Web fiction is written works of literature available primarily or solely on theInternet. A common type of web fiction is the web serial. The term comes from oldserial stories that were once published regularly in newspapers and magazines.
Unlike most modern books, a work of web fiction is often not published as a whole. Instead, it is released on the Internet in installments or chapters as they are finished, although published compilations and anthologies are not unknown. The web serial form dominates in the category offan fiction, as writing a serial takes less specialized software and often less time than anebook.
Web-based fiction dates to the earliest days of theWorld Wide Web, including the extremely popularThe Spot (1995–1997), a tale told through characters' journal entries andinteractivity with its audience.[1]The Spot spawned many similar sites, includingFerndale andEast Village, though these were not as successful and did not last long.[2] Most of these early ventures are no longer in existence.
Since 2008, web fiction has proliferated in popularity. Possibly as a result of this, more fans of web serials have decided to create their own, propagating the form further, leading to the number of serious, original works growing quickly. Some serials utilize the formats of the media to include things not possible in ordinary books, such as clickable maps, pop-up character bios, sorting posts by tag, and video. Apps like Webnovel and Inkitt offer writer-platform contracts that offer exposure in exchange for a revenue-based cut.
Web fiction has become hugely popular in China, with revenues topping US$2.5 billion.[3]
There are several popular platforms for publishing web serials andwebcomics. With their large user bases, the popularity of these sites may arise from their interactive aspects allowing creators, readers, and other users to communicate with one another and create new communities.[4]
Web fiction platforms such asWattpad, Royal Road, ScribbleHub, GoodNovel, and Webnovel have emerged as hubs for readers and writers. These platforms provide infrastructure for publishing, discovering, and monetizing web fiction. Different platforms tend to specialize in particular genres, creating distinct communities with specific preferences.[5][better source needed]
Webnovel is an international platform launched in 2017 byChina Literature, a subsidiary ofTencent. It serves as the English-language arm ofQidian, primarily hosting translated Chinese works in thexianxia andwuxia genres alongside original English content.[6] The platform utilizes a "freemium" model where readers use virtual currency to unlock chapters. While it has become a major distributor of serialized fiction, its standard contracts have been noted by industry watchdogs for their broad claims on authorintellectual property and copyright.[7]
Some web serials have been told entirely onTwitter or have used it as a way of adding depth to the universe. Character Twitter accounts are a very popular example of this being a form oftransmedia storytelling.[8] Twitter is also a useful tool for author-fan interaction and update announcements. There are a variety of Twitter hashtags now in use for the web serial community.Facebook integration is also popular, with Facebook fan pages for web serials or web serial authors as well as character accounts.[9][10]
Authors use social media platforms primarily for marketing, publicity, and making contact with readers. They tend to adopt a multi-layered approach to self-presentation, with the lines between their "public" and "private" identities often blurred.[9] Research shows that while there may be a limited author-reader community, there is a much stronger online author-author community, founded upon practical support and encouragement.
Blog fiction is a subgenre of web fiction that utilizes theblog format to deliver narratives through serialized, often reverse-chronological posts. While it encompasses various styles such as serialized novels, it is most recognized for the "fictional diary" or "pseudo-blog," where the story is presented as the real-time musings of a character. This format leverages blogging features—such as hyperlinks, time-stamps, and multimedia integration—to create a sense of digital realism.[11]
The medium is characterized by its high level of reader interactivity. Built-in comment sections allow for a "participatory culture" where readers can engage with characters or provide immediate feedback that may influence the plot's direction. However, the commercial evolution of the genre often leads to the creation of a "blook", a blog-to-book transition that frequently necessitates stripping the narrative of its interactive digital elements to fit traditional print constraints.[12]
While blog fiction generated significant interest in thedigital humanities during the early 2000s, it remains a specialized niche within the broader web fiction landscape. Its mainstream visibility has been challenged by the transience of early hosting platforms and the shift toward social media storytelling on platforms likeX orTikTok. Today, it often coexists with or has been superseded by subscription-based newsletters and dedicated web-serial platforms.[13]
A notable trend in web fiction is the transition of successful web serials into traditionally published physical books, often referred to as "web-to-print" (or "blooks"). This process typically involves an author building a significant following online through free or self-published installments before the work is acquired by a major publishing house.
