What I'm Reading

Transracial adoption, Iowa water quality, and the effects of "Midwest Nice"

I scrolled through Instagram the other day and landed on a eucalyptus green post that detailed how much time we lose to our phones throughout the month.

“You spend 60 hours a month on your phone if you spend just two hours a day on your phone,” it read. That’s the equivalent of reading approximately 13 books, cooking 60 meals, or walking 160 miles.

I checked my screen time monitor over the last week. It was…longer than two hours a day. I immediately deleted the Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat applications off my phone and then vomited. (Not really, but man did reading those statistics really make my stomach churn)

Now you might be asking, Macey, what do you look at while you go to the bathroom or sit in the waiting room at the doctor’s office?

I’ve been catching up on reading all of those Substack columns piling up in my inbox that I swore three weeks ago I’d catch up on.

I’m still staring at a screen, of course, but taking in new information and learning from other writers has me feeling reenergized and focused. And it’s sparked a new idea for my own writing.

I have always found it fascinating to learn what other writers are reading. Writers understand the craft, know how much time goes into research, the feeling of your editor crossing out a paragraph you spent hours crafting. I believe reading others’ work means something different to us, something deeper, and I relish the opportunity to take a look into another writer’s mind.

“What I’m Reading” is the newest installment of The Midwest Creative. I’ll highlight fellow Iowa Writers Collaborative writers. I’ll share Substack columns that explore ideas I’d never considered, that introduce artists putting in the work, that fight for justice and equity. I’ll share pieces that made my heart beat faster, that live between each toss and turn in my bed at night

This will be exclusive content for paid subscribers. If you’re interested in learning more about what I’m reading, I hope you’ll consider upgrading your subscription. If not, I’m still glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to keep building a more equitable, stable, creative Midwest.

Iowa Writers Collaborative

Robert Leonard spoke with Dr. Chris Jones, a research engineer at the University of Iowa, on the dire situation in regards to Iowa’s water quality. Dr. Jones’ reporting on Iowa’s poor water quality has been censored by the University of Iowa, spawned by Republican Iowa legislators who aim to defund Iowa’s network of water sensors.

Robert and Dr. Jones will be guests on Julie Gammack’s Zoom lunch call on May 8th.

Iowa Water Quality Monitoring in Peril

Larry Stone launched his first Substack column as a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. Larry wrote a column for the Des Moines Register in the Big Peach section for years. His first column transported me to the Iowa countryside, and I could hear each bird chirping right along with him. I can’t wait to read more from Larry.

Spring in Iowa means...