For those who don't know a cell phone novel is exactly as the title says it to be. A cell phone novel is a novel written for cell phones. Cell Phone Novels were first made popular in Japan with the every-day commuter in mind. Cell Phone Novels consist of chapters of about 70 to 100 words and heavily utilize minimalist techniques. Cell Phone Novels are meant to be quick reads to keep one entertained throughout commutes, a concept that also has given rise to the Japanese Light Novel - small novels that are about 20k words or less and are primarily targeted towards teens and young adults.
Light novels and cell phone novels both reflect a change in writing culture due to the rise of the need for convenience, a change heavily reflected in new media and technology. People no longer have the time to just sit and contemplate a heavy book. People want something quick and juicy, something that can flip their switch and keep them entertained for a specific length of time without any need to have to seriously consider the material.
Cell Phone Novels offer just that. The thing about cell phone novels that I want to emphasize is that a cell phone novel does not mean a novel written in emoticons and text slang. These are just economically written novels.
Cell Phone Novels are now slowly growing in popularity outside of Japan. There are several now that are written in English. Just Google "cell phone novel" and you'll get quite a few results.
What do you think? Do you think this growing trend is something we should be worrying about? Is this growing need for convenience going to pollute the way we think about the art of writing or perhaps is the long-winded novel a thing of the past and that we should make way for the economically written prose of the future?
Light novels and cell phone novels both reflect a change in writing culture due to the rise of the need for convenience, a change heavily reflected in new media and technology. People no longer have the time to just sit and contemplate a heavy book. People want something quick and juicy, something that can flip their switch and keep them entertained for a specific length of time without any need to have to seriously consider the material.
Cell Phone Novels offer just that. The thing about cell phone novels that I want to emphasize is that a cell phone novel does not mean a novel written in emoticons and text slang. These are just economically written novels.
Cell Phone Novels are now slowly growing in popularity outside of Japan. There are several now that are written in English. Just Google "cell phone novel" and you'll get quite a few results.
What do you think? Do you think this growing trend is something we should be worrying about? Is this growing need for convenience going to pollute the way we think about the art of writing or perhaps is the long-winded novel a thing of the past and that we should make way for the economically written prose of the future?
