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 2007 results

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

First Place ($300)

David Campbell, VIC: “'Er Name's Doreen”

Second Place ($100)

Anna Beth McCormack, NSW: “Annabelle - a Melodrama”

Third Place

B. J. Stirling, NSW: “The Parable of the Talents”

Highly Commended

Josephine Mackechnie, VIC: “Titania Rules, O.K.?”

Allan Mackay, NSW: "Brad and the Muse"

Allan Mackay, NSW: "Einstein and the Cow"

Allan Mackay, NSW: "A Man of Substance"

Commended

Ross Duffy, SA: “The Clough Family”

Anna Beth McCormack, NSW: “Machine Man”

M. Ward, VIC: "Shoe Wars"

David Bentley, WA: “George”

Martin Lawrence, NSW: “Harry and the Vacubot”


There were 115 short stories in the competition, from 83 entrants.