Already ‘wired for brilliant stories’ at age 14, self-described mega-introvert discovers driving force for calling in handwritten travel jottings from 21 years ago
FOR Jenny Hor, the journey to becoming an author did not begin with a publishing contract or a carefully plotted manuscript. It began with a notebook packed into a suitcase.
When she returned to Sydney more than two decades after first visiting the city as a child, Hor documented the trip in an effort to preserve memories before they faded.
Those handwritten observations would eventually evolve into Sydney 21 Years Later, a self-published travelogue that marked her debut in long-form travel writing.
A member of MyWriters Penang, Hor said her relationship with writing stretches back to her teenage years, when she discovered it offered a way to express thoughts and imagination that were often difficult to articulate aloud.
“I found joy in writing when I was 14 years old. As someone who is wired for brilliant stories, I thought it would be great to attempt writing on my own,” she told theSun.
Finding a creative home
A self-described “mega-introvert”, Hor initially wrote for her own enjoyment. After completing secondary school, however, she decided to pursue writing both as a passion and a profession, eventually studying English with Creative Writing at university.
Her connection with Penang’s literary community began through NutMag, the annual literary zine published by MyWriters Penang.
Her short story Application was selected for NutMag Volume 6, themed “Hope”, followed by Wa Si Hokkien Lang in Volume 7, themed “Inheritance”. By the time Tea Break appeared in Volume 8, themed “Harmony”, Hor had returned from her studies in the United Kingdom and was ready to re-engage with Malaysia’s writing scene.
In 2024, she published her first short story collection, Bukit Bintang Happenings, under Working Desk Publishing.
“Being a part of MyWriters helped me understand I am not alone in the pursuit of the creative arts,” she said.
Turning memories into stories
Long before becoming an author, Hor had developed a habit of recording her travels in notebooks.
Originally intended as personal keepsakes, those scribbled notes became increasingly valuable as memories faded with time.
“Over time, I began to forget the details of my trips, and my illegible writing did not help much to recall those events,” she said.
Returning to Sydney as an adult, she found herself comparing the city she remembered as a child with the place before her.
Published in 2025, Sydney 21 Years Later blends memoir, photography and travel writing, capturing not only iconic landmarks but also the fleeting encounters and quiet observations that shaped her experience.
The challenges of self-publishing
Producing the book meant learning far more than how to write.
Beyond editing the manuscript, Hor taught herself book design and layout, seeking guidance from designer friends as she learned Adobe InDesign from scratch. Fellow publisher and MyWriters member Wilson Khor also helped her navigate practical matters such as obtaining an International Standard Book Number, and pricing the book.
“Self-publishing involves trials and errors,” she said.
Always planning the next journey
Hor is already working on another travelogue centred on Kyoto and Osaka, while a more recent trip to Kyushu has sparked fresh ideas. Several short stories also remain tucked away in her Google Drive, waiting, as she puts it, to be released from “work-in-progress jail”.
When she is not writing, she enjoys exploring unfamiliar places, experimenting with new recipes and searching for a good cup of matcha.
She believes modern travel has increasingly become curated and performative, with many visitors chasing viral destinations and social media moments rather than meaningful experiences.
“Travel can be more about the spontaneous moments, surprising discoveries, and unexpected friends made along the way,” she said.
From a notebook filled with hurried observations to a published travel memoir, Hor’s path into authorship has been shaped by curiosity and careful attention to detail. And with several projects already in the pipeline, her next story may be only a trip away.
