorite childhood reads
Something that brought me a lot of comfort this year was returning to favorite stories from my youth, particularly via audiobook. Mostly I check them out free through the library via the app Libby, but if the book I want isn’t available there or has a lot of holds, I purchase via Libro.fm, which supports indie bookstores.
One I loved revisiting this year was Cornelia Funke’s The Thief Lord, which follows the adventures of a crew of runaways who live in an abandoned movie theater in Venice. (Pretty sure this was the book that made me fall in love with the concept of found family!)
11. Short Story, Long
Maybe in the new year you’d like to spend less time scrolling social media, and more time reading fiction? I highly recommend — editor sends out one new story biweekly via Substack. Burch has an uncanny knack for discovering original and exciting work, and it’s truly been a joy to check out the voices he’s highlighting. All stories are free to read, and a paid subscription provides bonus interviews from each author!
12. Memoir Land
For those who prefer nonfiction, don’t miss ’s ! This newsletter brings you a curated round-up of personal essays from around the web each week, as well as craft essays and author interviews. Paid subscribers receive bonus writing prompts!
13. New book recommendations
I’ve so loved interviewing authors for Write or Die and The Rumpus this year! If you’re looking to catch up on new releases, I highly recommend:
Michael Wheaton’s Home Movies, a thoughtful exploration of nostalgia, technology, and performance from the publisher of Autofocus Books. (Interview here!)
Jackie Wang’s Alien Daughters Walk into the Sun, a girlhood-spanning essay collection that reads like going on an adventure. (Interview here!)
Richard Scott Larson’s The Long Hallway, a memoir revisiting the author’s queer coming-of-age through the lens of his favorite film, Halloween. (Interview here!)
Marin Kosut’s Art Monster, an ode to being an artist in New York that is equal parts scholarly text, conversation, manifesto, and love letter. (Interview here!)
Stacey D’Erasmo’s The Long Run, a book-long answer to the question “How do we keep making art?” (Interview here!)
Sofia Samatar’s Opacities, an intimate portrait of a writer’s life and a fascinating consideration of the differences between writing and publishing. (Interview here!)
Play:
14. Scrabble
My New Year’s resolution was to improve my Scrabble skills, and I wasn’t about to let this one fall by the wayside. I started playing more of the DS Scrabble game instead of doomscrolling on my phone (bonus: no ads!), and I also picked up the book Everything Scrabble from my local library. I probably won’t ever achieve the mastery of Word Wars folks, but turns out it does indeed pay to know those two-letter words!
15. Video game recommendations
Speaking of the DS, it was great to have the chance to revisit some old favorites this year. Looking ahead to 2025, I’m hoping to work through the backlog in my Steam library. (Can y’all believe there’s a Blair Witch game that studies your reactions to fear and stress, and I haven’t played it yet?!)
I’ll probably do a proper list of all-time favorites in a future issue of Microfascination. For now, two of my top plays this year were 1) Telling Lies, a nonlinear game that invites you to uncover the story by typing search terms into a video database, and of course 2) Hotel Dusk, a visual novel about a mysterious hotel and the unlikely connections between its occupants.
16. Hunt a Killer mystery games
I first discovered Hunt a Killer through their six-part Blair Witch series. (REALLY hope they bring that one back, because I loved it!) You get a box full of evidence and make connections between the clues to solve the mystery. These work great alone or with a group, and are especially good for a cozy night in during the winter months. If you read Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys as a kid or ever entertained the fantasy of becoming a detective, you’ll probably wanna give HAK a try!
Create:
17. Books about creativity
Years ago, Keri Smith’s Wreck This Journal changed my life. A book that invites you to rip it up, make a mess, leave your mark — Smith expanded my understanding of what a book could be, and I never looked back.
This year renewed my interest in the study of creativity (stay tuned for a full reading list in a future issue!), so I found myself returning to her work. Smith’s books are truly for everyone; in fact, I would actively recommend them to adults. Now more than ever is the time to recapture your sense of childlike wonder! Try Wreck This Journal, How to Be an Explorer of the World, and The Wander Society.
While you’re at it, add ’s Steal Like an Artist journal to your cart! I’ve learned so much about creativity from his books and newsletter, and this journal lived in my bag for the better part of the year. Smith’s work helped me recapture my sense of wonder, and Kleon’s has encouraged me to Keep Going.
18. Dollar store mini canvases
Famously, not everything at the dollar store is actually a dollar, BUT I snagged a trove of mini canvases at Dollar General that were one actual dollar each. Add some paint and a few brushes to your basket and host a cheap art night, or buy twelve and make one mini art piece for each month of the year.
19. A new pen
Go to an art store and test a bunch and pick your favorite. Personally I use Pilot Precise V5 for practical things, Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow for the fun stuff, and a four-color Bic whenever I have an urgent need to write in multiple colors.
20. Instant film cameras
There’s something freeing about instant photography. You can’t edit the photo or change anything once it’s taken. All you can do is look through the viewfinder, press a button, and capture the moment exactly as it is. Instax tends to be cheaper, but Polaroid is classic!
