《Cell Phone Novel: A Guide》Step 2: What kind of Cell Phone Novel do I want to write?
Advertisement
You have found your topic and the way you want to update. Now comes probably the most difficult part: What kind of CPN do I want to write? Although there are no pre-defined types of cell phone novels, they can be somewhat broken down.
Whether it is about romance, school, slice-of-life etc. CPNs may be freely written about different genres. It is indeed true that most well-known CPNs from Japan (such as Deep Love, Koizora, Kimi no Sei and so on) do have something in common: .
Typically set in the high-school world, it's very common to find young protagonists dealing with first love, problems regarding the family environment, losing themselves in deep thoughts typical for a teenager, and then delicate topics do appear: from violence to rape, from abortion to sickness, from drug addiction to bullying... that was the main, hidden meaning behind the existence of the first CPNs born in Japan.
But... how to start? How can an amateur start this adventure into the universe of CPNs?
: Read other authors' CPNs.
In order to have a well-described idea of what CPNs are, how they are structured, which POVs are used, which writing style authors use etc., it is a good idea to read what other CPN Novelists write about. Read as many CPNs as possible. Our community has a reading list from which you can choose according to a particular genre. Choose the ones you can take inspirations from, and when you're done, then start writing your own CPN!
Beware: Do not copy, be only inspired! And let your imagination go wild!
: Title.
Okay, choosing a title is one of the first hindrances. How to overcome it? How can you come up with a good title for a CPN? One solution is get inspiration from something related to the work, e.g. the main theme, a song, the name of the protagonist, a metaphor, a sentence from a poem, or... even paradoxes are accepted. And if you have some trouble searching for a title within the inner part of your mind, then feel free to look up a "Book Title Generator", there are a bunch of them on the net, concerning different genres and adjectives, and even one-line title can be given.
Advertisement
More tips? Then, what about a title written in a complete different language? CPNs are one of the most popular and modern literature in Japan, so why not? Even languages may play a fundamental role not only regarding titles, but also the contents of a CPN. What about using sentences concerning your mother tongue? Or... a made-up language?
: POV (Point Of View).
In most CPNs what prevails is the 1st POV: the protagonist takes the main spotlight. Their thoughts are examined, what lies within their heart is shown to the reader, who may recognize themselves in the protagonist. But that is no mandatory rule. What about the 2nd POV? Or the 3rd one? Authors fancy for what is new, and it is no surprise that some of them have tried to write CPNs in the 3rd POV.
Beware of limits related to POVs! Be sure to use the right person, verb and time/space event. It is important to distinguish a good written work which makes sense from another one badly written flying in a mumbo-jumbo land.
Nothing prevents from writing what you want! Understood? It's all about imagination!
Advertisement
- In Serial33 Chapters
Tripwire
In the canyon city of Oedolon, a twin sister and brother find their downtrodden life radically changed by an intriguing piece of technology tied closer to them than it appears. Challis Gannagen, accustomed to a life of sharing Rasalas' exquisite eyesight on top of her own in a bizarre double vision, rides thrikeback into a cosmic solarpunk adventure to discover the truth of the situation all along, and how the most unexpected people can be tripwires... just inviting her to walk right into danger.
8 98 - In Serial7 Chapters
A Twist that Lead to the Fall
She only wanted to have a nice day with her friend. But a twist changed her life. She had to fall. And that fall changed everything. This is a tale of a young girl. Frail and confused, how will she survive this world full for dangers?
8 141 - In Serial15 Chapters
Archangel: Angels versus Angels
On the earth in about five hundred years, people with the ability to control magic, called Angels, have shown up. This story follows the journey of Naoki and Mizuri through their high school life as Angels.
8 207 - In Serial15 Chapters
An Anthology
Anthology (an-thol-uh-jee), n. A collection of short stories. Subjects include spacecraft, dragons, and everything in between.
8 234 - In Serial36 Chapters
Drknfel Dungeon
Intercepted at death, Steven now must somehow complete an infinite and increasingly difficult dungeon to earn a boon. Armed with a special class that has no ability to increase in levels, but nearly unlimited potential for power, he must hunt for his attribute gains and abilities while climbing through dungeon floors. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] On hiatus for rewrite and restructuring.
8 129 - In Serial28 Chapters
His Perfect Doll
"Please let me go!" I cried. He smiled and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. "It's okay, soon you'll be the perfect doll for me."*** Daisy Jefferson never expected to be sobbing in the trunk of a car but that is exactly where she ended up. Daisy is now being held hostage by one of her classmates: Peter Powell. One of the popular kids who you would have never expected to be an insane kidnapper. Now that Peter has Daisy, he wants to turn her into the perfect doll. All Peter has ever dreamed of is a pretty doll that he could control. And now Daisy can be that. Just one flaw in his plan: Daisy doesn't want to be there, and she will do anything to escape. (By the way, the lines on the girls face on the cover is like the sketching outlines when you draw. So you know where to put the face and lips.)
8 115

