One year ago today, my short story “Lower Strata” was published by the literary magazine Spillwords.
This story was based on something I’d started about 25 years ago. It is influenced a bit by my years working in the restaurant business. Over the summer of 2024, I pulled it out of the dusty digital files and reworked it a few times before sending it to Spillwords.
This was one of those rare occasions in which the one and only literary magazine I’d submitted a story to accepted it. Like a lot of writers, especially unknowns like me, our stories encounter many rejections before they find a home. (It’s part of the gig. There are a lot of very good writers out there, and only so many places for our work.) So I guess this one hit a responsive chord with an editor or two there. I hope you also like it. I’d love for you to give it a read and share your thoughts. I’m always looking for ways to improve!
Image via Spillwords
Andy writes! 
an interesting story, Andrew.
I enjoyed reading it … and i had to go back and double check the name of your character 🤭….but he doesn’t have one in your story… nicely written…🤍
Thanks for reading, destiny. I decided the narrator didn’t need a name for this story. :)
it worked well i taught…some characters are remembered even without their name…
my pleasure, Andrew…🤍