News
Announcing the winners of the 34th Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest
Monday, January 30th, 2012GRAND PRIZE WINNER
HEIDEGGER STAIRWELL by Kayt Burgess of Aurora, Ontario
Kayt Burgess
About the Author
Kayt Burgess is a writer, artist, opera singer and musician. She studied classical music at the University of Western Ontario and earned her Master’s degree in creative writing from Bath Spa University in the UK. Kayt was born in Manitouwadge, Ontario, grew up in Elliot Lake and now lives near Toronto after stints in New Zealand, England and Scotland. Heidegger Stairwell is her first novel. It will be released by 3-Day Books in September 2012.
About the Book
Music journalist Evan Strocker has almost finished a memoir chronicling his time with Heidegger Stairwell, an indie-rock legend from small-town Ontario whose members he has known his whole life. But the band thinks he’s left a little too much of himself on the page—allowing his experiences as a transgender man and his complicated romance with the lead guitarist eclipse the story of the group’s dramatic rise and fall. Through graphic notes and colourful marginalia, the musicians weigh in on their friend’s version of the truth, and fight to put their own testimony on the record. As Strocker’s manuscript finally comes together, both band and writer are forced to face a shocking new event that will once again change their fortunes.
SECOND PRIZE WINNER
Winning $500
Street Dogs by Brandon Hobson
Brandon Hobson is a PhD candidate in Creative Writing atOklahoma State University. His fiction has appeared in NOON, New York Tyrant, Puerto del Sol, Narrative Magazine, Web Conjunctions and elsewhere. He lives in Hennessey, Oklahoma, with his wife and son.
THIRD PRIZE WINNER
Winning $100
She Felt Like Velvet by Karen Cressman
Karen Cressman is a marketing writer with a fascination for all things Alice In Wonderland. She is currently developing three novels-in-progress and, of course, dreaming up plots for the next 3-Day Novel Contest. She lives with her husband in Brampton, Ontario.
Our Top-10 Runners-Up
- Full Moon Rules by LENORE BUTCHER of Woodstock, Ontario
- Alice’s Adventures Through a Very Big Mirror by VICTORIA DUNN of Ottawa, Ontario
- Darius to the Max by CATHI RADNER CASTRIO of Argyle, New York
- Not by TERRY LEEDER of Oakville, Ontario
- Rounds Down Range by J.L. MYERS of Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Half of No by KARI PILGRIM of Brooklyn, New York
- Happily Destroyed by EVAN PURCELL of Bullhead City, Arizona
- Deadfall by RACHEL SLANSKY of San Francisco, California
- Lords of Ironfire by RUDY THAUBERGER of Vancouver, British Columbia
- Banquet of Consequences by ANDERSON TODD of Toronto, Ontario
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Thanks to everyone who took part in the 34th edition of this literary tradition, and a hearty congratulations all those who triumphed over the pressure of the contest to send in a novel! It is always a challenge for our judges to choose a short list of favourites from the incredible wealth of frenetic fast fiction we receive every year. To all of our entrants, and all friends of 3DNC, we offer our wishes for a creative and productive 2012.
The next 3-Day Novel Contest (our 35th annual event!) takes place September 1-3, 2012. Send us an email to join our mailing list and receive notice when registration opens this spring.
3-Day News, October 26, 2011
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
3-Day News
Updates from 3DN, sent every two months or so.
To subscribe, email us at info@3daynovel.com. If you’ve subscribed and didn’t receive it, check your spam box and add 3_Day_Novel_Contest@mail.vresp.com to your safe list.
2011 3DN Entrant Statistics
The 34th Annual 3-Day Novel Contest is many weeks past, and while hundreds of literary marathoners may have recovered from finger strain, the eye strain is only just beginning for our panel of intrepid judges. While they dive into the thousands of pages of hasty-but-inspired fiction, we present you with a few statistics from this year’s event.
Number of entrants: 548
Share who submitted novels: 67% (down from 71% in 2010)
Share of those who submitted online: 85%
Average word count: 23,700
Median word count: 32,000
Estimated total word count: 13,000,000*
*Update, for to those who wrote in: This is a completely unscientific number, and goes on the assumption that most entrants did produce something, even if they didn’t submit it. It does not include those who participated in the contest without registering.
Countries participating: 13, including Canada (293), USA (234), UK (8), Australia (4) and one each from France, Germany, India, Ireland, Kuwait, Mexico, Serbia, Spain and Switzerland
Congratulations to everyone who found treasure in the 3DN creative process, whether it was in the words you put down during the event or in the ideas that came later. Our judging panel will deliberate over the submissions in the coming months, and we hope to announce their decisions in late January. After that, we’ll send a fancy certificate to every brave entrant who managed to complete and submit their novel, and 3-Day Books will begin the process of adding another fine book to the contest’s body of published work.
