Han Xiaopeng, a 24-year-old computer science graduate who has done technology-related work for a local Website since 2000, became a full-time short message writer in October.

"I gradually found that I'm more interested in writing short messages than doing boring technology jobs," said Han.

He is required by his employer to submit 20 short messages every day, a task which he said is easy to fulfill.

"I never worry about inspiration," said Han. "Whenever an interesting idea hits my mind, I write it down on a personal digital assistant which I carry everywhere, then turn it into a funny joke or interesting message."

Han says he pays a lot of attention to books, films and TV shows to help find inspiration for his work.

Impressing the short-message buyers in cyberspace has proven to be a difficult task, according to Han.

"Sometimes, I'm amused by the jokes I write, but they receive little response as others don't find them funny at all," said Han. "Internet surfers are hard to please."

Han is currently planning to open his own Website (www.smswriter.com) so others can give him feedback on his messages and discuss the art of writing mobile-phone messages.

Online short messages have become a huge hit in China, although the phenomenon doesn't seem to exist in many other countries.

"During the Spring Festival, I downloaded dozens of messages to deliver my New Year wishes to friends because they're much better written than those I write by myself," said Zhu Sha, a local interior designer.

There are some 200 professional short-message writers in China, according to industry insiders.

They're paid differently by Websites and the payment varies with the quality and quantity of their work. Han can earn 3,000 yuan (US$360) a month, an average-level income among his peers.

In addition to those full-time message writers, hundreds of Internet surfers also enjoy writing in their spare time.

(eastday.com March 24, 2003)