Unfortunately, my time here in Leeds and with Peepal Tree has come to an end.
How do I feel?
I’m sad that it’s all over now and wish I had longer. But I’m also looking forward to going home and seeing family and friends again.
My internship has been so enjoyable for several reasons:
Working with great people
I have to say, that working at Peepal has allowed me to meet some great and inspiring people who love the same things as I do: books and everything to do with them.
From Jeremy and Hannah, who have been so welcoming, to the visiting writers and other interns, everyone has brought something unique and memorable to the experience.
Learning the business
Of course, one of main things is being able to get real in-house experience doing all the things I have and learning as much as I have.
If you’ve read my previous posts you’ll know that I’ve covered a lot of things. I think my favourite things to do were editing and typesetting.
A wider reading scope
The major perk of working in a publishing house is obviously the free books.
So, being constantly introduced to new writers, picking up names that were repeatedly mentioned and discovering new texts I may not have come across otherwise was very exciting. There was always something/ someone know of interest everyday.
Creative stimulation
I don’t know if it’s just being at Peepal Tree or if every publishing office is like this, but being in the office was very stimulating for my own creative writing.
I’ve come up with dozens of ideas that I can take home with me and make something of.
I found myself returning home from work most nights, despite being tired, filled with enthusiasm to write, whether it was my own creative work or ideas to include in my dissertation.
This is linked to the point above, but also because of Peepal Tree’s open door attitude in which writers drop in and out all the time.
Overall, I’ve learned that moving to a new setting, even for a short while, can be so beneficial both personally and creatively, for all the reasons I mentioned and more.
Thank you to Peepal Tree for having me and making me feel welcome.
Hamzah
P.S. Now to write this dissertation…yay (!)
Jeremy Poynting
We are sorry too to say goodbye, temporarily at least, to Hamzah. He has been a delight to have around in the office, has done many useful things for us and has been a great pleasure, in his quiet way, to get to know. Having new people in is almost always a stimulation, a chance to reflect on what you do, and that has certainly been the case with Hamzah and his pertinent questions and enthusiasm for what we do. Good luck to him in whatever next he chooses to do.