Literature created specifially for Web publication -- Web literature -- is a growing art form in China. This trend is apparent in the continually growing subscriber numbers, the deep integration of Web literature with traditional literature, and the penetration of Web literature into related industries.
Since 2010, the rapid popularization of the Internet in China has reduced the threshold for entry and brought more opportunities for literature creation and reading to the public. So subscriber/user rates for Web literature have continued to rise.
At the same time, writers of more traditional literature have begun to publish and disseminate their works through the Internet. And Web literature has been included for consideration for the traditional literature prizes, such as China's Lu Xun Literature Prize.
Lu Xun, the author commemorated by China's most prestigious literary prize. (Source: hengcuo)
As works have become more plentiful, their "upstream" value has continued to expand. Hot TV dramas, best-selling books, and other items are being based on works of Web literature. This has extended the ecosystem horizontally and vertically.
For instance, content producers have introduced electronic readers. Manufacturers of those readers are trying to boost Web literature. Also, telecom operators have cooperated with content providers and electronic reader manufacturers, and traditional book publishers have obtained licenses for e-books.
The industry chain of Web literature will continue to evolve. In China, competition in this market is focused mainly on constructing content and improving the business models for delivering Web literature.
For the large-scale literature sites, such as Qidian, Sina Book, and QQ Book, the model entails publication of adapted films, TV shows, and other items related to Web-based literary works.
One more thing: In China, Web literature suffers from a copyright dilemma. Many piracy Websites are registered overseas, so acquiring evidence of literary piracy is very difficult. And for relatively small Chinese sites, the cost of pursuing the stronger foreign sites is too high.
Narrowly, when people write something not for publishing in paper but solely for publishing on the net, we call it web literature. Broadly, all literature uploaded on the net is web literature.
Very interesting! Since you are so knowledgeable about the Chinese literary scene, can you suggest a trustworthy literary agent in China for American authors (like me) to contact? I'm sure the connected Chinese people will be interested in what I have written about.
Thanks,
William J. Kelleher, Ph.D.
Twitter: wjkno1
Author: Internet Voting Now!
PS
I used to write for Internet Evolution, like you are doing now.
Regardless of the exact method of dissemination, web publication of Chinese literature has the potential to greatly change the relationship and perceptions of China with the rest of the world. While I sympathize with authors on piracy issues, the bigger picture of getting to know and understand China does everyone a great service in the long run.
Hi Xuefel, Are the books being offered containing Chinese literature only, or is western literature trickling? Does the Chinese Government have ultimate say on what can be published on E-readers?
The only problem i'm seeing here is thatpiracy will eat up the monetary gains to be had through writing. Recently an author published a much hyped political book called 'Peeling back the mask' in less than 20 hours it was available everywhere on the internet. I didn't even have to search. I didn't even get time to consider whether i wanted to buy it....i don't know how China will deal with this decisively.
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