Mobile phone novel
Encyclopedia
A cell phone novel, or mobile phone novel (Japanese
: 携帯小説 keitai shousetsu; traditional Chinese: 手機小說 pinyin
: shŏujī xiǎoshuō), is a literary work originally written on a cellular phone via text messaging
. This type of literature
originated in Japan, where it has become a popular literary genre
. However, its popularity has also spread to other countries internationally, especially to China
, Germany
, and South Africa
. Chapters usually consist of about 70-100 words each due to character limitations on cell phones.
Phone novels started out primarily read and authored by young women on the subject of romantic fiction such as relationships, lovers, rape
, love triangles, and pregnancy
. However, mobile phone novels are gaining worldwide popularity on broader subjects. Rather than appearing in printed form, the literature is typically sent directly to the reader via SMS text message, chapter by chapter. Japanese ethos
of the Internet regarding mobile phone novels are dominated by false names and forged identities. Therefore, identities of the Japanese authors of mobile phone novels are rarely disclosed. "Net transvestites" are of the most extreme play actors of the sort.
Cell phone novels are downloaded in short installments and run on handsets as Java
-based applications on a mobile phone. Cell phone novels often appear in three different formats: WMLD, JAVA and TXT
. Maho i-Land is the largest cell phone novel site that carries more than a million titles, mainly novice writers, all which are available for free. Maho iLand provides templates for blogs and homepages. It is visited 3.5 billion times each month. In 2007, 98 cell phone novels were published into books. "Love Sky" is a popular phone novel with approximately 12 million views on-line, written by "Mika", that was not only published but turned into a movie.
Five out of the ten best selling novels in Japan in 2007 were originally cell phone novels.
in 2003 by a Tokyo man in his mid-thirties who calls himself "Yoshi". His first cell phone novel was called Deep Love, the story of a teenager engaged in "subsidized dating" (enjō kosai
) in Tokyo
and contracting AIDS. It became so popular that it was published as an actual book, with 2.6 million copies sold in Japan, then spun off into a television series, a manga
, and a movie. The cell phone novel became a hit mainly through word of mouth and gradually started to gain traction in Taiwan
, China
, and South Korea
among young adults. In Japan, several sites offer large prizes to authors (up to $100,000 US) and purchase the publishing rights to the novels.
The movement also became popular in Europe
and Africa
. In Europe it started in about 2007, promoted by people like Oliver Bendel and Wolfgang Hohlbein, and publishers such as Cosmoblonde or Blackbetty Mobilmedia. Teenagers in South Africa have been downloading an m-novel called Kontax - a novel specifically written for mobile phones. The top cell phone novel in the United States, a novel called Secondhand Memories that can be viewed on Textnovel, has been viewed more than 30,000 times.
, and many of the online writers are university students. These writers understand what narratives will attract young readers, incorporating emergent events or trendy elements from teen culture into their stories.
Cell phone novels create a virtual world
for teenagers via the mobile phone, or, more precisely, via text messages. As in virtual online computer games
, readers can put themselves into first person in the story. Cell phone novels create a personal space for each individual reader. Paul Levinson, in Information on the Move (2004), says "nowadays, a writer can write just about as easily, anywhere, as a reader can read" and they are "not only personal but portable."
The cell phone novel is changing reading habits; readers no longer need to physically go to a bookshop and purchase a book. They can go online using their cell phone, download a novel, and read it on their personal mobile phone anywhere, any time they wish. Similar to the e-book
, its mobility and convenience saves time.
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
: 携帯小説 keitai shousetsu; traditional Chinese: 手機小說 pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: shŏujī xiǎoshuō), is a literary work originally written on a cellular phone via text messaging
Text messaging
Text messaging, or texting, refers to the exchange of brief written text messages between fixed-line phone or mobile phone and fixed or portable devices over a network...
. This type of literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
originated in Japan, where it has become a popular literary genre
Literary genre
A literary genre is a category of literary composition. Genres may be determined by literary technique, tone, content, or even length. Genre should not be confused with age category, by which literature may be classified as either adult, young-adult, or children's. They also must not be confused...
. However, its popularity has also spread to other countries internationally, especially to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Chapters usually consist of about 70-100 words each due to character limitations on cell phones.
Phone novels started out primarily read and authored by young women on the subject of romantic fiction such as relationships, lovers, rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, love triangles, and pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
. However, mobile phone novels are gaining worldwide popularity on broader subjects. Rather than appearing in printed form, the literature is typically sent directly to the reader via SMS text message, chapter by chapter. Japanese ethos
Ethos
Ethos is a Greek word meaning "character" that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology. The Greeks also used this word to refer to the power of music to influence its hearer's emotions, behaviors, and even morals. Early Greek stories of...
of the Internet regarding mobile phone novels are dominated by false names and forged identities. Therefore, identities of the Japanese authors of mobile phone novels are rarely disclosed. "Net transvestites" are of the most extreme play actors of the sort.
