Elmo Moorby

Time passed frustratingly slowly at December’s end, leaving me ample time to stew in my excitement for the new year. Anticipation bubbled in me like an office water fountain and motivation simmered as wonderings about the opportunities a fresh year would bring flooded my brain.

Stepping into 2024, I found myself to be in a much better place than years past; I was excited for what was to come.

An Introduction to ‘BookTube’

The first step I took in 2024 was committing to my YouTube channel. Though an idea I had toyed with before, this time I was dedicated. I searched for tips and advice, and filled a notebook with ideas and tables to chart my progress. Many young people seek fame and fortune online, but I was approaching this as an opportunity of professional growth. Not only would I develop my voice as an author and critic, but build skills in editing, videography, market research, and advertisement.

Sadly, modern authorship relies heavily on building your own following and community, due to the exclusive nature of building connections in the publishing sector. I see my channel as an opportunity to get involved in the ‘Bookish’ community and global readership as well as build a professional skillset essential to modern marketing.

So far, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working on my channel and hope to remain consistent with it throughout the year. You can follow along with my forays on YouTube here.

Setting Goals

In January, I set myself a reading goal of 10 books for 2024. You can learn more about the books I’ve been looking forward to in this video. As of this post, I’ve read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Circe by Madeline Miller, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and started No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai.

Both The Hunger Games and Circe were gripping tales led by independent and reasonable female protagonists. It was refreshing to read books where women are front and centre and act as anyone would given their circumstances. As for The Yellow Wallpaper, there is no doubt that I will be re-reading it before the year is out. Every word is relevant. Perkins Gilman masterfully shows the relationship of the protagonist to the world around her.

As for audiobooks, I’ve been working my way through Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Kristin Atherton’s narration is charming and amusing and must be credited for keeping my hummingbird brain engaged. I’ve also been dipping in and out of Mythos by Stephen Fry and am enjoying learning more about the origins of the Greek Gods and their mythologies.

There are currently 107 books sitting on my shelf that I’ve anticipated reading for over a year. To encourage me to fulfil their purpose, a self-imposed Book Ban is in action. I hope to report on the many books read in my next quarterly post.

Creative Bastards: Issue 2

Though set back by many months, I hope to publish the second issue of my arts magazine in April. Anticipation for its release has been wrought, and I hope to alleviate the intrigue surrounding the finished issue soon. I am so grateful for the help received in the submission, editing, and illustrating of the pieces– without which there is little chance this issue would ever see the light of day. There are three things left to implement before it is sent to be proofread and, finally, printed.

You will be able to find the issue online (upon its release) at creativebastardsmag.com.

Writing and Work

As a writer, there are always one thousand and one projects hidden away in varying degrees of completeness. Recently, my thoughts have been devoted to three projects, though I refuse to share details here lest my brain believe the stories told and the projects fade back into the notebook pile.

As for working professionally as a writer and editor, I have found details regarding Penguin Random House’s Work Experience program. I hope to apply to the next instalment and hold the highest hopes despite its competitive nature.

Otherwise, I am maintaining my position at a well-known supermarket, delivering quality products to the masses.