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 2009 results

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

First Place ($250)

Wendy Kramer, NSW: "The Gay Bomb"

Second Place ($100)

Ron Jones, NSW: "Sisters"

Third Place ($50)

Chris Blackford, QLD: "Fiorella (A Fractured Fairytale)"

Highly Commended

Ian Harrison, NSW: “I Mention”

Dean Briggs, NSW: "Dan Golph, The Wizard"

Brennan O’Shea, SA: "The Drover’s Lion"

Jacqui Dent, NSW: "It’s a Love Story"

Commended

BJ Stirling, NSW: "Topping Aunt Gloria"

Jacqui Dent, NSW: “Panthers Ahead”

Alida van den Bos, NSW: "Robin and the Holy Grail"

Lee Davies, VIC: "Aunt Emily’s Last Christmas”

Ross Duffy, SA: "It’s a Cruel World"


There were 128 short stories in the competition, from 94 entrants.