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 2014 results

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

First Place ($500)

Heather MacKenzie, QLD: "Running to Time"

Second Place ($100)

Simon Vella (penname), VIC: "Mental Gymnastics"

Third Place

David Day, ACT: "War and Lunch"

Highly Commended

Simon Vella (penname), VIC: "I Put That Thing in my Mouth!"

Tania Pearse, SA: "Mother Knows Best"

Sue Braint, VIC: "Rules of the Game"

Commended

Simon Vella (penname), VIC: "Darling, I'd Like You to Meet..."

Ray Scott, VIC: "The Mattress"

Olivia Mulligan, NSW: “The Saga of the Confiscated Knickers”

Loren Auder, QLD: "Where's Wazza"


There were 63 short stories in the competition, from 51 entrants.