News
3DN News for the New Year
Wednesday, January 5th, 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.
3-Day News for the New Year
It’s the beginning of a new year, which means our 2010 entrants are on tenterhooks, waiting to get their coveted 3DN stickers in the mail and to hear the results of the 33rd Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest. Due to a wealth of worthy entries, our judges may be a little later with their decisions this year, and so we ask for a little more patience! We hope to release our list of winners at the end of January or early February. In the meantime, here are some items and links of interest to keep you occupied and writing well into winter.
Save the date! The 34th Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest will take place September 3-5, 2011.
Success Stories from 3DN Survivors
Matthew J. Trafford, a veteran not only of the 3DN experience but of the gruelling reality TV series based on the contest, is about to release his debut novel with Douglas and McIntyre. The Divinity Gene “skewers urban culture even as it conjures up the magic in the mundane.” It will be released in February 2011. Read more about the book at the D&M website.
Bonnie Bowman, who won the 1999 3-Day Novel Contest with her provocative novel, Skin, has released her second novel with Anvil Press. Spaz is the story of a nerdy kid who survives a cloying suburban childhood and grows up to pursue his passion for designing the ultimate women’s shoe—and to find the woman who fits it. Get your copy of Bowman’s latest novel at the Anvil Press website.
Our youngest-ever entrant, Natasha Carr-Harris, has published her 2009 3DN entry, The Story of St. Patrick’s Day, in which a young runaway befriends a leprechaun and has hilarious adventures. She is appearing this April at the upcoming Los Angeles Times Festival of Books to sign copies. Find an e-copy of her novel at Barnes & Noble.
Two recent 3DN entrants have decided that one bout with literary madness each year is not enough. D.J. Britt is five novels into his goal of writing twenty-four 3-day novels in a single year. You can track his progress, read excerpts and receive notification of public events in his home province of Saskatchewan at his website. Meanwhile, Kimber Grey is taking up the self-imposed challenge of writing a 3-day novel every quarter-year. Find out how to join her in her novel-writing madness at the Q3DNC site.
Looking for some fine fast fiction to pass the winter hours? Order your copies of our past winning 3-Day Books today!
Other Contests and Calls
A few interesting writing contests to keep your literary skills well-honed for next Labour Day. (Note: These organizations are not associated with 3DN.)
Indie Writers’ Deathmatch IV
Our friends at Broken Pencil have extended the deadline of their literary smackdown until January 10, so there’s still time to enter for those with a thick skin and a sharp pen.
Deadline: January 10, $20 fee (includes subscription).
brokenpencil.com/deathmatch
Coffee Shop Author
You don’t have to write your novel in three days, but you do have to write it in your local coffee shop. Prize is a trip to fabulous Fernie, B.C.!
Deadline: February 15 for registration, March 31 for submission, $30 fee.
coffeeshopauthor.com
First Page Fiction
Does a whole novel seem like too much right now? A contest in the UK only wants to see your best first page…but it better make them wish there was a novel to follow.
Deadline: February 20, £3 fee.
creativecompetitor.com
Circumpolar Literature
What is it about the circumpolar space that is different? Send your writing on this theme to Arctica magazine. Open to everyone, from every latitude.
Deadline: April 1, no fee.
arcticamag.ca
Our Sponsors
UBC MFA
3DN thanks this year’s contest sponsor, the Optional-Residency MFA Creative Writing program at the University of British Columbia.
See more 3-Day Novel Contest supporters, including new prize donors Videomatica and Poets & Writers.
3-Day News, October 20, 2010
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
3-Day Novel Newsletter
News and updates from 3-Day Novel, delivered every two months or so. To sign up, send an email to info@3daynovel.com with the subject line “subscribe”. If you already subscribe and didn’t receive it, check your spam box and add 3_Day_Novel_Contest@mail.vresp.com to your “not spam” list.
3-Day News
Our judges are settled into comfy chairs, poring over the hundreds of novels submitted after the 33rd Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest. While they read and debate over the one standout that will be our next published 3-Day Book, we offer you a few statistics from this year’s marathon.
2010 3-Day Novel Entrant Statistics
Number of entrants: 669 (up from 650 in 2009)
Number of submitted novels: 477 (71%, equal to 2009)
Countries participating: 14, including Canada (378), USA (266), UK (10), Australia (3), China (2), Netherlands (2) and one each from Belgium, Germany, Monaco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Switzerland and Trinidad.
Youngest 2010 participant: 9
Youngest-ever participant: 9 (now participating for her 3rd year at 11 years old)
Oldest-known returning entrants: 86 (California) and 88 (Alberta)
Earliest year of previous entry for a returning participant: 1981
Minimum number of former shortlisters returning: 31 (including 2 past winners)
Upcoming Event
Toronto: Reading at Canzine
Mark Sedore reads from his 2009 winning novel, Snowmen,
at Canzine, Canada’s largest festival of zines and alternative culture.
Sunday, October 24
1pm - 7pm, 3DN reading at 6pm
The Great Hall, 1087 Queen Street West, Toronto
Snowmen by Mark Sedore
Pick up a copy of Broken Pencil at the festival and check out the latest review of Snowmen. Here’s an excerpt:
“Seems straightforward, wrapped up like popular fiction. Yet, Sedore’s story takes an unexpected departure from typical style… You only have to read the first three or four chapters to appreciate Sedore’s pared down writing style, which is well matched to [the protagonist's] sharp wit.”—Brooke Ford
Other Contests and Calls of Interest
3DN 2011 is many months away, so we’ve looked up a few interesting writing contests and calls for submissions to keep your literary skills sharp until next Labour Day.
