We are all familiar with emoji's in our day to day lives from text exchange on our phones, comments on social media, or even online message boards, they have become commonplace. They are even included in many computer keyboards so we can utilize them on most platforms. The question arises do we use them within our narrative's?

Firstly, let's remind ourselves that emojis were only created in the late 1990's for Japanese mobile phones. The word “emoji” actually comes from the Japanese words “e,” which means picture, and “moji,” which means character. Their worldwide popularity began in 2010 after their introduction by several mobile operating systems. 

Secondly, what disadvantages are there to include emoji's within a literary narrative? As a fluid and rapidly changing trend your use could date your book's content. As we have all seen the styles of emoji, how they're used, and what they mean changes rapidly, creating a 'moving target' and therefore the interpretation you use in your story may very well have changed by the time the book is published. Also we need to consider that an emoji is basically pictorial slang and not every person understands their meaning, or is familiar with them. This could led to misunderstanding of the dialogue, or tone of the narrative, or even a reluctance to continue reading by the reader, which would be a disaster.

The other disadvantage is that the actual emoji graphic's detail will not transfer onto a black and white printed page as they are difficult, or near impossible to replicate and can look like a small blob. The publisher will also have to get a license for any copyrighted images and their usage and if your book is reprinted the current emoji could look entirely different and have another meaning leaving your reader confused. I have seen some newer novels utilize a text bubble to include digital chat but as yet not emoji's, maybe it will come.

Then there is the complication of audiobooks, how would an emoji be included? Do you ask your narrator to describe it? Would this corrupt the flow of the story?

There may be a place for emoji's in the future as a unique style for a competition, or an experimental flash fiction of some sort, but currently with their ever changing and morphing trend it is probably best to avoid their usage in 'traditional' novels. We could also continue backwards into the age of hieroglyphics, the original emoji's and communicate via images. Who knows!

Do you have any thoughts on the use of emoji's?

Can you see them being included in stories in the future?