Three Decades of 3-Day Novel Writing

It is no surprise that an idea as crazy as writing a novel in three days would arise from a province renowned more for its pot grow-ops, land-locked sea serpents and whacked-out politics. But culture building must be done, and so it was.

In 1977 a handful of restless Vancouver writers accepted the challenge to write a novel over the Labour Day long weekend. No one finished and no one was eager to expose their 3-day efforts to the scrutiny of others. Yet, though there had been no offspring, a beast was born, and soon it arose again, demanding recognition and celebration of its existence.

In true pioneering spirit, the call went out, the gauntlet went down, and the 3-Day Novel Contest was on its way to becoming the cheeky and uncompromising rebel of literary forms that it is today. From its modest beginnings as a barroom challenge, it grew to attract the interest and support of neophyte and seasoned writers alike, from Canada, the U.S. and beyond. Now, three decades later, it has become a unique contribution to world literary history and a put-your-keyboard-where-your-mouth-is rite of passage for hundreds of writers each year.

The contest has inspired the creation of thousands of novels, twenty-five of which have been published by the contest administrators. From the inaugural winner, Dr. Tin, to the 2007 winning entry, In the Garden of Men, the winners of this notorious literary marathon have impressed both adjudicators and reviewers with their level of craft and accomplishment. Many other entered novels have been redeveloped by their authors to be later picked up other publishing houses.

Over its history the contest has found a home with a series of small publishers, including Arsenal Pulp Press, Anvil Press and Blue Lake Books. In 2004 a couple of Vancouver small publishers agreed to volunteer their time and effort to keeping the contest going as an independent organization. They continue to manage the contest today, advised by writers and publishers from across Canada and beyond. In 2005 Arsenal Pulp Press signed on to distribute the winning novels published by the 3-Day Novel Contest (under the 3-Day Books imprint), and so the contest has come close to full circle. In 2006, a new twist was added to the contest with BookTelevision's 3-Day Novel Contest reality series (now in its second season), in which a dozen of the contest's entrants write their novels under extra pressure in the public eye.

Throughout its history, the 3-Day Novel Contest has been called a "fad," an "idle threat," a "great way to overcome writers block" and "a trial by deadline." Unconcerned, it continues to fly in the face of the notion that novels take eight years of angst to produce.