Topic: The Sunday Short Message Story Service (Read 4960 times)

Inlander · « **on:** 07 Nov 2008, 19:33 »

Hi guys,

Firstly, this is a slightly spammy thread, so my apologies for that.

Anyway, a few days ago I had an idea for a new writing project, and I'm pretty sure now that I'm going to go ahead with it. It will be called "the Sunday Short Message Story Service" (or SSMSS). Basically, the idea is that once a week (on a Sunday, obviously) I'll send out a story via SMS to anyone with a mobile phone who wishes to receive it. These stories will be extremely short, such that they'll be able to fit into a single SMS (so around 160 characters). For example:

Quote

My wife said he wasn't healthy, his nose was dry. I said he just needed a healthy home. He's 16 now & we're thinking of having kids. I guess we've had the practice.

or:

Quote

We were drunk enough that night swimming seemed a good idea. We left short at 11:43PM; when we got back it was Christmas. We heard people singing low, sombre.

If anyone wants to be added to the Service, just send me a PM or an email (my email address is in my forum profile) with your phone number, and I'll add you to the list. If you're outside Australia, please include the relevant country and area codes. And bear in mind that I will never, ever, ever pass on your phone number to anyone, or use it for anything other than the Sunday Short Message Story Service.

Okay, that's it, thanks for reading!

Tom · « **Reply #1 on:** 07 Nov 2008, 20:03 »

Pity my phone was stolen months ago, I still haven't told my parents.

Allybee · « **Reply #2 on:** 07 Nov 2008, 20:12 »

observe as harry manages to pick up THE ENTIRE FORUM AT THE SAME TIME.

Inlander · « **Reply #3 on:** 07 Nov 2008, 21:27 »

SSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHhhhhhhh.

Inlander · « **Reply #4 on:** 08 Nov 2008, 06:11 »

According to the Vodafone website (I'm currently with Vodafone, so I'll probably stick with them) texts to overseas mobiles are the same price as those to local numbers, so that shouldn't be an issue. As for overall price, here in Australia at least the mobile phone market is competitive enough that you can get all sorts of deals to get extra mobile credit, free texts, etc., so if I do it right I should be able to keep costs down. And as I said to someone who asked me about this issue via PM, I'd rather try it and find out that it's unfeasible and have to can it, than not try it at all.

Plus, I've got a full-time job earning government money! I'm rolling in it. Ish.

usmcnavgeek · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Nov 2008, 22:46 »

The government money jobs are good ones. You can think of your taxes as helping to pay for your next paycheck!

David_Dovey · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Nov 2008, 22:50 »

Could you not just do this via Twitter?

Inlander · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 Nov 2008, 01:00 »

There are various reasons why that doesn't appeal to me, most of which would probably sound pretty obtuse, but the main one is that according to their website the limit for Twitter is 140 characters; for a text-message the limit is 160 characters. Based on the stories I've written so far, those 20 characters would make a huge difference.

Edith · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 Nov 2008, 02:46 »

Twitter's character limit bothers me, because I don't understand WHY they decided to make it so close to the length of a text message (SMS) but still so short.

Inlander · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Nov 2008, 03:11 »

Also, as I understand it from reading the FAQ on their website (and correct me if I'm wrong), in order to get a message from Twitter you have to be logged in to it. Part of the idea of these stories is that they'll be something that pops up out of the blue on your phone: I like the idea of someone, say, sitting on the train home, getting a text, and only finding out that it's a story when they open the text. I like the spontaneity and pseudo-randomness of that. Logging into Twitter specifically to get the story just wouldn't be the same.

Edith · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Nov 2008, 20:11 »

I have mobile updates for Twitter feeds from certain people. For example, every time Yelley updates her twitter, it pops up on my phone, out of the blue.

Inlander · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Nov 2008, 01:14 »

Thanks for everyone who's PMd me so far! For anyone who's interested, I've created a Facebook page for this now. Sad but true!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39924116219

Inlander · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Nov 2008, 04:32 »

Just bringing this one back from the almost-dead quickly to say that if anybody who asked to be included in this didn't get the introductory text I just sent out, PM me and we'll try to figure out what went wrong.

Thanks!

sean · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Nov 2008, 13:11 »

Dude, today isn't even close to Sunday.

What's wrong with you man?

Inlander · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 Nov 2008, 13:24 »

I work from home. Every day is a Sunday!

(Yes Jens, I'm in Australia.)

StMonkey · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 Nov 2008, 20:08 »

I would like to share a fun story:
I was sleeping on a lumpy, uncomfortable, and slightly moldy fold-out couch in my basement, when early this morning, at 7:30 EST(USA), I was suddenly awoken by the sound of my obnoxious text message notice on my phone.

What the balls?

I open my phone only to find a message from the Sunday Short Message Story Service. It was the best start to the day I've had in a long while.
So here's to Harry, the Greatest Thanksgiving Gift of All

Inlander · « **Reply #16 on:** 27 Nov 2008, 20:14 »

Awwwwwww.

You're going to be really disappointed when I hit you with the $200 sign-up fee.

mberan42 · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 Nov 2008, 17:54 »

Yeah, but that's A$200, which is like a beaded necklace and an ear of corn in American money.

Krina · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 Nov 2008, 02:26 »

Is this the place where we discuss the stories? I sure hope so!

When I just woke up and read the story, it made me sad at first because I imagined two geeky teenage boys, lightyears away from having a girlfriend. I found them quite pathetic and sad.

Then I read the story again and it made me laugh.

So I wonder what anybody else thought of the story?

I think this was an excellent start, I'm looking forward to your future stories Inlander!

Inlander · « **Reply #19 on:** 30 Nov 2008, 03:31 »

Well I guess you could discuss the stories here if you want, though to be honest I feel a little uncomfortable hijacking the forum for my own personal writing project any more than I already have.

If you're on Facebook, the group there would be more appropriate I guess. I dunno.

P.S.: glad you liked the story!

Spluff · « **Reply #20 on:** 30 Nov 2008, 03:33 »

Can I still sign up for this?

Inlander · « **Reply #21 on:** 30 Nov 2008, 03:42 »

Of course! Hell, it's still Sunday here for another hour and a quarter, PM me your number now and I'll send today's story through.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: The Sunday Short Message Story Service (Read 4960 times)