redsmithsandrobins

The Debt Collector

The front door was white with an autumn wreath hanging from the doorknocker. Leaves and berries of yellow, orange and brown stared at me through the eye of this council house. Three sets of wellies, one large and two small, stood beside the door. I wasn’t sure whether to knock or ring the doorbell. IContinueContinue reading “The Debt Collector”

DEATH IN AN HOURGLASS

Your staff chips away at the exterior as you knock for attention your feet cemented within the sand that runs past you your cloak not as black as the stories tell your hood replaced by a cap and grin I hear the sandman is your stepfather and he carries nightmares in his bag your liesContinueContinue reading “DEATH IN AN HOURGLASS”

Publishing Placement #5

Day three and I felt like one of the gang: It’s amazing what a bit of courtesy and kind manners can do for the mental health in an office environment. Anna is one of those directors who clearly cares for her staff. I found that working along side her was a pure joy. She didContinueContinue reading “Publishing Placement #5”

Publishing Placement #4

Day 2, I was put to copy editing manuscripts again which was more than fine by me. Picking up my confidence I was flying through these books, weaving through narratives, getting lost in personal histories, even speaking in the authors voice myself. I loved every minute of it. The office staff are so friendly andContinueContinue reading “Publishing Placement #4”

Publishing Placement #3

Day one in the big publishing house: At the age of thirty-one, I felt like I was back in year nine starting my work placement all over again. A deer in headlights had a better expression upon its face than I did. I was so terribly nervous. Again, I arrived at the office ten minutesContinueContinue reading “Publishing Placement #3”

Publishing Placement #2

The day of the meeting. Choosing what to wear, I felt as though I was getting ready for a trial or attending a job interview for a firm I was inadequately qualified for. I arrived ten minutes before the meeting time (because I have a flawed fear of arriving anywhere late so I have toContinueContinue reading “Publishing Placement #2”

Publishing Placement #1

Starting the second year of my degree came with many questions. I wondered what I could learn this year that would enhance what I had already learnt in the last. I also thought about what opportunities awaited the central year of my time here at Edge Hill. I found that for one of our modules,ContinueContinue reading “Publishing Placement #1”

Dearest Diary#2

Monday (15/07/19) The kids slowly drag their arses out of bed at a snail’s pace and brush their teeth with their eyes still shut. This is while I am shouting like a banshee from various locations of the house “hurry up we’re going to be late”, “we overslept, brush faster” and the more colourful “IContinueContinue reading “Dearest Diary#2”

Dearest Diary #1

For years, I have been advised to keep a diary, but life has just been too busy. If I did find the time to draw some letters upon the page, I would either be so tired that my writings were illegible or the dates were so erratic that when reading back, my diary read asContinueContinue reading “Dearest Diary #1”

Bent

She lay bent in half beneath the tree, her skirt ripped and tights torn. Leaves scrambled within her hair hide the bruising. A long buttercup plucked too soon lay within her view. Blood trickled down her thigh. Looking down she carefully placed her breast back behind the lace with a shaking hand. The only comfortContinueContinue reading “Bent”