Editor's Letter: Volume 02
One year in, I'm tweaking formats, introducing new content, and yes... turning on the paywall (sort of).
Dearest Readers,
Can you believe it? It’s been just over a year since I first launched Far-Flung Corners on Substack and Instagram. When I began this project, I promised myself I’d commit to it for at least 12 months and then take stock. Any seed needs time to grow and bloom, after all. And here we are.
I’ll be frank: it’s been a challenge. Finding time to write, edit, photograph, edit some more, publish, and then promote this Substack alongside my freelance and consulting work (which, let’s face it, pays the bills) is tricky, to say the least. As is navigating whether or not it’s appropriate to promote anything at all amid the current news cycle. I’m sure anyone pursuing a passion project can relate to all of the above.
While I was perhaps a little naïve launching this without much of a plan, I’m very proud of getting it off the ground. Through publishing 12 Issues, and by studying how others are using this quickly evolving platform, I feel I’ve learned a great deal about what works and what doesn’t. By reflecting on what I enjoy most and least about the process—and the digital media landscape as a whole—I’ve also developed a clearer direction for future goals and ambitions. Learning was always one of the core motivations behind this initiative, which I need to remind myself of from time to time.
The initial idea for Far-Flung Corners was to share my personal perspective on places that are undiscovered, off the beaten path, or have a unique enough design or cultural angle to warrant visiting. Transparently, the curatorial direction of the Issues so far—Volume 01, as I’ve decided to call them—was largely dictated by where I was invited to go for other assignments. Fortunately, I made it to some real stunners: everything from an Italian castle to an English manor; an Ibizan finca to an Oregon lodge. Reaching nine countries and four continents, it’s been a joyous whirlwind and an absolute privilege.
But as I wrote in my first Editor’s Letter, I want this platform to offer more than fun stories and pretty pictures. The ultimate goal is to encourage a shift in both where and how we travel. This industry is changing quickly, and sadly, more and more destinations are being spoiled by sheer numbers of visitors and a collective lack of consideration. I’m aiming to highlight lesser-known locations that might entice those with the ways, means, and desire for adventure. I’m also advocating for responsible, sustainable, “softer” travel that can lessen the impact on well-trodden sites and drive cultural and economic benefits in less-visited areas.
As this publication grows in scale, ambition, and (fingers crossed) readership, my hope is that I’ll be able to visit and cover the far-flung destinations I always intended to, in order to fulfill its wider mission. Despite the challenges, I thoroughly enjoy writing this newsletter for you, and if it makes even the smallest impact or offers a brief escape from reality, I’ll consider that a success.
So now, with all of the above in mind, I’m ready to kick off this exciting next chapter for Far-Flung Corners. Volume 02 will launch very soon with a slightly different, more refined format. Additional content to feed the algorithms, more variety for readers, and (hopefully) some fun collaborations with people, brands, and partners I love and admire. Here’s what to expect…
Re-imagined Issues
Each Far-Flung Corners Issue will still focus on a single trip or destination, but will now comprise multiple pieces of content—much like a print magazine. Spanning personal essays, reviews, guides, interviews, and whatever other article types emerge along the way, these Issues will allow me to paint a fuller picture of each place I cover. Hopefully, down the line, there will also be guest contributions, cross-Substack collaborations, print editions, IRL events… Who knows? I’m open to it all.
Some of these posts will remain free and accessible to all; others will sit behind a paywall. This ensures that the places I highlight don’t become overrun (not that my current subscriber base will ruin a location anytime soon, ha!) and allows me to begin earning a small amount from this project so I can better justify the time I spend on it.
The paid subscription fee is only $5 a month—less than a New York City coffee. I hope you’ll consider subscribing (if you don’t already) or upgrading to paid if you do. That said, I’m acutely aware that times are tough, so there’s absolutely no need to apologize if you can’t justify the expense right now.
What you’ll receive in each Issue as a Far-Flung Corners subscriber:
Personal Essays
Let’s get a little more personal, shall we? Each Issue in Volume 02 will lead with a feature-style story exploring the most impactful moments, poignant experiences, or thoughtful realizations of the trip in focus. These posts are my opportunity to share all the amazing and challenging elements of travel, and to contextualize them within the wider world.
– Personal Essay posts will continue to be free and accessible to all.
Hotel Reviews
If you’re looking for recommendations or advice on where to stay, Hotel Reviews will detail the properties I visit as part of each Issue. Sometimes there’ll be one, other times several, but each will get a dedicated post offering a personal, subjective take—viewed, as usual, through a design-focused lens. I hope you’ll trust my taste and appreciate my honesty.
– Hotel Review posts will be available to paid subscribers.
Favorite Corners
I went back and forth on creating a destination guide series. So many already exist, often listing the same places and written based on hype rather than personal experience. So instead, I decided to highlight the places I visited and enjoyed on each trip. These “Favorite Corners” could be restaurants, museums, landmarks, streets I loved wandering, or spots where I simply sat and watched the world go by. Rather than a list of recommendations, consider this series an invitation to discover your own favorite corners, wherever your travels take you.
– Favorite Corners posts will be available to paid subscribers.
Quick Flings
For hospitality or cultural spaces I visit on the fly—and believe are worth a mention—I’ll share photos and short reviews directly to Instagram. I’m calling these Quick Flings (get it?!) and they’ll help me cover more of the amazing spots I encounter without overthinking the content too much.
– Quick Fling posts will be available to Instagram followers. Follow my personal IG @dahowarth as well as the @farflung.corners page for these updates.
Volume 02 Teaser
So what’s coming up? As promised, we’re going further than before. I’ll be sharing a recent pilgrimage to Sea Ranch and an escape into the wilderness of Joshua Tree—both in California while I was stuck in the US—plus a multi-leg trip to Peru that took me from the Amazon to the Andes, and much more. I hope the new format provides even more inspiration, food for thought, and, importantly, encouragement to explore the world with fewer checklists and more curiosity.
Before I sign off, I want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to all of you who subscribe and follow along with my adventures. Friends, family, peers, colleagues, and even a few strangers—your support means the world to me.
And finally, please do reach out if you have feedback, ideas, pitches, partnership opportunities, or simply want to connect over a shared love of adventure. Wherever I am in the world, I’m only ever an email or DM away.
All my love, and safe travels!
D x