Can you pump out 100 + pages of story in 3 days? Sure you can. It’s not easy - it’s a grueling challenge/contest known as the “3 Day Novel”.
It’s a brutal exercise in goal setting, pushing through blocks, dealing with horribly rushed writing and discouraging editing, and struggling to keep distractions at bay. Meeting the challenge though has never made me feel more accomplished (albeit drained) as a writer. It is the most intimate and intense that I get to be with a piece of work – It is after all, pretty much the only thing you will have time to do in the span of the three days. It’s definitely worth a try and can recommend it whole-heartedly.
The online novel “29 Digit Lock” found in the “creative works” section of this website was in fact my first attempt at the 3 day Novel in 2009. I have been entering in the competition each year since.
It’s a brutal exercise in goal setting, pushing through blocks, dealing with horribly rushed writing and discouraging editing, and struggling to keep distractions at bay. Meeting the challenge though has never made me feel more accomplished (albeit drained) as a writer. It is the most intimate and intense that I get to be with a piece of work – It is after all, pretty much the only thing you will have time to do in the span of the three days. It’s definitely worth a try and can recommend it whole-heartedly.
The online novel “29 Digit Lock” found in the “creative works” section of this website was in fact my first attempt at the 3 day Novel in 2009. I have been entering in the competition each year since.
The contest takes place Labor Day weekend and is based on the honor system. The goal is to complete a novel, start to finish in those 3 days. You can do some brainstorming as to what you are going to write about and think of story line, but you can’t start the novel until the first morning of that weekend. First place gets to be published!!
Sure, it’s 50 bucks to register (if done before Aug 15th, $55 after), but you get a nifty certificate right around after Christmas when the winner is announced (who could be you). AND it’s a great way to hold yourself accountable to complete the challenge (and finally produce that novel you always wanted to get out). Also, “3 Day Novel” needs to read every 100 + page entry which is a HUGE amount of work which is worth the cost to support.
3 Day Novel This year! Who’s with me?
*While I’m writing this, memories are coming back to me about the competition, especially that feeling you get at the end of the first day, like you barely put a dent in the word count and story progression and wonder how you’re going to make up for it the second day. And oh that second day, the questioning, the furious pace of writing, battling those distractions, writing through the boring parts… and midnight the next night… the end. The feeling like “that’s it, it’s done”, as incomplete as you think it may be. Good times.
Good times.
YOU should take a look and join me in this year’s 3 day novel. CLICK HERE for the link to the website
CLICK HERE for their Facebook Page
CLICK HERE for the 29 Digit Lock 3 day novel entry that I did in 09’
- Josh
Sure, it’s 50 bucks to register (if done before Aug 15th, $55 after), but you get a nifty certificate right around after Christmas when the winner is announced (who could be you). AND it’s a great way to hold yourself accountable to complete the challenge (and finally produce that novel you always wanted to get out). Also, “3 Day Novel” needs to read every 100 + page entry which is a HUGE amount of work which is worth the cost to support.
3 Day Novel This year! Who’s with me?
*While I’m writing this, memories are coming back to me about the competition, especially that feeling you get at the end of the first day, like you barely put a dent in the word count and story progression and wonder how you’re going to make up for it the second day. And oh that second day, the questioning, the furious pace of writing, battling those distractions, writing through the boring parts… and midnight the next night… the end. The feeling like “that’s it, it’s done”, as incomplete as you think it may be. Good times.
Good times.
YOU should take a look and join me in this year’s 3 day novel. CLICK HERE for the link to the website
CLICK HERE for their Facebook Page
CLICK HERE for the 29 Digit Lock 3 day novel entry that I did in 09’
- Josh
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