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 2009 results

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

First Place ($200)

David Campbell: "The Case of the Cinnamon Canary"

Second Place ($70)

Peter Lingard: "The Love Letter"

Third Place ($50)

P.S. Cottier: "Bloogled"

Highly Commended

Doug Pender: “Bertram's Greatest Triumph”

Jack Davis: "Uncle Percy's Flying Houseboat"

Gary McHugh: "It's a Wrap"

Gayle Beveridge (penname): "Danhooden"

Commended

Margaret Hayes: "The Djinn"

Dean Briggs: “Preoccupational Self, and Hasty”

Vicky Daddo: "The Long and the Short of Life in the Future"

Maggie Veness: "Intoxicating Therapy”

Ken Pope: "The Taking of Steriod 123"


There were 80 short stories in the competition, from 62 entrants.