Cell phone novel

Cell phone novels, or mobile phone novels (Japanese: 携帯小説, Hepburn: keitai shōsetsu, Chinese: 手機小說; pinyin: shǒujī xiǎoshuō), were literary works originally written on a cellular phone via text messaging. This type of literature originated in Japan, where it became a popular literary genre. However, its popularity also spread to other countries internationally, especially to China, United States, Germany, Italy and South Africa. Chapters usually consist of about 70–100 words each due to character limitations on cell phones.^[1]

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 gained worldwide popularity on broader subjects. Rather than appearing in printed form, the literature was typically sent directly to the reader via email, SMS text message, or subscription through an online writing and sharing website, chapter by chapter. Japanese Internet ethos regarding mobile phone novels is dominated by pen names and forged identities. Therefore, identities of the Japanese authors of mobile phone novels are rarely disclosed.

Japanese cell phone novels were also downloaded in short installments and run on handsets as Java-based mobile applications in three different formats: WMLD, JAVA and TXT. In 2007, 98 cell phone novels were published into books. Koizora was a popular phone novel with approximately 12 million views on-line, written by "Mika", that was not only published but turned into a movie.^[2] Five out of the ten best selling novels in Japan in 2007 were originally cell phone novels.^[3]

^ 普通の若者が携帯小説ベストセラーも続々 [Ordinary young people are writing cell phone novels, and bestsellers are popping up one after another]. book.asahi.com (in Japanese). February 11, 2007. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
^ Goodyear, Dana (December 22, 2008). "I ♥ Novels". New Yorker. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014.
^ Onishi, Norimitsu (January 20, 2008). "Thumbs Race as Japan's Best Sellers Go Cellular". New York Times.

[Asahi_News-1] 普通の若者が携帯小説ベストセラーも続々 [Ordinary young people are writing cell phone novels, and bestsellers are popping up one after another]. book.asahi.com (in Japanese). February 11, 2007. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2009.

[newyorker.com-2] Goodyear, Dana (December 22, 2008). "I ♥ Novels". New Yorker. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014.

[New_York_Times-3] Onishi, Norimitsu (January 20, 2008). "Thumbs Race as Japan's Best Sellers Go Cellular". New York Times.

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