Many writers have shared their thoughts with the public:

"There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you." - Beatrix Potter

"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say." - Anaïs Nin

"Sharing your writing, being enlarged by others' writing, is what makes you feel famous." - Gretchen Bernabei

"Writing is not an amusing occupation. It is a combination of ditch-digging, mountain-climbing, treadmill and childbirth." - Edna Ferber

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." - Ben Franklin

"One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them, to have the right ones to form themselves into the proper pattern at the right moment." - Hart Crane

"There are three rules for writing. Unfortunately, no one can agree what they are." - W. Somerset Maugham

The Best of Times Short Story Competition

Autumn 2017 results

Note: stories are available for reading only where the authors have given permission.

First Place ($500)

Sophie Myers, QLD: Nice to Meet Me

Second Place ($100)

Heather MacKenzie, QLD: Murder Most Foul

Third Place

Andrea Wilk, VIC: Riding in Cars With Clarks

Highly Commended

Geoff Covey, QLD: Through the Woods to Grandma's House

Tony King, NSW: Is the Bagpipe a Musical Instrument?

Heather MacKenzie, QLD: Anything is Possible

Commended

Jim Brigginshaw, NSW: The Shakespeare Connection

Margaret Anderson, WA: The Big Beetroot Caper

Vikki Bye, VIC: Once Upon a Time - Whatever!

Douglas Hamilton, NSW: A Franchise Affair


There were 85 short stories in the competition, from 68 entrants.