Cellphone Novels

Two weeks ago, I wrote that I was worried computers and cell phones were changing the English language (http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/2008/01/language-of-internet.html). A few days ago, Kim pointed out an article in the The New York Times that not only reinforced this fear but also increased my anxiety level by at least a gazillion.

According to the article, the youth of Japan are using cellphones to write novels and to read them. Some say this is a new literary genre for a generation who reads mostly comics, spurring a debate as to whether these novels will lead to the decline of Japanese literature. Written mostly by women, these love stories use short sentences, have little plot or character development and still hit the bestseller list when turned into hardcover books. In fact, out of last year’s ten best-selling novels, five were originally cellphone novels.

A quote from the article reads, “They punched out text messages with their thumbs at blinding speed, and used expressions and emoticons, like smilies and musical notes, whose nuances were lost on anyone over the age of 25.”

The article should send chills down every author’s spine because I am sure it is only a matter of time before this latest rage hits America.

Click here to read the full article http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/world/asia/20japan.html?ref=technology.

Now, before you all race to your cellphone to begin your novel, I’d like to thank all of you who submitted entries to the “when will The Ride be published contest,” which is now closed. Your entries ranged in dates from 14th of January to the 18th of July. We’ll have to wait and see who the winner will be because the manuscript is still sitting untouched (I assume) on the editor’s desk. It is safe to say that those of you who guessed January dates will not win. I am truly sorry and I genuinely appreciated your optimism.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again next week.


Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton

Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, contest, cellphone novel, New York Times, cell phone