Learn more about the 3-Day Novel Contest
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Upcoming 3-Day Novel Events
Canzine West, Vancouver
Drop by our table at the 2nd Annual celebration of independent publishing in the West. Pick up a few cool books and zines, and catch some great workshops, readings and events―including Indie Writers’ Deathmatch! Presented by the good people at Broken Pencil.
Sunday, November 13, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Ukrainian Hall, 805 Pender St. E., Vancouver
Event details
Terroryaki! Readings: Massachusetts, Vashon Island, Issaquah
Jennifer K. Chung, champion of the 33rd Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest, will read from her winning novel at upcoming events in Massachusetts and Washington. If you’re in the area, drop by and listen to a piece of fine fast fiction that will make your spine tingle, your heart melt, and your stomach grumble.
MIT Science Fiction Society, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Friday, November 18, 7 p.m.
Room 4-231, MIT
77 Massachusetts Ave.
Vashon Island Public Library, Vashon Island, Washington
Saturday, December 10, 3 p.m.
17210 Vashon Hwy. S.W.
Issaquah Public Library, Issaquah, Washington
Saturday, January 21, 2 p.m.
10 W. Sunset Way
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Terroryaki! in the Press
“An engaging tale about a Taiwanese-American girl who works part-time at a teriyaki restaurant and blogs about her favorite Seattle teriyaki joints. Terroryaki! is as creepy as it is playful, and an easy read about family and food.” —Seattle Weekly
“Creepy mystery? Bizarre romance? Hilarious family dysfunction? Terroryaki! has it all in perfect portions, all against the backdrop of the Seattle food scene. At only 122 pages, this is a quick, fun read that will definitely stir up some cravings for your favorite comfort food by the time you’ve finished.” —45th Parallel book blog
The Big Idea: Jennifer K. Chung discusses the creative process that led to her book on John Scalzi’s book blog.
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Last Call to Register
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
3-Day News
Only 4 Days Left to Register!
Curious? Compelled? Just plain crazy? Sign up today for the world’s most notorious literary marathon.
This is the last week to get your registrations in for the 2011 International 3-Day Novel Contest! The writing event that began as a dare and became a legend is about to take place for the 34th year in a row.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to test your literary chops and see what kind of far-out, fast-paced, fantastical fiction you can produce under pressure. You might earn yourself some whip-smart ideas, some shiny pearls of dialogue, some prime turns of phrases, or, at the very least, a big ol’ creative kick in the pants… and the one novel our judges like best will win publication.
The contest begins at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 3, and ends 11:59 p.m., Monday, Sept. 5. Registrations can be submitted online or by mail until end of day this Friday, September 2. And don’t forget: this year you can save yourself some postage by submitting your novel online! (Old-fashioned snail mail is also still accepted.)
3-Day News, July 20, 2011
Wednesday, July 20th, 20113-Day News
Updates from 3DN, sent every two months or so.
To subscribe, email us at info@3daynovel.com. If you’ve subscribed and didn’t receive it, check your spam box and add 3_Day_Novel_Contest@mail.vresp.com to your safe list.
Early Bird Deadline Coming Soon!
There’s still plenty of time to register for the 34th Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest, but only 17 more days if you want to grab that sweet $5 early-bird discount. (Don’t forget: this year you can also save some postage by submitting your novel online.)
Contest dates: Labour Day Weekend, September 3-5
Early-bird registration deadline: August 5
Final registration deadline: September 2
Book Launch in Seattle
Join us in the Pacific Northwest as we launch the creepy-sweet winner of the 33rd Annual 3-Day Novel Contest. Terroryaki! is the eeriest, funniest and most appetizing book ever to be written about a haunted teriyaki truck, so don’t miss this chance to pick up a copy! You’ll also have a chance to ask author Jennifer K. Chung all of your burning 3-Day Novel survival questions. (Secret Event Tip! There might just be free chicken teriyaki and super-cute pins for early arrivers.)
Details
Sunday, Aug. 28, 2pm - 4pm
The Elliott Bay Book Company
1521 Tenth Avenue, Seattle [map]
Free admission
RSVP to the Facebook event page
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3-Day Books make for fine, fast summer reading! Order yours today at 3daynovel.com/books.
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More Success Stories
We love to hear from past entrants who have found homes for manuscripts that began their lives as 3DN drafts. Here are some success stories we’ve received over the past few weeks…and if you have your own 3-Day success story, let us know!
Edmonton writer Gayleen Froese won the second season of the televised 3-Day Novel Contest and also made the shortlist for our 2007 and 2010 marathons. Her latest novel, Grayling Cross, is now available through NeWest Press. Listen to Froese and fellow TV contestant Paul Matwychuk talk about their contest experience on this podcast.
Heidi Greco of Surrey, B.C., published her 3-Day novella, Shrinking Violets, with Quattro Books this year. It’s her first fiction release (after two volumes of poetry with Anvil Press), and it is a co-winner of the 2011 Ken Klonsky Novella Contest.
