《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 Serial14 Chapters
The Sanctum of the Warden
In a world where magic is coveted and kept within the bounds of great families, a bastard is born to a common woman. Named Kaius, meaning flower in an ancient language, by his mother, he must learn a lot as he was abruptly thrown out of the easy life he had been in. Thrown into a world of struggle and darkness, he is forced to find ways to fight back and survive against odds that seem utterly impossible to overcome. Follow him as he finds friends and allies he must learn to trust as he navigates through.
8 93 - In Serial7 Chapters
Spartan (Re)
Thor, a genetically engineered super-soldier finds himself as the chosen champion of Ares, God of War. Thrown into a universe wide Battle Royal. But does Thor have what it takes to sacrifice everything, to reach to top? A LitRPG-ish story with no ‘status screen’, no attributes, no skills and no game nonsense. Only the Abilities granted by Gods upon their chosen champions. Thor will not be Over-powered, nor will he be perfect. After all, he’s only human. Or is he? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Long awaited Return of Spartan!
8 204 - In Serial14 Chapters
The Adventures of a Dhampir
This story is undergoing a complete rewrite, all-new chapters will be eventually published on my webnovel account under the same name here: https://www.webnovel.com/book/the-adventures-of-a-dhampir_22103870805270105
8 72 - In Serial6 Chapters
Schneiders Guide, or How To Kill Your Princess
Anyone got a dog that can sniff royalty? Asking for a friend.
8 153 - In Serial13 Chapters
The Interim
An epistolary novel exploring one woman's survival during the first year of the pandemic. She finds herself recovering from the recent breakup of her long-term relationship, but must also handle the discovery that she might not be alone in her new apartment after all.
8 81 - In Serial53 Chapters
New Reality [HIATUS]
In a kind of devastated, but not really future, David is stuck in the shadows of his 2 prodigy siblings, is looked upon as a disappointment by his parents, and is constantly bullied. There is a new virtual reality game coming out that David is excited about. Fame, fortune, romance, and adventure. David doesn't give a damn about any of those things. He only wants to play the game to be left the hell alone, but when his bullies find him, he is stripped of his stats and is forced to become the weakest class. Will he ever catch a break?Rated Mature now because of language, and sometimes I don't know what journey my insanity will lead me.Chapters are long. Most are at least 3K words.
8 81