Web serials are cheaper to run than webcomics for the most part, although it is very rare to make money off of such works. Many writers use platforms specifically created for hosting fiction. Free writing platforms such asWattpad have alleviated most serial writers from financial concerns, as well as any requirement for technical knowledge.[14] However, these free hosts provide less flexibility and also may not be as scalable as a pay host.
Donations are a common way of getting money for web serials, often using services such asPayPal, but one of the main means of monetizing Web serials is advertising on blogs, which can allow writers to both host banners or purchase them on other sites and blogs. This can allow authors to recoup many of the costs associated with online novel creation. These are sometimes sufficient to cover the basic costs for hosting, and some of the more popular web serials can succeed with their entire budget made from donations or revenue of this type.
A few web serial authors have taken to collecting their work and releasing in a book format for easy consumption offline.Self-publishing is key in this field, and services such asCafePress andLulu.com are often used for distribution and sales of these anthologies.The advent and acceptance of theebook has allowed writers to become quite prolific with "bound collections" offered as downloads in formats such aspdf,Smashwords, andMobipocket.
On-demand merchandising sites likeCafePress andZazzle are also sources of income from sales of T-shirts, mugs, calendars, mousepads and other fan items.
Some publishers have started using serials on their sites as "eye bait" and proving grounds for novels,Tor Books. Similarly, writers with established series have been able to continue writing those series after being dropped by conventional publishers, asLawrence Watt-Evans has done with hisEthshar novels.
A web novel is a literary work that is published mainly or exclusively on the Internet. Web novels offer authors the opportunity to share their stories directly online in a continuous format, reaching a wide audience. This model allows authors to receive valuable feedback from readers and further develop their works before physical publication. The low entry barrier also provides unknown authors with the chance to gain recognition and build a fan base without relying on the support of a traditional publisher.
Most web novels are written as serials.Serialized novels have a long history, predating the internet by centuries.
Fan fiction popularized the online publishing of serial narratives and established many of the standards for community interaction found in web serials. Because some web serial authors began in fan fiction before transitioning to original work, the readerships often overlap, sharing specific fandom terminology andmemes.[15]
Web serials typically aim for regular publication schedules to maintain reader engagement, whereas fan fiction is often updated at the author's discretion. Major archives such asFanFiction.Net accommodate the publication of serial works, and its sister site,FictionPress, hosts original serialized fiction.[16]
Authors of traditional paper-and-inknovels have sometimes tried to give readers an interactive experience, but this approach did not become completely feasible until the development of digital media andhypertext. Traditional novels are linear, that is, read from page to page in a straight line. Interactive novels, however, offer readers a unique way to read fiction by choosing a page, a character, or a direction. By following hyperlinked phrases within the novel, readers can find new ways to understand characters. There is no wrong way to read a hypertext interactive novel. Links embedded within the pages are meant to be taken at a reader's discretion – to allow the reader a choice in the novel's world.
Webcomics, online comics, or Internet comics arecomics published on awebsite. While most are published exclusively on the web, some are also published inmagazines,newspapers, or oftenself-published books.
Webcomics can be compared to self-published print comics in that almost anyone can create their own webcomic and publish it. As of January 2007, the four largest webcomichosting services hosted over 18,000 webcomics,[17] ranging from traditionalcomic strips tographic novels and covering manygenres and subjects.[18]
In the past, few werefinancially successful.[19] However, as webcomics have risen in popularity in recent years, many artists have garnered the support and trust of loyal audiences who are willing to pay for their work through sites such asPatreon or Podia.[20]