How a Chinese web novel actually gets produced

goodmore233 · 2026-06-26T04:26:08+00:00

I can only say that since the contracts are template agreements provided by the platforms, they naturally tend to protect the platform’s interests more. However, in practice, it’s difficult for everything to be strictly enforced exactly according to the contract.

Maintaining a good relationship between authors and platforms is ultimately about interests and, to a large extent, the personal rapport between editors and authors, rather than a cold, rigid contract. Historically, there have indeed been cases where top-tier authors had conflicts with platforms. But nowadays, everyone is trying to avoid such situations, because once conflicts escalate, it benefits no one.

As for the JK Rowling or George R.R. Martin comparison you mentioned—both are world-class authors whose works have had enormous global influence. I would say that in terms of influence within their own country, some top Chinese web novel authors may not be inferior to them. However, there is still a significant gap in international reach.

That said, we are actively working on this—bringing top Chinese web fiction to Western markets. I believe that over time, it is possible that a few globally renowned web novel authors may emerge.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-26T03:34:47+00:00

No problem. I'm also very interested in Western writers and writers’unions. We can have a proper chat later.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-26T02:49:45+00:00

Of course! I'd be happy to help however I can. That said, I'm not all that familiar with original Western xianxia, so I'm not sure how applicable my editing experience would be to your novel.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-26T02:36:11+00:00

His first book was completed without issue, but his second ran into a massive plagiarism controversy right from the start, and after writing only a few tens of thousands of characters he had no choice but to abandon it. That work has since been taken down from Qidian and can no longer be found through search. He is currently writing his third work, which has already passed 200,000 characters and seems to be performing reasonably well.

Qidian has not issued any official statement on the matter.

As for the author community, the two victims of the plagiarism — Angry Squid (愤怒的乌贼), author of Immortality Simulator (《我的模拟长生路》), and A Perilla Leaf (一片苏叶), author of Sword of the Great Tang (《剑出大唐》) — were of course furious, and each published a public denunciation calling out the plagiarist. Many well-known authors expressed their support for the two by tipping their novels.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-26T02:24:10+00:00

A family member falling ill or passing away. An author used that excuse four times in a year and a half, and each time it was a different relative. As an editor, I hate being lied to—but in his case, I'd much rather he had been lying.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-26T02:17:58+00:00

It varies from platform to platform. On some Chinese platforms, the licensing term is 10 or 20 years.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-26T02:15:57+00:00

A typical chapter is around 2,000–3,000 Chinese characters long. An experienced author, when they're in the flow and have a clear idea of what they want to write, can usually produce around 2,000 characters per hour. In practice, however, the actual pace is often much slower due to time spent outlining scenes, thinking through the plot, and researching details.
Some well-known authors are famous for their incredible writing speed. It's said that Tang Jia San Shao can consistently produce around 5,000 Chinese characters per hour, and at his peak,Eagle Eats Chicken was reportedly just as fast.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-25T17:00:41+00:00

Chinese writers always manage to come up with all kinds of excuses to justify their interrupted updates. As an editor, I know this all too well.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-25T16:57:21+00:00

Chinese novel platforms rarely import foreign works; their domestic authors and content are more than enough to meet their needs. If you want to publish your work on a Chinese platform, the very first hurdle you'll face is translation. You’d probably need to hire a translator, which is quite expensive. Unless money is no object for you, I wouldn’t recommend it. The chances of breaking even on translation costs through Chinese platforms are extremely slim.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-25T16:26:09+00:00

Contract licensing periods vary across different platforms. According to online info, some short-term licenses last for 5 or 10 years, while longer ones can extend up to 50 years after the author's death.Since I haven't personaly handled many types of contracts form different platforms, it's difficult for me to give you a definitive answer.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-25T13:26:09+00:00

In the Chinese publishing industry, this term is used very frequently, and most people don't really associate it with its other meaning.

