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Mobile Novels, also called text novels, are stories, often serialized, delivered through non-traditional means to the reader.

Some examples include cell phone applications, Twitter novels, and plain text cell novels.

While some may think this is just another fad, the truth is it is good news for writers.  This is proof that people still want to read for pleasure.  They just need their reading in a format that fits into their busy, technological lives.

What does it take to write a mobile novel?

It’s easy enough to do.  You need an idea, something to write it in, and a delivery system.

For an idea, almost any idea will do.  It doesn’t have to be the next Great American Novel, nor does it have to be any specific length.  It can be funny, or serious, fiction, or a how-to on a popular subject.  Perhaps you like trivia or recipes and have plenty to share.  For every interest you have, there is some one out there that shares it, and would probably like to get it delivered quick and easy to the one device they take everywhere they go: their cell phone.

For the composing, any format will do, but a word processor that includes a count function will be most helpful.  Microsoft Word is a popular choice, but Open Office has a similar application that is free.  Either one beats trying to count the words or characters yourself!

There are application developers that are eager for content.  They generally work through agencies like Absynthe Spectrum Agency and Publications, a new concern that caters especially to writers and other creative types on the autistic spectrum.

But anyone with a story to tell can create a free Twitter account and share their ideas 140 characters at a time.  This sort of story-telling requires a particular discipline: 140 characters seems like a lot until you start writing and discover that character count includes the spaces between words.

Other methods are websites like textnovel.com, where users upload their stories and other users subscribe to receive installments on their cell phones or other handheld devices.