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

Spring 2010 results

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

First Place ($100)

Anne Jenner, SA: "Flying Arms and Barking Knees"

Second Place ($50)

Suzanne Gaskell, VIC: "Someone Has Left the Building"

Third Place ($25)

Angela Flattery, VIC: "The Traffic Light Elves"

Highly Commended

Frank Ince, VIC: "Norm and Me”

Cheryl Rogers, WA: "Granddad's Melting Moments"

P.S. Cottier, ACT: "Beating Creativity"

Commended

Gayle Beveridge, VIC: "The Pursuit"

David Mercer, SA: “The Potent Pumpkin”

Fiona Skepper, VIC: "Brief Encounter"

Eddie Blatt, NSW: "To Believe or Not to Believe, That is the Question"


There were 44 short stories in the competition, from 36 entrants.