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 2020 results

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

First Place ($800)

Judith Bridge, WA: Betwixt Buttock and Blue Sky

Second Place ($200)

Colm Largey, QLD: Dr Kerr's Testy Money

Third Place

Heather MacKenzie, QLD: The Murder Club

Highly Commended

Tracey Waugh, WA: The Virus Thingi

Cameron Algie, VIC: The Rubbish War

Heather MacKenzie, QLD: Write Easy 101

Commended

Douglas Hamilton, VIC: The Nigerian Affair

Judith Bridge, WA: The Baker

Andrea Wilk, VIC: Scene From a Party

Pauline Yates, QLD: Han Solo in a Jar


There were 100 short stories in the competition, from 75 entrants.