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I had never heard of such a thing until recently when I read this article over at the Christian Science Monitor. The article highlights the latest exploits of an 86 year old Buddhist nun and author of a new smash hit in cell phone novels. I know it sounds like a joke but as this article over Reuters shows that it’s true. Here the author talks about her translation of an 11^th century manuscript and how she came to the decision to write a cell phone novel.

When it comes to the idea of the digital novel, I knew you could download .pdf and other similar formats to your palm pilots and other handheld devices. Seeing that the phone is a handheld device, I don’t know why I’m so surprised, especially as they are now being integrated with the technology of one of these palm pilots. Just look at the iPhone by Apple - the larger screen format would certainly lend itself to cell phone novels.

Cell phone novels are a big hit in Asian countries right now - especially China and Japan. The audience of such a novel would be astronomical! I can hardly imagine the number, but sales would be huge. The New York Times in this article, even states that in Japan, of the top 10 bestsellers in the country, 5 started life as a cell phone novel.

Where did the birth of the cell phone novel start?

As I understand, back in 2000 Maho no i-rando found a way to turn blog novels, written and updated on the web in a way similar to penny dreadfuls were serialized in the past, into text that could be downloaded on the phone. It became more popular when cell phone companies offered unlimited text messaging and internet use as part of monthly packages.

How does one write a cell phone novel?

By typing it into your phone! You’ve got to have some serious thumb action going on to rival the most dedicated Smash Brothers devotee. I can’t see these being composed on phones without the keyboard for texting as by the time you clicked and reclicked a key to get the letter you wanted the sentence would be clean out of your head.

Who writes cell phone novels and who reads them?

Most novels read like diaries and are written by first time writers (usually female) and read by first time readers. Generally speaking these novels are after a fashion a love story. The cell phone novel has outdone J.K. Rowling’s efforts with Harry Potter to bring the love of reading to those previously untouched by it. How literary the writing is, is an altogether another matter. Think instant messaging speak with emoticons and the like scattered throughout the telling of the story. Sounds painful, right?

So why is this novel format a big success in Asia but not America?

Apparently it all comes down to the commute from home to work and back again. Americans travel less or travel in our own cars which make it impossible to utilize this novel format. ABC News debates on this issue here.

I for one seeing it take off in America if the grammar and writing is better than IM-speak. After all we demand that our fanfiction be excellent - why should cell phone novels be different? I also see college students making use of cell phone novels on the way to and from class. The market for a college targeted audience would be pretty big.

What are your thoughts on cell phone novels?

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