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 2016 results

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

First Place ($400)

Rananda Rich, NSW: "Wedding Crashers"

Second Place ($100)

Mark Fowler, SA: "Dweeble - A Space Oddity"

Third Place

Rachel Kirk, ACT: "Justice For John Dark"

Highly Commended

Nan Doyle, NSW: "Little Arrows"

Valda Brown, NSW: "Bug Parts"

Tara Marlow, NSW: "The Wolf in Central Park"

Commended

Gregory Joass, WA: "Uncle Al and the Mormons"

Robyn Osborne, QLD: “The Workin' Dog”

Shaun Thompson, NSW: "Next Counter Please"

Natalie J. Barlow, NSW: “Living With A Craftaholic”


There were 60 short stories in the competition, from 47 entrants.