I’ve spent years using my words to make a living. But in 2011, it felt like time to write stories that were important to me rather than my clients.
So I enrolled in a Masters of Creative Writing with a simple aim: to learn to write better. After a giddy mix of part-time and full-time study, I graduated in 2016.
I am still trying to learn how to write better every time I sit down at my desk. My current goal is to complete a historical fiction novel, assemble a collection of short stories and get them published.
Below are a few of my favourite short pieces that have been good enough to get noticed. I hope you like them or perhaps will be affected by one of them in some way.
The Other Side
The Other Side is a piece of memoir that is deeply personal but something I’m also quietly proud to have had published in such a high quality magazine. It appeared in the Winter 2017 Edition of Meanjn.
Any time you open a door, you never really know what you’ll find on the other side. I stuck the key in the lock but could already see shapes moving behind the frosted glass. Swinging the door back, there was mum halfway down the hall, still wearing her dressing gown even though it was well after four. She shuffled down towards me, then past, my stepfather following behind.
‘Your mum’s not well. I’m taking her to the hospital. I’ll get someone to come over before dinner. Call you as soon as I can.’
I walked into the empty house.
‘Love you, Mum,’ I called back, too late.
Read the full piece over at Meanjin.
Alberto
Alberto is the first work I had published, sparked by the thought of my late Uncle who took his skills as a stained glass maker to his grave and never passed them on.
Alberto could pick customers by the sounds of their steps as they walked along the footpath. Often their shoes gave them away.
A clicking heel, a soft sounding sole in need of a firmer replacement. Other times it was just the slowing pace as they juggled a bag or phone to free an arm so they could pull down the handle and let themselves in.
The small bell fastened over the entry to the shop sang to him whenever anyone came inside. Alberto shuffled to the storefront and peered over the glass counter, first looking at their feet before raising his smiling face to welcome them.
‘How are you today? But more importantly, how are your shoes?’
The full piece can be found in the 2014 UTS Writers’ Anthology.
Roar
Roar was my winning submission to the inaugural Storyfest writers festival. And sure, it’s not the biggest prize, but it was nice to be recognised in my local community as a writer.
You drove him to school yesterday morning. The wind whisked Alistair’s yellow hat off his head. Just as you lifted him out of his booster and swung him onto the verge. Light rain pock-marked his lunch bag. You never bother with an umbrella on blowout days like these. He held your hand as you walked together, both twisting a little sideways up the path between the fence and the kindergarten. His fingers were warm and yours cold, but he didn’t seem to mind.
When the door opened, too-hot air pushed out, and you rushed in, thinking only of how quickly you could get away. To your work and the to-do list you never get through. But Miss Tina’s eyes caught yours as she crouched in front of your son, and parted her widest smile. So you had to slow down.
Alistair said Mummy I want to show you something. His arm reached back towards you but his head didn’t turn. You followed him across to his pigeonhole where he placed his lunch then scurried across the room, through the double doors. He said something excitedly up to the clouds, but the words flew off before you could catch them.
You can read the piece in full here.
Adam Jeffrey 