Is Webnovel Legit, or Is It a Scam?
Look, Webnovel is not a scam. And yes, it’s legit. Nonetheless, it has a bunch of problems that make writers, especially from first-world countries, raise an eyebrow.
How do I say this? Webnovel is just built different. It doesn’t work like Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, or traditional publishing. Its premium-chapter model is also quite new.
So, Who Owns Web Novel?
Webnovel is the English face of China Literature (Qidian), which is owned by Cloudary Holdings, which is owned by Tencent. Yeah, the same Tencent that has pieces of Riot Games, Epic Games, Ubisoft, etc. So technically, it isn’t a shady scam operation.
What Is Cloudary Holdings Limited?
Cloudary Holdings Limited is the one operating Webnovel itself. Webnovel is the brand. Most of the time, this is the company that you’re going to see when signing your contract. So don’t get confused, alright?
Webnovel: The Author Platform
Unlike its peers, Webnovel runs on the chapter-by-chapter premium model. Think of it as Kindle Vella’s older, bigger, more aggressive cousin. Here are some details you might want to know about them:
The Platform in Numbers (they love bragging about these)
- 400,000+ authors worldwide (crazy)
- Hundreds of thousands of novels/comics in their IP library
- App downloads in the 100M+ range
- Mostly Asian-inspired at first, but English originals are exploding as we speak. May it be paranormal romance, LitRPG, horror, regency, you name it.
Pros and Cons of Writing for Webnovel
Pros (the stuff that actually feels good)
- Super low entry barrier
- The Minimum Guarantee System (MGS) exists—$100–$500/month right now depending on tier if you hit the daily word count
- They do the marketing for you (if your novel pops, that is)
- The reader/writer interface is honestly one of the best
- Massive built-in audience
Cons (the stuff that makes authors cry at night)
- Competition is brutal
- Once contracted exclusively, you can’t delete the novel (chapters yes, entire book no)
- Your “editor” is basically a project manager, not someone who fixes your prose
- Daily chapters or the MGS money gravy train stops
- They want 100+ chapters before they even look seriously at you
- Piracy is insane. Your book will be on aggregator sites in days.
The Three Big Complaints Everyone Has With Webnovel
1. The Grabby Webnovel Contract
Now, we are in the nitty-gritty of the issue. Once you sign the Webnovel exclusive contract, they get exclusive digital rights to your work for the contract term. And honestly, it’s downright predatory. It has gone so bad it earned itself a Webnovel: Bad Contract Alert issue from the reputable writing industry watchdog Writers Beware.
Anyway, from Webnovel’s viewpoint, this is how it works. The copyright stays with you, but they control digital distribution completely. You can’t publish it anywhere, or else. In exchange, you’ll get 50% net revenue. That sounds nice, right? Well, that’s only until you realize “net” means after their costs.
On the other hand, their non-exclusive contract gives you 30%, but you keep freedom. The sad part? There’s few to no success stories for this contract type that I know.
2. Bad Rep
Search the web about what people think of Webnovel and its contracts and you’ll get what I mean. The amount of hate it receives is just crazy. Or maybe the writers’ warning about them are indeed onto something.
After all, when many people scream that something stinks, there’s possibly something rotten in Denmark. But hey, do your own research. Check Reddit or any socmed sites of your choice, ask your question, and watch your entire thread burn.
3. Piracy Hell
Piracy. It’s so damn real. I posted a couple of novels years ago on Webnovel, and within weeks they were on three different pirate sites. Within months, five. So you better change your mindset when your publishing with Webnovel. Just think of it as free publicity.
I know Webnovel fights it, but they’re fighting a wildfire with a water pistol. After all, we all know this problem feels like fighting a hydra. You cut off one head, and another pops up somewhere in Russia.
Contract Types & Earnings
Exclusive Contract
Author agrees to publish only on Webnovel. It offers MGS (Minimum Guarantee System=$200/month for the first few months). Plus, you also get higher potential earning. The issue? You give up the right to publish elsewhere. Not an awful choice if you can churn out a 1500-word chapter every day.
