Blog 17- Hyptertext essay editted

Cell phone or mobile phone novels called keitai shousetsu in Japanese, are the first literary genre to emerge from the cellular age via text messaging. Phone novels started out primarily read and authored by young Japanese women, on the subject of romantic fiction such as relationships, lovers, rape, love triangles, and pregnancy. However, mobile phone novels are trickling their way to a worldwide popularity on all subjects. Japanese ethos of the Internet regarding mobile phone novels are dominated by false names and forged identities. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_phone_novel) Therefore, identities of the Japanese authors of mobile phone novels are rarely disclosed. Only a valid e-mail address is needed; the user can make up any name he or she desires. No further personal information is required or asked for.

Phone novels originated in 1999 by a Japanese man in his mid-late thirties who calls himself "Yoshi". “Yoshi” added a template to a website called “Maho i-Land” (“Magic Island” in English) titled “Let’s Make Novels”. More people have cell phones in Japan and China than they do computers and as a result, it was a huge hit. In Japan four out of the five best selling literary novel list were phone novels in 2007. (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/12/22/081222fa_fact_goodyear) Maho i-Land is in Japanese, but www.textnovel.com is a similar website for phone novels in English. Phone novels are particularly beneficial and appealing to young, aspiring writers. This is because there is a possibility the phone novel will be published in print or even into a movie. The phone novel "Love Sky" written by a 19 year old Chinese girl sold (along with it’s sequel) 2.6 million copies. The book was eventually turned into a movie and earned 35 million dollars at the box office. Still, keeping her identity hidden for her family's sake. In any event, phone novels gives writers a chance to explore and write freely. Not only is the content unlimited of options but the style in which the author chooses to write is as well. Sentences, words, etc. may be written normal (like the format I am writing now), very spaced out, or jumbled together (like if two people were in a fight) to portray emotion and significance. The format is the author's decision and sense of self expression. There are no rules. Today, authors of phone novels are adding video and audio clips to their novels. Even if the user does not want to write, the user can read other people's phone novels. The website allows a search by topic. Thousands of different stories are available on multiple topics of interest. Many phone novel users agree that texting is faster and easier than writing on a computer keyboard and even prefer writing this way. As soon as the thought comes up, the text message is soon to follow and a novel published. Besides, it's totally FREE! Not to mention, if desired, completely anonymous.

Anyone can write a phone novel, it’s fast and easy. Here’s how:

1. Go to the website www.textnovel.com and create an account. You must have a valid e-mail address.
(There are also directions on the website at the bottom of the page, to the far right under “How To”).

2. Go to “My Library” and select “Create a New Story”

3. Give your story a title, select a genre (action, horror, romance, mystery, etc.), a rating (G, PG, PG-13, R), and a short description (like what you would read on the back of a book).

4. Title chapter 1 and begin your story.

5. Save the story; you can choose to publish what you have done so far or keep it private. After the story is saved, a code will be given next to the story title. This is the code used to edit the novels via text message or e-mail. (Each novel you write will have a different code)

6. Add a contact in your cell phone for add@textnovel.com as “Phone Novel” or whatever name desired. Send the SMS/MMS text message to add@textnovel.com. In the subject line type your story code, colon, and chapter number.

For example, if I wanted to add text to chapter 3 to my novel titled Love at First Sight with 808 as my story code, I would address my text message to add@textnovel.com, add 808:3 in the subject line, write the text I wish to add, and send the text. If you do not specify the chapter number desired, the text will be applied to the last chapter written. If you wish to make a new chapter, use the same format with the new chapter number, colon, and new title. So the format I would use would be 808:4:The First Kiss. The same format and code applies for e-mail.


Unlike printed novels, phone novels on the www.textnovel.com have the advantage of peer reviews. Other users can also post comments on other user’s phone novels and rate them. The phone novels with the highest ratings appear on the homepage. A $1,000 prize is offered at www.textnovel.com for the author of the best phone novel of at least 20 chapters finished by July 2009. (More information is available at www.textnovel.com)

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS!!! I could use the feedback, thanks.