Brad McLelland of Stillwater, Oklahoma, is about to release his dark comedy, Bruisers, with Monkey Puzzle Press. Brad wrote the first draft of Bruisers in a Motel 6 during the 2009 3-Day Novel Contest.
Vancouver’s Christopher Meades, who made our 2007 3DN shortlist with The Three Fates of Henrik Nordmark (later released by ECW Press), is soon to follow up with his second release from the same publisher. Look for The Last Hiccup in bookstores next spring.
David S. McCabe began Without Sin during the 2007 3-Day Novel Contest. He wrote from Pasadena to say his book will be released this summer by Sunstone Press.
Michael Hemmingson of San Diego wrote his “border noir” thriller, Hard Cold Whisper, in a Tijuana hotel room during the 2010 3-Day Novel Contest. It was released this year by Black Mask Books.
Congratulations to all of these 3-Day authors! They are happy proof that, while everyone who enters may secretly want the big prize, the contest is about much, much more. Want to kick out your own first draft, but have been having trouble getting started? Register, and find out what you can dream up under pressure!
Registration is open for 3DN 2011!
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011”A coffee-fueled, plot-weaving literary juggernaut.”
“Both wonderful and awful.”
We are now accepting registrations for the 34th annual manifestation of the world’s most notorious literary marathon. Every year, hundreds of writers from all over the world try their hand at this 72-hour literary endurance race, earning themselves bragging rights, a cool certificate and one crumpled, typo-ridden first draft of a manuscript.
Curious? Compelled? Register today and find out just what you might think up under pressure. You could win cash prizes, and our judges’ favourite novel wins publication by 3-Day Books. And, best of all, everyone who commits to the contest will experience one massive creative kick-start and the complete banishment of writer’s block for one very, very long weekend.
Contest dates: Labour Day weekend, September 3–5
Early-bird registration deadline: August 5, $50 fee
Final registration cutoff: September 2, $55 fee
New this year: save paper and postage by submitting your novel online! Instructions will be sent by email after you register.
The Winners of the 33rd Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Jennifer K. Chung of Bellevue, Washington, for TERRORYAKI!
Jennifer K. Chung, photo by Gavin Jensen
About the Book
It’s three months until the wedding, and Samantha’s Taiwanese parents won’t warm up to her hopelessly white fiancé. Meanwhile, Sam’s food-obsessed sister, Daisy, is on the hunt for an otherworldly take-out truck whose dishes are to die for. Terroryaki! is a quirky tale of love, family, redemption and the best—if slightly cursed—dish of chicken teriyaki to be found in this realm of existence.
About the Author
Jennifer K. Chung is a Taiwanese-American writer, pianist and software engineer. She grew up in Southern California and studied computer science at MIT in Cambridge, MA. In her spare time, Jennifer plays keyboard in a goth metal band and studies the Japanese martial art of Naginata. She lives near Seattle.
SECOND PRIZE WINNER
Gwendolyn Bird of Kasilof, Alaska
For The Island of Broken Toys, the haunting tale of a community of mysterious children who seek out the truth behind their exile.
THIRD PRIZE WINNER
Tate Young of Toronto, Ontario
For The Ridgeback, a witty thriller about a bloody murder, a very large diamond and a dogwalker on the run.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
- Jon Billman of Stillwater, Oklahoma, for Bicycle Tramps
- Alan James Blair of Stillwater, Oklahoma, for The Mermaid’s Brother
- Jenni Bomford of Prince George, B.C., for Spiritual
- Keith Chittleborough of Glen Waverley, Australia, for Near Dreg Experience
- Paul Colley & Laura Colley of Pickering, Ontario, for Clockwork
- Logan Evans of Pullman, Washington, for The Boundary Nebula
- Gayleen Froese of Edmonton, Alberta, for What the Cat Dragged In
- B. Gordon of Victoria, B.C., for Archipelago
- Diana Holdsworth of Amherst, Massachusetts, for The Golden Tooth
- Jimmm Kelly of Vancouver, B.C., for The Little Man
- Ashok Mathur of Vancouver, B.C., for The First White Black Man
- Iulia Park of Toronto, Ontario, for Canadian Experience
- Rudy Thauberger of Vancouver, B.C., for Evil Beach Dance Party
- Jake Wallis Simons of Winchester, United Kingdom, for 24/3
- Jenny D. Williams of Brooklyn, New York, for The Widow and the Twin
We’d also like to give special mention to this year’s youngest entrants, three-time contest veterans Natasha Carr-Harris, Abby Adams and Sean Vipond, as well as our latest under-10 entrant, Albrightine Ngusurun Orsar.
Save the date! The next 3-Day Novel Contest will take place Labour Day weekend, September 3-5, 2011. Registration will open in late spring.
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