Alumna Wins 3-Day Novel Contest

Jennifer K. Chung ’02, a software engineer in the Seattle area, has taken the top prize in the 72-hour fiction-writing marathon called the 3-Day Novel Contest, which is held annually over Labor Day. The prize for winning the “world's most notorious literary marathon” is publication of her novel, TERRORYAKI!

According to the 3-Day website, Chung is a Taiwanese-American writer and pianist, in addition to holding down her day job. She grew up in Southern California and studied computer science at MIT. In her spare time, she plays keyboard in a goth metal band and studies the Japanese martial art of Naginata.

Here’s the plot of TERRORYAKI!

It’s three months until the wedding, and Samantha’s Taiwanese parents won’t warm up to her hopelessly white fiancé. Meanwhile, Sam’s food-obsessed sister, Daisy, is on the hunt for an otherworldly take-out truck whose dishes are to die for. Terroryaki! is a quirky tale of love, family, redemption and the best—if slightly cursed—dish of chicken teriyaki to be found in this realm of existence.

Interested in taking the challenge in the 34th challenge next fall? Check out the 3-Day Novel Contest site for rules and the Survival Guide. Some of those tips might be useful for pursuits other than writing a 90-to-150 page novel.