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 2013 results

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

First Place ($200)

Fiona Skepper, VIC: "Emma's Blog"

Second Place ($50)

Simon Vella (penname), VIC: "Bono is an A___hole"

Third Place

Raymond Scott, VIC: "Testing the Water"

Highly Commended

Catherine Brown, NSW: "Boxing Day Blues" (contains swear words)

Sarah Flemwell, SA: "The Teddy Bear Addiction"

Rebecca Hayman, VIC: "That's It, I'm Running Away"

Suzanne Gaskell, VIC: "Don't Take the Plastic Cover Off the Couch, Frank!"

Commended

Simon Vella (penname), VIC: "Fish Out of Water"

Doug Hamilton, VIC: “Cronin V Cronin”

Margaret Pearce, VIC: "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night"

Dean Briggs, VIC: "How Romantic"

Anne Dwyer, NSW: "The Best Laid Plans"


There were 62 short stories in the competition, from 48 entrants.