21. Notebooks
I’ve been writing in ruled XL Moleskine Cahiers for eight years now. They come in packs of three and they’re great for journaling, brainstorming, morning pages, etc. Once I finish one, I slap a fun sticker on the cover of the next and keep going.
22. Creativebug
Creativebug is a goldmine of how-to videos for crafting and artmaking. I’ve been on a bit of a creative odyssey this year, so it was an invaluable resource when I wanted to see what the deal was with gelli printing, ghost signatures, or carving my own stamps. Some libraries provide Creativebug access to patrons for free; if yours doesn’t, there’s a free trial so you can give it a shot before subscribing.
Go:
23. Libraries
Libraries host book sales, crafting and art events, lectures, and more. Most libraries these days provide access to far more than books via the Library of Things. (Think microphones, telescopes, sewing machines, tripods…) If you miss Blockbuster, you can check out movies and video games from the library for free! There’s also a plethora of free digital resources available too, like audiobooks, ebooks, streaming services, online courses, and more.
A great way to support your library is to use it! Check out Life Kit’s “How to get the most out of your library” to get started.
24. Museums
A lot of libraries offer passes that grant free entry to local museums, but museums often do free or discounted admission days, too. It’s worth subscribing to their newsletters to get event updates!
Earlier this year I attended one where we each picked an art piece to look at (and attempt to draw!) for an hour. Apparently visitors spend around 15-30 seconds on average viewing an individual work of art in a museum. If you want to try a little longer than that, the next official Slow Art Day is April 5, 2025.
25. Silent Book Club
Part of why I’m able to read so many books is because I immediately stop if I’m not enjoying myself and move on to something else. If you’re particular about what you read but still like the social aspect of a book club, give Silent Book Club a try. (There’s usually optional mingling at some point before or after the event!)
26. Labyrinths
LabyrinthLocator.org was an awesome bonus find from July’s Microfascination. This website collects and shares the locations of over 6,500 labyrinths worldwide! Both useful for finding labyrinths near you and simply fun to peruse. (I enjoyed the inclusion of this labyrinth, for example, which is a tattoo on someone’s arm. Location: Changes all the time.)
27. Zine fairs
Imagine a room full of creatives who are super excited about very specific things! Every zine fair I’ve attended has been an inclusive and celebratory space, which we’ll need more of in the coming years. (More than just traditional zines available, too — look at this deck of cards I picked up that is ALSO a story you can read in any order!) Printed Matter has a great list of fairs here — both US and international.
28. Unusual landmarks
Atlas Obscura’s curated lists of “extraordinary sights” are just as useful for adventuring in your hometown as someplace new. I was surprised by the number of weird and interesting places I’d never heard of before just in my own state!
29. Physical media stores
As I mentioned in October’s Hotel Dusk issue, a hobby I’ve picked up this year is looking for the quirkiest DS games I can find in retro game stores. I’ve also started seeking out unusual dictionaries in bookstores, like this Dictionary of Imaginary Places. Life is 100% improved by going on a little treasure hunt every now and then. So head out to a game store, a record store, an indie bookstore, a video store — see what you find.
Just For Fun:
If you need any belated holiday gift suggestions (or a little treat), I recommend:
30. Any of the zines from last month’s issue
Zines make wonderful and inexpensive gifts, and independent creators need our support year-round — everybody wins!
31. Alternate Histories’ National Park Monsters calendars
HUGE fan of this shop and been buying their calendars for a few years now. Much harder to sink into a pit of existential despair when you know Godzilla’s waiting for you at Rocky Mountain next month. Can’t let Godzilla down!
32. Banned books tote
I am a millennial of many tote bags, but my Banned Books tote from Out of Print has gotten a lot of use this year. (I have the one with the red handle, but I kind of want them all — look, LeVar Burton!)
33. Jellycat’s Mythical Creatures
Good lord these are cute. I recommend Nessie and Mothman, obviously.
As the year wrapped up, I had the chance to share some 2024 (and even 2025!) book recs in Necessary Fiction, Write or Die, and Short Story, Long. Grateful as ever to those who give me the chance to yell about books I love on the internet!
One last note: if you enjoy Microfascination, please share this (or any!) issue with someone who might need a little spark of cheer themselves. Now more than ever, it’s important to celebrate small joys, so I promise I’m gonna try my darnedest to do that here in your inbox in the coming months.
See y’all next year! :)
Great list! The Challengers score is *so* good. (Reznor & Ross were actually my top Spotify artist in 2024; their scores for The Vietnam War and Patriots Day are super underrated if you haven't listened to those yet.) And I have Kleon's audiobook trilogy waiting for me on Audible. Hoping it'll give me a boost for some of my writing goals this year!
I did Hunt a Killer!! It's so much fun!! Love your newsletter! This roundup is wonderful. Hope you are well, my friend and Happy New Year!!