WebNovel

WebNovel (Chinese: 起点国际) is an international digital reading platform for web fiction, operated by China Literature Limited, a Tencent-backed company. Launched in 2017, it serves as the overseas arm of China Literature's online literature business, bringing Chinese web novels to global audiences while also hosting original English-language works. The platform offers serialized fiction across genres such as fantasy, romance, science fiction, and martial arts, with a mix of translated titles from China Literature's Chinese platforms (including Qidian) and original stories from international authors. WebNovel operates on a freemium model, with some content free to read and premium chapters requiring virtual currency or subscriptions. It has become a notable player in the global web fiction market, competing with platforms like Wattpad and Radish. The brand is headquartered in Shanghai and operates globally, with a strong presence in Southeast Asia and North America. As a subsidiary of China Literature, WebNovel benefits from the parent company's extensive content library and author network. The platform also runs writing contests and author programs to cultivate overseas talent. Its website and mobile apps provide reading, commenting, and community features. WebNovel represents China Literature's strategic push to export Chinese web literature and build a global readership for serialized online fiction.

WebNovel was launched in 2017 by China Literature Limited as the international version of its online literature platform, initially under the name Qidian International. The platform was created to export Chinese web novels to global audiences, leveraging China Literature's vast library of serialized fiction from Qidian and other Chinese platforms. In its early years, WebNovel focused on translating popular Chinese titles into English, building a readership in Southeast Asia and North America. The platform gradually expanded to include original English-language works, inviting international authors to publish directly. WebNovel introduced a freemium model, with free chapters and premium content requiring coins or subscriptions. It also launched writing contests such as the WebNovel Spirity Awards to attract overseas talent. As part of China Literature, WebNovel benefits from the parent company's resources and Tencent's ecosystem. The platform has faced competition from other web fiction sites but has established a niche by offering a large catalog of translated Chinese genres like xianxia and wuxia. In recent years, WebNovel has continued to grow its user base and author community, becoming a key player in the global digital reading market.

• 2019

  WebNovel Spirity Awards writing contest established.

• 2018

  Platform expanded to include original English-language web novels.

• 2017

  WebNovel launched as Qidian International by China Literature.

• WebNovel website

  Online reading platform for serialized web fiction.

• WebNovel mobile app

  Mobile application for reading web novels on iOS and Android.

• 2020

  China Literature’s “draconian contract” sparks authors’ “May 5 Stop-Updating Day”

  After a management change in 2020, China Literature introduced a new version of its author contract that was accused of requiring authors to relinquish all copyrights and adaptation rights and of promoting a free-reading model that harmed authors’ revenue shares, triggering protests by many online literature authors, who launched “May 5 Stop-Updating Day.” China Literature subsequently held a writers’ symposium and promised to revise the contract. The relationship between platforms and authors in the online literature industry drew widespread discussion.

  Source

Read more

1. 1WebNovel - Read Your Adventures | Fiction Stories | WebNovel Officialwebnovel.com
2. 2Lord Of Mysteries - Cuttlefish That Loves Diving - WebNovelwebnovel.com
3. 3China Literature’s “draconian contract” sparks authors’ “May 5 Stop-Updating Day”jiemian.com
4. 4China Literature’s “draconian contract” sparks authors’ “May 5 Stop-Updating Day”jiemian.com