Cell phone novels are downloaded in short installments and run on handsets as Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
-based applications on a mobile phone. Cell phone novels often appear in three different formats: WMLD, JAVA and TXT
TXT
TXT or txt may refer to:* SMS language or txt, an Internet slang language commonly used on short message service phones* .txt, a filename extension for text files* Text messaging on a phone using letters and symbols....
. Maho i-Land is the largest cell phone novel site that carries more than a million titles, mainly novice writers, all which are available for free. Maho iLand provides templates for blogs and homepages. It is visited 3.5 billion times each month. In 2007, 98 cell phone novels were published into books. "Love Sky" is a popular phone novel with approximately 12 million views on-line, written by "Mika", that was not only published but turned into a movie.
Five out of the ten best selling novels in Japan in 2007 were originally cell phone novels.
History
The first cell phone novel was “published” in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 2003 by a Tokyo man in his mid-thirties who calls himself "Yoshi". His first cell phone novel was called Deep Love, the story of a teenager engaged in "subsidized dating" (enjō kosai
Enjo kosai
means "compensated dating" and is a practice which originated in Japan where older men give money and/or luxury gifts to attractive women for their companionship and, possibly, for sexual favors. The female participants range from primarily school-aged girls to housewives. A common misconception is...
) in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and contracting AIDS. It became so popular that it was published as an actual book, with 2.6 million copies sold in Japan, then spun off into a television series, a manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, and a movie. The cell phone novel became a hit mainly through word of mouth and gradually started to gain traction in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
among young adults. In Japan, several sites offer large prizes to authors (up to $100,000 US) and purchase the publishing rights to the novels.
The movement also became popular in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. In Europe it started in about 2007, promoted by people like Oliver Bendel and Wolfgang Hohlbein, and publishers such as Cosmoblonde or Blackbetty Mobilmedia. Teenagers in South Africa have been downloading an m-novel called Kontax - a novel specifically written for mobile phones. The top cell phone novel in the United States, a novel called Secondhand Memories that can be viewed on Textnovel, has been viewed more than 30,000 times.
Reason for popularity
Although Japan was the original birthplace of the cell phone novel, the phenomenon soon moved to other parts of East AsiaEast Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
, and many of the online writers are university students. These writers understand what narratives will attract young readers, incorporating emergent events or trendy elements from teen culture into their stories.
Cell phone novels create a virtual world
Virtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
for teenagers via the mobile phone, or, more precisely, via text messages. As in virtual online computer games
Computer Games
"Computer Games" is a single by New Zealand group, Mi-Sex released in 1979 in Australia and New Zealand and in 1981 throughout Europe. It was the single that launched the band, and was hugely popular, particularly in Australia and New Zealand...
, readers can put themselves into first person in the story. Cell phone novels create a personal space for each individual reader. Paul Levinson, in Information on the Move (2004), says "nowadays, a writer can write just about as easily, anywhere, as a reader can read" and they are "not only personal but portable."
The cell phone novel is changing reading habits; readers no longer need to physically go to a bookshop and purchase a book. They can go online using their cell phone, download a novel, and read it on their personal mobile phone anywhere, any time they wish. Similar to the e-book
E-book
An electronic book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital...
, its mobility and convenience saves time.
External links
- Mobile Phone Novel Website about cell phone novels
- India gets its first Phone Novel in Malayalam.Written & Presented by P. R. Harikumar
- Novels on your phone futureofthebook.org
- Cell phones put to novel use, wired.com
- New York Times article on cell phone novels New York Times
- Blog about textnovel.com Blog about U.S. mobile phone novel site
- Textnovel -- an English language mobile phone novel website This is the first cell phone novel website in the United States
- The Cell Phone Novel and Twitter Blog entry about cell phone novels
- apple.com Article about Quillpill, which is no longer active
- echcrunch.com article about Quillpill, a site that is no longer active
- Young women develop a genre for the cellular age Dana Goodyear writes in The New Yorker
- ip.tosp.co.jp, The Library of Magics, one of the famous websites for uploading and downloading mobile phone novels in Japan
- gocco.jp, one of the famous websites for uploading and downloading mobile phone novels in Japan.
- English Version of Japan's Biggest Mobile Social Network, Mobile Game Town This site is no longer active.