How d'you fancy bashing something out in one giant slog, just for the hell of it? To be more precise, a novel. Did I say giant slog? Well, again to be more precise, three days. You have, many of you, been these last few days reassuring me about my tribute poem. More than one has mentioned the temptation to (as Tara put it) overthink some things and change the fabric of the weave to the point that the piece doesn't resemble the beauty it could have. A virtue is being made of the absence of any rewrite time - in which situation the writerly subconscious drives things on a journalist has written.
So here's the deal, my friends. The competition (for surely you must have guessed that such it is) challenge is for you to write your novel during the weekend of September 5 - 7. You then pack it off to the Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest, along with your $50 entrance fee and a witness statement from your mum or other responsible adult to the effect that he or she knows without doubt that you wrote the whole thing between the approved dates, bla, bla, bla.
The winning novel will be published in 3-Day Books next year. For info' and an entry form consult the 3-Day Novel Website.
And how will they know you have written all during the specified period? Well, because you are a writer and can therefore be trusted: because they will have the letter from your mum; and because they will point out that if you cheat you will be cheating yourself - of the experience. Of course, we all saw that from the off, did we not?
I do really hope that one of my good Blogger friends cleans up!! Good luck to those who try.
P.S. There's stuff on Wikipedia and elsewhere on the web to help you. Tips like use short names, Tom, Jim etc an d three letter place names - and be sure to have a man enter holding a gun. To say any more, I'd be doing it for you, would I not?
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27 comments:
this sounds like a very fun idea. i'm not a novelist but i'll share it with my friends over at creative construction. one of our crew just posted a blog today about her experience as a novelist. http://creativeconstruction.wordpress.com/
That's got to be some fast and furious writing. A letter from your mom? That should be sufficient.
Thanks for the tip on the contest. I stay clear of them but I will pass the info on to some friends that do enter such things.
oh, man!!! i'm not gonna be able to enter - can't get a letter from my mom!!! darn!!! :)
[but what fun to try!!!]
Mom's letter would have to be forged- this sounds like such a fun challenge- I am sure the stories will be three lettered short and sweet- to the point- a "read on the bus" sort of writing.
Hi Dave,
As it could take me three days to write a blog post, I think I'll pass!
I like Derrick would need three days to write a short essay...but I wish luck to all who try.
sounds like fun. i might jus try it. :P
thanks for the info.
It makes my brain hurt to think of it Dave - I think my brain was probably manufactured at Curry's anyway. After posting a treatise on how I like to live in the slow lane all the time I don't think my blog-cred (to coin a phrase) would stand up to a three day novel.
Dave, are you certain you are not having us on?
Why would the people at the 3-day-novel website care how long you took over your novel, if they've got your $50.
Would anything be worth publishing that took you no more than 3 days?
Sorry, I do have a nasty, suspicious mind.
I think it is a great idea and if done well would be fresh and alive...whoever jumps in, I wish them luck...they will need it!!
Dear Dave,
You are generous to point this out to all the brilliantly talented bloggers out there. I am not one, no, not a writer :(
May the best story win!
Lori ☺
If I can find someone to look after the children then I'm seriously up for it! Cracking idea.
Wow! I'm tempted
and
HORRIFIED!
;-)
Aloha, Friend David
Comfort Spiral
a novel in 3 days???????? that sounds scary. but i do have time to mull this over....
Well, well, good friends,
I know not how I came to post this twice. Either I or Blogger must be cracking up. It aint me - honest!
Kelly
I thought it sounded fun, but far too hectic for the likes of me these days!
Willow
Go for it, gal! Give 'em stick!
David
Very wise, if I might say so.
gypsywoman
Husband, social worker? Probation Officer? Anyone like that will do!
Linda
So you could build a novel around how you had to forge your mother's signature... No?
Derrick
Never mind, Derrick, there are a lot of us about.
Tabor
My position, precisely.
Scarlet
Allpower to youy keyboard, then. Let us know how you get on - Good luck.
The Weaver of Grass
No, that's good thinking. To thine own self be true. Absolutely.
Friko
Of course they care, they are caring souls - that's why they want the letter from your mum! It seems this has become an established event on the publishing calender - and the name 3-day-novel publishing, seems to suggest that that is all they do!
Blue Sky Dreaming
My thoughts exactly.
Lori Ann
Here, here. Shame it won't be yours - or mine.
Titus
Hope you are successful, then, in your search for someone. Good luck.
Cloudia
Tempted, I understand - Why horrified?
Shadow
Yup, maybe I should have pointed out that you can spend from now 'till then thinking about it.
love the concept.
Carl
As long as I don't have to do it!
I've heard of the write a novel in a month competition (November?) but 3 days sounds absurd. I can't imagine it would produce anything worth reading. We have fast food, now must we have fast novels? Not for me.
Hello Dave !
Thanks for having joined my site.
Thanks kor your visit and you comment.
Unfortunately, my english is not good enough to read you.
I'll try to use the google translator.
That sounds like a heavy weekend!.... I'd love to try... but... well, self discipline isn't my strong point, I'm one of these people who leaves EVERYTHING until the last moment :-)
Thanks for the shout out! I'm not sure whether I can write that fast, to be honest, but I like a good challenge. I may just have to look up that contest. :]
I'm not sure that I could ever write anything for three days. It's bad enough writing a blog post sometimes. It'll be fascinating to read some of them though.
Dave, my preference is for reading a novel in three days -- stretched out on the sofa, good book in hand, traveling in someone else's world. Now, that one, I'd win!
There must be a murder and a love interest, enough for the first four pages. A couple falls in love in Miami,are pirated off to Cuba, discover a mutual friend who might have been a snitch for the ugly boss who is really a drug dealer who has been eyeing a big score all along.
There. I didn't even need four days. What do I win? A trip to Miami during hurricane season? No justice.
Sarah
Nor I. Part of me would like to try - as I say, just for the hell of it, but it's not something I could take seriously. A fun thing, but afterwards I think I would be annoyed with myself for the lost time and effort.
Claude
Enjoyed my visit. As English is my only usable language, I can't help much. Sorry.
the watercats
Me too - which logically, should make us ideal participants!
Tara
It's certainly not for everyone.
Madame DeFarge
My thoughts, in essence.
Karen
These days I'd be struggling to do that!
lakeviewer
I am bowled over, bemused, taken apart - just not sure about the trip to Miami. Nope, no justice!
I did the three day novel. The manuscript didn't end up very long, and I didn't win (or place).
I registered just so I'd have a motivator to do it and to have done it. Besides, every time you send work out it's like buying a lottery ticket - you typically don't win, but you can't win if you don't play!
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