In times like these, good fiction can be a salve, a consolation, or a catalyst for change. Writing, too, can be a source of solace or transformation: with it, we take the raw materials of life and wring them for meaning, allowing us to navigate the possibilities, and the perils, of the present. With such reflections in mind, and following on from the outstanding successes of the past two years, we are proud to release our latest annual writing anthology!
The aim of the competition was to provide a public platform for emerging writers, to nurture talent in our local community, and to encourage first-time authors to pursue their talents. A cornerstone of Australian independent bookselling for 24 years, Better Read Than Dead has consistently advocated for, and supported, creativity and excellence in Australian creative writing.
There was no theme for this year’s competition. We accepted only short stories of no longer than 2000 words. Compiled here are what we considered to be the 30 most outstanding entries.
The short story is one of the most difficult, and most rewarding, forms of creative writing to master. It is both an art unto itself, and a testing ground within which you can refine your craft – your understanding of form, pacing, plot, character, and expression. The short story is economical by default, so make every word tell. We looked for stories that surprised us, that challenged us, that moved us.
 
Published Stories:
Across the Hall // Nadim Mansour
Avgolemono // Izabella Antoniou
Between Us // Laurel Henning
Bone Scaffold // CJ Garrow
Breakfast // Anastasia Hardman
Burnt // Brenda Anderson
Children’s Sins // Sue Brennan
Electric Boy // Alaina Dean
Elon’s Kiss // Nils F. Rain
Gettin’ Wet // Guido Melo
Home Is Where the Dad Is // Patrick Lenton
Koma // Ch’aska Cuba de Reed
Mostly Sunny Skies // Bethany Cody
Mustella Putorius Furo // Eloise Aiken
No Second Opinion // Stephen Knox
Options // Susan Francis
Paradise // Mary Haire
Rowan and His Mate Joey // Joanne Galliher
Rubbish Fisherman // Doug Jacquier
Sansa // Jesse Hawley
Sea Smog // Zoe Knowles
Snakeskin // Dasha Maiorova
The Baby // Victoria Manifold
The F Word // Jo Jukes
The Female Pope // Jean Kearney
The Marketplace // Sally Coleman
The Pandit // Sanchana Venkatesh
The Roadside Funeral // Cecile Bester
The Suitcase // Deborah Huff-Horwood
To the Core // Rebekah Roma