This poignant tale by site friend Michael Bloor is definitely suited for November. The Next Morning is a fantastic example of telling a story clearly though indirectly. It allows the little things to build up, and the payoff is tremendous.
Q: Was it difficult arriving at the shape of the piece, or was the story-line in your mind going in?
Q: The response to this was tremendous–have you been able to successfully market it elsewhere?
Michael’s Responses
Q: Was it difficult arriving at the shape of the piece, or was the story-line in your mind going in?
This was one of those that I had in my mind from the beginning. As far as I can recall, the only revisions I made were deletions.
Q: The response to this was tremendous–have you been able to successfully market it elsewhere?
I have noticed that some mags say they are happy to consider pieces that have already been published elsewhere. And I know some mags state that they only require exclusivity for a limited period. But it’s never occurred to me to try resubmission. I suppose I could consider it in cases where the original mag has folded. Has anyone else out there experience of this sort of thing?
***
literally stories 
Hello Mick
Thank you for your great replies. This story deserves wide publication. I have heard of publications that specialize in using material from defunct sites–in fact, I believe Defunct is the name of one.
Regardless, I am certain that this will be welcomed at other places that reissue material, even though we plan on remaining de-defuncted for a long long time to come. (Gotta hell of a redline squiggle under that de-defuncted…go figure.)
Leila
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point. I think that “smart car” has been published eight times including an unauthorized Russian translation. About fifteen (may have gone up since the last time I counted) places that I have published have disappeared. One may also get a different audience with multiple publications. Then there is “collecting” countries.
I learned about “Defunct”, but it didn’t work for me because the story had have been published only in defunct publications. If a story had been published in a live one as well as a dead one, no go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Doug. I see you are something of an expert at re-submitting published pieces. I’ll try to profit from your example.
LikeLike
Pleased to see this piece resurrected for a re-run. Thanks. And I’ll take you at your word that it’s worth re-submitting it elsewhere (with due recognition for its first publication at LS) – I’ll let you know if I have any luck.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent choice of rerunning an excellent story. “… the only revisions I made were deletions.” That’s a writer’s sweet spot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks David – high praise from a fine author.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mick,
It’s always a pleasure when we showcase any of your stories and all I can do is give any reader my highest recommendation to seek out your work.
Dave is quite correct, your line is something that all writers, new ones especially, should learn from.
All the very best to you and yours my fine friend.
Hugh
LikeLike
Thanks Hugh. Like other LS authors, I’m grateful for all the work you editors put in to the site to showcase our work. Long may LS flourish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I went back to this one and read it. It’s a great piece – very understated and beautifully told. It’s excellent brevity reminds me of the classic 6-word short story (often attributed to Hemingway): ‘For sale: baby shoes, never worn.’
LikeLike
Thanks for both posts, Paul. Praise from a fellow author means a great deal. Yes, I’ve always liked the Hemingway baby shoes story. But for a very short understated story I really really really like: ‘For sale: chemical toilet, only used once. Slightly damaged.’
LikeLiked by 1 person