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 2008 results

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

First Place ($200)

David Campbell, VIC: "Bodice-Ripping Yarns"

Second Place ($85)

Barry Rosenberg, QLD: "Polly the Palette"

Third Place ($50)

Faye Honey, QLD: "Modern Efficiency"

Highly Commended

Cheryl Rogers, WA: “Blood's Thicker”

Amanda Gray, NSW: "Politics, Power and Poopy-Heads"

Gloria Anderlini, QLD: "The Tooth Fairy"

Sandra James, VIC: "Gobbledygook"

Commended

Jenny Ingram, QLD: "The Three Little Wolves"

Mitchell Lewis, NSW: “The Labours of Mediocus”

Alan C Williams, France: "Encounters of the Koala Kind"

Gayle Marien, VIC: "Trolleys International”

Leisl Egan, VIC: "Frederick's Freedom"


There were 87 short stories in the competition, from 64 entrants.