Non-Exclusive Contract
Author can publish elsewhere. Earnings are lower and rely more heavily on gifts/ad revenue. Unfortunately, I rarely saw any writer who succeeded walking this path.
So Should I Sign that Exclusive Contract?
If you’re a new, starry-eyed writer who has just freshly received a contract from Webnovel, slow down and take a deep breath. Don’t sign yet. Read every line in your contract. Twice. No, do it three times for the charm meme. Then run it on Grok, ChatGPT, or whatever AI program you want to make sure you understand what your signing.
Truth be told, I got offered a contract for a novel years back, and I noped out because I’m lazy and the update schedule spooked me. Writing 1500 words per day makes me feel like a trapped rat.
Nonetheless, some of my author friends are making $300–$10k+/month and love it there. Others make less or none. Your mileage will vary based on the effort you put in and the quality and quantity of your work. Right, just like everything in life.
How do I get a Webnovel Contract?
Publish your work on Webnovel. Keep pushing out chapters daily, and once it reaches 50,000 words, go chat with their Webnovel Editors in Inkstone (their author platform) or Discord.
You may also join their WPC or other seasonal writing contests and get a contract there. Some editors will even offer the contract up if they see consistent quality and quality in your writing.
Webnovel vs. Indie Publishing? Which one is better?
I’m still Team Indie 100%. You keep your rights, you can go wide or not, and six-figure authors are real on Amazon/Kobo/etc. I even listen to those successful folks on Spotify. If it isn’t obvious, this the current route I’m taking and so far so good.
So yeah, if you really want to make a living through writing, I suggest going the indie route. Perhaps my only issue with going indie is that there are a lot of things to learn. But hey, it also offers the biggest possibilities.
Webnovel vs Traditional? Which one is better?
If you’re looking for prestige, cash advances, and bookstore shelf spots, go traditional. The problem? It can be one long, atrocious process. It’s not coming from me, but from the well-documented experience of writers who went traditional.
As for Webnovel, they offer a lower barrier, faster money, but you become a content mill, or worse, a rat stuck in a rat race. Not a pleasant experience, I dare say.
In conclusion, if you want short-term cash and audience? Webnovel. Long-term career and royalties? Traditional or indie.
How Authors Actually Get Paid at Webnovel
You’ll receive 50% of the money made from things like special chapters, gifts, audiobooks, translated versions, and other products related to your work. Plus the MGS safety net if you’re consistent. What you earn, they transfer to your bank. You can also create a Patreon page so that your hardcore patrons can support you as a writer.
So How Much Can You Earn Writing On Webnovel?
That will depend on the popularity of your novel. I heard their top authors earn more than $10,000+ per month, but they earned it through blood and sweat.
They wrote like crazy, kept the quality and quantity throughout the process, and so they reap what they sow. Rather than asking this question, I recommend reading the top rank web novels on the platform. After that, ask yourself if you can match that speed and quality.
Can I Backout after Signing my Webnovel Exclusive Contract? What Should I Do?
My advice? Go back, read every single clause. Look for any clauses about how you can get your novel rights back. Pray that there’s such clause somewhere. If possible, contact your editor. Just a warning: this can be quite costly and toxic.
I’ve flagged this exact problem to tons of authors in the past. A lot of first-time authors feel super validated the moment a contract lands in their inbox. The problem? They sign without a second thought.
Here’s the bitter truth. Once you sign a Webnovel contract (or any platform’s contract), you lock your novel in. Whatever’s written in those terms is now law for your book. You don’t get to shrug later and go, “eh I changed my mind.” That’s not how it works.
My Final Thoughts About Webnovel
In Southeast Asia or in the Philippines, where I live, $300–$800/month for writing fiction is livable wage. But for writers in the US, Canada, or Europe? It’s beer money unless you hit the jackpot.
So yeah, the country you live in might also be a factor if this platform will work for you. And always remember this fact: Webnovel is a business doing business things. Remember, their goal is profit, and as much as they can get at that.