Fiction by phone

Nine talented local writers have written original 28-chapter short stories to be read on cellphones as part of a larger MOBfest initiative, which inspires innovative content creation on the mobile platform. The literary project Novel Idea launches today, Monday, 7 July 2008.

7 Jul 2008

For 28 days, readers will receive a daily SMS, updating them with the latest short chapters of their chosen stories. Readers will also get to vote for their top writer and create South Africa's first award-winning “mobilist”.

On Tuesday 8 July, readers will receive first chapters of the following stories:

Extra Lessons by Diane Awerbuck
Ghost Girl by Lauren Beukes
FYI by Richard de Nooy
iGlassy Glassy by Robyn Goss
Winona Forever by Sarah Lotz
Callback by Henrietta Rose-Innes
City Fun by Stephan Simm
The Opportunist by Zukiswa Wanner
Prestige Animals by Sam Wilson

You can receive these stories by professional published local writers for next to nothing. Readers are charged R1.50 for the initial registration SMS and pay negligible data fees thereafter to download their daily fix of fiction.

For more information, go to Novel Idea website (www.mobfest.co.za/novelidea), the Novel Idea blog (http://novelidea.book.co.za/blog/) and the Novel Idea Facebook group (www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35237771424).