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 2024 results

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

First Place ($258)

Jeff Taylor, NZ: The Great Librarians’ Humour Rebellion of 2022

Second Place ($64)

Ned Stephenson, NSW: Hotel Rafflesia

Third Place ($21)

Martin Killips, NSW: The Tortoise and the Hare

Highly Commended

Cheryl Lockwood, QLD: Love Notes

Ramona Scarborough, USA: Rigged

Robert Wilcher, NSW: Old Girl Humming

Commended

Michael Hooper, WA: Text Boxing

Kim Ransley, TAS: The Pigeon Mindset

Breda Hertaeg, VIC: The Price of Beauty

David Keast, WA: Gorgeous and the Pink Panties


There were 45 short stories in the competition, from 42 entrants.