Armed with only their creativity and the words at their fingertips, 60 budding writers participated in Okanagan College’s annual 3-Hour Short Story contest in November at the four campus locations.
Four regional authors (one per campus) were named the recipients of the $250 tuition credit prize.
They included Okanagan College Vernon campus student Daniel Greene for his story Watercolours, Penticton campus student Marina Meyer for Mother, Amy Nicholson of King’s Christian School in Salmon Arm for The Legend of Mr. Mustache, and Kelowna campus student Kirsten Kvaale with I Heard.
For his tale about alcoholism, family history, and memories painted in watercolours, as recounted by a grandmother to her grandson, second-year associate of arts degree student Greene from Vernon also took home the overall top prize.
He received an additional $250 tuition credit and will have his story published in a limited fine-print edition by the Kalamalka Press.
“Even though I had prepared for the contest and had an idea of what I may want to write, it is hard in just three hours,” said 20-year-old Greene.
“You really don’t have time to re-read, which actually helps the creative process. It allows your ideas to flow better and you can’t second-guess yourself.”
Up against a 180-minute ticking clock, the Grade 11, 12, and Okanagan College student authors were challenged with needing to incorporate the secret phrase “downy moustache” into their story, a phrase only revealed at the start of the contest.
Faced with the fear of writers’ block (the contest does not allow any previously authored materials and no online access is available), the authors conquered their fear and made the job of the judging panel that much more difficult.
“Each year it is astonishing the scope of creativity and talent we see these budding authors showcase in such a short amount of time,” said Okanagan College English professor, contest judge and organizer Sean Johnston. “The outlook for the already thriving writers’ community in the valley looks very promising based on all the entries we read.”
In addition to Johnston, college professors and authors Corinna Chong, Francie Greenslade, Jeremy Beaulne, Steve Weber, Shona Harrison, Jeremy Lanaway, and Hannah Calder judged the contest.
All entries were anonymous, allowing the judging panel to review each story indiscriminately.
The winning stories can be read online at www.okanagan.bc.ca/3hourwriting.
