Dorchester, the publishing house that brought you the American Title and Mr. Romance contests, is again looking to social networking for their next publishing contract. (Marie Claude Bourque, the winner of American Title V, will be published in February 2010.) Dorchester is bringing cell phone novels–popular in Japan–to America by inviting aspiring authors to post their novels in short increments online. Fans and readers will download, read and vote on their favorites. The winner of the NEXT BEST CELLER CONTEST earns a coveted publishing contract with a $2000 advance.

“Our increasingly fast-paced and chaotic lifestyles have created challenges for many individuals who can’t or won’t make the time to read.  Between fragmented attention spans, the enthusiasm and devotion cultivated by fan participation in reality television and the social networking revolution, we think the time is perfect to bring readers and writers together through Textnovel and we hope to discover America’s Next Best ‘Celler’.” -  Brooke Borneman, Dorchester’s Sales and Marketing Director

The serial novel was popular in the Victorian era, with now-famous authors Charles Dickens and Louisa May Alcott making a career out of it. Dorchester’s latest contest pairs Victorian romanticism and futuristic technology; Did someone say Steampunk?

From the New York Times: Japan’s best celling authors (LOL) are using their thumbs to write. The authors and readers are mostly young women and the stories are mostly about tragic love. Sentences are simple and descriptions are limited. The writing resembles text messages, with shorted slang and smily faces. Cell phone authors upload their text to various cell novel websites where they are displayed in serial novel form. Publishers have started reissuing these books as published hard copies, where they have gone on to become best sellers.

OMG, I think this is crazy cool – talk about empowering the masses! The internet has opened doors to new forms of literature and self expression. Take blogging – now anyone can be a journalist! E-publishing has expanded the number of authors and types of books that are published. (Though the traditional publishing world is still wary of it – At the PNWA conference we were warned away from self-publishing on the internet.) And why shouldn’t we embrace new opportunities for creativity? I don’t think I’ll be reading a cell phone novel anytime soon (I hate tragic stories) but I applaud my generation for its entrepreneurial spirit. Pick up those iPhones and set your thumbs a-tapping!

(PS this is a picture of my beautiful baby Shadow. He’s 17 and a half and I adore him! )