NaNoWriMo
A whole month to write a novel? Easy! If you’re planning on participating in this year’s National Novel Writing Month, check out the chat forum for 3DN veterans.
Deadline: November 30, free to enter or by donation
nanowrimo.org
Literal Literary Postcard Contest
The 7th edition of Geist magazine’s cheeky take on the postcard story.
Deadline: November 30, $20 fee (includes subscription)
geist.com
Danger Calling
Blackheart Magazine of Austin, TX, is seeking rebellious writing that other mags might find too dangerous to publish.
blackheartmagazine.com
Hospital Tales
Tightrope Books is seeking work that explores experiences and relationships with Canadian hospitals and health care for an upcoming anthology.
tightropebooks.com
Our Sponsors
UBC MFA
3DN thanks this year’s contest sponsor, the Optional-Residency MFA Creative Writing program at the University of British Columbia.
See more 3-Day Novel Contest supporters, including new prize donors Videomatica and Poets & Writers.
3-Day News, Aug. 24, 2010
Tuesday, August 24th, 20103-Day Novel Newsletter
News and updates from 3-Day Novel, delivered every two months or so. To sign up, send an email to info@3daynovel.com with the subject line “subscribe”. If you already subscribe and didn’t receive it, check your spam box and add 3_Day_Novel_Contest@mail.vresp.com to your “not spam” list.
Last Call to Register
There’s just over a week left to register for the 33rd Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest. Sign up today to test your creative chops, shake off writer’s block and earn literary bragging rights. Register online or by mail, or in person at one of these upcoming events:
Toronto: Thursday, August 26
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m
The Victory Cafe, 581 Markham St., upstairs (map)
Launch of Snowmen by Mark Sedore and 3DN pep rally
Vancouver: Friday, September 3
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Kafka’s Coffee, 2525 Main St. (map)
Registration drop-off and entrant meet-and-greet
News & Updates
Quentin Mills-Fenn of Winnipeg’s Uptown Review says Snowmen, our latest 3-Day Books release, is “really quite good… Sedore has produced a gripping and satisfying story which betrays no clue to its origins.”
Congratulations to long-time Vancouver entrant Christopher Meades, who made the 2007 3DN shortlist with his novel, The Three Fates of Henrik Nordmark. An expanded version of his original draft has been released by ECW Press and is now available in bookstores. Read an excerpt at the ECW website.
And we’ve heard two more 3-Day Novel success stories! Sandy Lender found a home for her 2009 3DN manuscript, Problems on Eldora Prime, with NWP, and Lisa Naraine expanded her 2008 entry, The Package, and the revised version was recently accepted by Transit Medias. Congratulations to both contest veterans.
3-Day News, July 14, 2010
Wednesday, July 14th, 20103-Day Novel Newsletter
News and updates from 3-Day Novel, delivered every two months or so. To sign up, send an email to info@3daynovel.com with the subject line “subscribe”. If you already subscribe and didn’t receive it, check your spam box and add 3_Day_Novel_Contest@mail.vresp.com to your “not spam” list.
Have You Registered Yet?
Register now for 3DN 2010! The 33rd Annual 3-Day Novel Contest takes place September 4-6, 2010. Find rules and registration forms here.
3DN Events in Vancouver & Toronto
Jan Underwood at the SFU Symposium on the Book
Vancouver, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 W Hasting Street
Sunday, July 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.</p>
Jan Underwood, winner of the 2005 3-Day Novel Contest, will join an amazing panel (including Will Ferguson, Hal Wake, Rebecca Wigod, Mark Leiren-Young and Mark Critch from This Hour Has 22 Minutes) to talk about the art and craft of humour writing at the 2010 Symposium on the Book. The $75 admission to the all-day event includes copies of the books from all participating authors; here’s a great opportunity to get Jan’s hilarious winning novel, Day Shift Werewolf. Register at www.ccsp.sfu.ca/pubworks.
Book Launch and Pep Rally
Toronto, the Victory Cafe, 581 Markham Street, Upstairs
Thursday, August 26, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Join us at the Victory Cafe in Toronto for the launch of the latest 3-Day Book and to cheer on local entrants to the upcoming 33rd Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest. Mark Sedore will offer tips for surviving and excelling at the world’s most notorious literary marathon and read from his contest-winning tale of brotherly betrayal and arctic survival. 3DN personnel will be on hand to answer questions, take registrations, comfort the nervous and hand out some fun prizes.
Questions or comments? Email info@3daynovel.com.
Register Now for 3-Day 2010!
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Illustration by Jonathan Adams
”An exhausting and exhilarating, horrible and wonderful, enlightening and baffling experience.”
Are you ready to try the world’s most notorious literary marathon? Registration is open for the 33rd Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest. Since its beginnings as a barroom challenge in 1977, thousands of writers have put their storytelling stamina to the test with this infamous creative pressure-cooker. New this year: 3DN entrants may now register and order 3-Day Books by traditional mail or securely online through Paypal.
This year’s contest will take place Labour Day weekend, Sept. 4 - 6, 2010. Full details are on our Rules page.
Please note: 3DN has new coordinates! Mail your registration/queries to:
The International 3-Day Novel Contest
PO Box 2106, Station Terminal
Vancouver, BC, V6B 3T5 CANADA
2010 Discussion Forum
Thursday, May 27th, 2010We’ve updated the Chat Room link in the Social Box with our fresh 2010 entrants (and onlookers) discussion thread at Abebooks.com. (As in previous years, we’re keeping it at Abebooks by popular demand.) Feel free to jump in and chat with your fellow entrants about your plans for this year’s marathon!
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