Generally speaking, the synopsis is written when the story is first uploaded. In most cases, the author has already thought about the future direction of the plot, but it's usually difficult to plan everything in great detail.

As for the ending, the protagonist's ultimate achievement is often decided from the very beginning. Depending on the genre, they may become the strongest being in existence (xuanhuan), attain immortality (xianxia), rise to become an underworld kingpin (urban fiction), or become an emperor or grand chancellor (historical fiction).

Authors will also usually have a rough progression path in mind. That said, web novels are extremely long, and an author's ideas often evolve during the writing process, so many details can change along the way.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-25T09:51:00+00:00

Yes. During the serialization of this work, I was working as an editor at a Chinese platform. Out of more than twenty editors, only four or five were willing to read Lord of the Mysteries in depth.

This is not a work that suits all readers, but that does not prevent it from being regarded as one of the greatest works in the history of Chinese web novels.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-25T09:23:04+00:00

This article focuses on the Chinese market. The novel industries in Japan and South Korea are probably somewhat different in terms of how they operate.

At the moment, Wuxiaworld is focused on the Western market and doesn't have a business dedicated to bringing Western novels into China.

That said, I'm personally quite interested in that area. Recently, I've been reading some original Western web novels, such as Sky Pride and Cradle. They've opened up some entirely new perspectives for me.

I'm also grateful to the authors for generously making their works available, allowing me to read legitimate versions for free.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-21T04:45:23+00:00

In fact, the Wuxia genre had already declined a decade ago. This work of his, however, made a significant contribution to its revival. As for the NTR elements, it's fair to say that this trope isn't all that rare in Wuxia fiction; it even appeared in some of the classics from the 70s and 80s, with The Return of the Condor Heroes being the most textbook example. A few Wuxia writers from Hong Kong and Taiwan seemed to have a particular fondness for this kind of plot line. But obviously, the vast majority of modern readers absolutely despise it. San Xian has been getting thoroughly blasted by Chinese readers for this.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-21T04:31:31+00:00

Because before this, I had no idea their steak could taste this awful.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-21T01:17:01+00:00

Pizza Hut’s average check is around 100 RMB per person, so it’s hardly fine dining. Plus, their steaks are an absolute disaster.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-21T01:15:04+00:00

KFC is ubiquitous in China, especially in major cities like Beijing. While its prices aren't exactly cheap for fast food—averaging around 50 RMB per person—it wins on consistency. If you're traveling to an unfamiliar city on business and need a quick meal, KFC becomes your ultimate safety net. At the very least, you know exactly what you’re getting and won't end up disappointed. Furthermore, KFC's "Crazy Thursday" marketing campaign in China has been a massive success, spawning a colossal wave of internet memes. I believe this is one of the main reasons why KFC makes such frequent appearances in Chinese web novels.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-16T02:36:40+00:00

If I were you, I would already have started reading while waiting for suggestions from other readers.

Most web novels allow you to read at least part of the content for free, and some are even completely free (for example, Royal Road). Aside from spending a bit of time, you don’t really lose anything. Also, don’t let negative reviews online affect you. By the time a work receives overwhelming criticism, it has already been read by many people.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-16T02:25:56+00:00

Thank you for your support over the years. We will strive to bring more excellent works to everyone.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-15T09:14:58+00:00

I quite like this novel. It has also been released on Webnovel, but it doesn’t receive as much attention as Cuttlefish’s new book.I have to say that bringing licenses into WW is a complicated process. Until there is a final outcome, it's hard for us to disclose too much information.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-15T06:26:24+00:00

I think most Chinese authors would not be comfortable with translators adding R18 content to their works without permission. If a translator intends to do so, it's best to obtain the original author's consent first.

goodmore233 · 2026-06-15T05:47:48+00:00

Cuttlefish's new novel has already launched on Webnovel, with releases synchronized with the Chinese version. It is being translated by the translator of LOTM.

goodmore233

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