3-Day Novel Contest Winner Reads on Wednesday Night

I've participated in National Novel Writing Month twice now. The idea is that you try to write an entire novel in the month of November. There's no prize involved and no entry fee, just the challenge of finally putting to paper whatever story idea you've been meaning to write "when you had time". Having spread way beyond its "national" (U.S.) beginnings, NaNoWriMo is fun, non-competitive, and based heavily on commiserating online with the other struggling one-month authors. The Canadian-made 3-Day Novel Contest on the other hand takes things a little more seriously.

But not too seriously. Based out of Vancouver and around a lot longer than NaNoWriMo, the 3-day Novel Contest ups the ante by charging a small admission fee, judging the completed manuscripts, and selecting one winner for actual publication each year. And of course, you only have the aforementioned three days to complete the novel, start to finish. So, no pressure or anything.

The contest takes place over the Labour Day weekend each year so as another contest looms on the horizon the winner from last year's contest will be at the Rivoli tonight to help get the ball rolling. John Kupferschmidt will be reading from In the Garden of Men in the upstairs space at 334 Queen Street West. Organizers have dubbed it "The 3-Day Party in Toronto", but it will really last from 5:30pm - 9pm.

If you're interested in trying the contest yourself this year, or just want to hear how good a book written in three days can be, check it out and bring your friends because all are welcome. You can learn more about the contest or Kupferschmidt's book at 3daynovel.com.