Cell phone novels originated in Japan in the 1990s. However, North America’s awareness and practice of this new combination of literature and technology grew with the expansion of cell phone novelists, such as Matthew Reeves, and the production of more advanced cell phones, such as the iPhone.
By Richelle Dodaro
Contributor
Cell phone novels originated in Japan in the 1990s. However, North America’s awareness and practice of this new combination of literature and technology grew with the expansion of cell phone novelists, such as Matthew Reeves, and the production of more advanced cell phones, such as the iPhone.
Because these novels in the United States are so new, they are still better known in Japan.
“I’ve come across the words, ‘cell phone novel’ before while I was surfing the Internet,” said junior Greta Carroll, an English major.
“However, I didn’t pay much attention to it. I’m not surprised that such a thing exists though. I read a news article about a girl who texted the entire 544 pages of Twilight to a friend.”
Timons Esaias, adjunct professor for the MFA program in writing popular fiction and in the undergraduate creative writing program, said, “Consumer electronics tend to be introduced and adopted in Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong before they get here; it’s inevitable that electronics-related art movements start there, too.”
Younger people generally write cell phone novels. “I think the age span of 13-20 reflects the level of comfort with the technology,” said Audrey Quinlan, associate professor of Education.
The New York Daily News recognized cell phone novels and the most popular cell phone novelist in Japan, a 15-year-old girl who goes by the name Bunny, in its Feb. 10, 2010 issue. She became so popular that her cell phone novel transferred onto paper and grossed $611,000.
The problem with her cell phone novel involved writing in, what the New York Daily News called, “short bursts” which lack punctuation. Her story reflects the prevalence of young romance as the most popular plot for cell phone novels.
One story in particular tells about the romance between a 13-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, according to textnovel.com. The website’s slogan reads, “For the story in you, where writers get noticed.”
“If some of them [cell phone novels] have become popular with some readers, then it’s definitely a way to get noticed; but the question is noticed by whom?
That is generally a very important consideration to serious writers of ‘literary’ work,” said Sara Kearns, editor for the literary and art journal “Siren.”
“It’s certainly a way to practice,” Esaias said. “Any opportunity to practice your craft ‘in public’ is an occasion to shine.
Equally, it’s a chance to embarrass yourself if you’re sloppy about your writing or editing.”
According to the New York Times, cell phone novels lack plot and character development. “One could argue that many poems contain little plot and character development, but that doesn’t make poetry any less of a legitimate form of expression. I think that what the important qualities of the text are depend on what readers are looking for,” said Carroll.
“In general, serious writers seek publication by reputable presses, and since cell phones are such a new medium for any kind of writing, they’re [cell phone novels] going to lack that prestige,” said Kearns. “If they stick around, then the quality would probably evolve. Perhaps it will take a path similar to street art. When street art started, it was thought of as useless graffiti, but as time went on, it developed and some artists started out that way.”
Cell phones are an integral aspect of daily life, therefore allowing the chance to jot down any thoughts or ideas that unexpectedly occur.
“More often than a paper and pen, cell phones are always with us,” said junior dietetics major Chelsea McCoullough. “If I have an idea come to mind for a paper, I don’t want to forget it. I’ve definitely used my cell phone to text myself short ideas.”
Written through a text message, cell phone novels are uploaded to a specific website, such as Maho no i-rando in Japan, becoming published. Usually, they are uploaded in 70 word chapters, which are ideal for being read in short amounts of time.