I began seriously writing short stories in the early 1980s, and I decided in 1985 that if I didn’t get something published that year, I would give up.
Geoffrey Dutton was then editor of The Bulletin, and I was delighted when he accepted my very short story Draughts, which came from my personal challenge to write a very short story which comes in at 520 words.
In earlier years, my father had several stories published in The Bulletin (J.K.Osborne, see more in AusLit) so I felt really chuffed. However, GD resigned and became editor of The Australian, Literary Magazine, and took my story with him. Finally it was published, to be read with delight by anyone who has experienced constipation.
You can read Draughts online here…