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 2023 results

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

First Place ($334)

Wendy Wardell, WA: The Australian Diversity Sausage

Second Place ($83)

Linda McDermid, VIC: The Mattress

Third Place ($27)

Scott Hoffman, VIC: The Passing

Highly Commended

Michael Uniacke, VIC: Pride and What?

Margaret Harris, NSW: Brussels Sprouts

Tracey Zielinski, QLD: My Three Dog Poo Day

Commended

Luke Silvester, NSW: Marx and I

Jude Bridge, WA: The New Normal

James Cattell, VIC: Cosmic Cleansing

Heather Mackenzie, QLD: A Good Clue


There were 57 short stories in the competition, from 50 entrants.