Web novelist turns into 'dream job' for many

With Chinese online literature becoming a "global cultural phenomenon", such creators and providers are also rapidly expanding overseas as carriers of culture and empowering writers from across the globe with "dream jobs".

Online literature is believed to have first gained a significant foothold in the Chinese mainland. Started domestically in the 1990s, Chinese online literature has been booming globally over the past two decades. Whether it be online releases or physical book publications, works in Mandarin only to be spontaneously translated by enthusiasts are a growing phenomenon.

The establishment of online reading platforms and the setup of overseas localization and development ecosystems have led to Chinese online literature continuously expanding its global influence. It is now described as one of the world's four major cultural phenomena, along with US Hollywood movies, Japanese animation and South Korean TV dramas.

Featuring magnificent imagination, fascinating plots and compelling stories, it is drawing a growing mass of readers from all over the world. According to a report released by the China Writers Association last April, Chinese online literature has captivated nearly 200 million active overseas users, 80 percent of whom are Generation Z readers — those born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s — from most countries and regions worldwide.

Another report released by the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association in December revealed that in 2023,China's online literature industry earned 4.35 billion yuan ($597 million) from international markets, up 7 percent year-on-year.

"The charm of Chinese online literature is boundless. It transcends the limitations of traditional literature, breaking cultural barriers to resonate with readers around the world. As someone from faraway Italy, I've found deep emotional connection and inspiration in these works. Themes like the pursuit of dreams and the fight for justice are universal, uniting people across cultures," said Carlo Maria Rossi, a stage designer and multidisciplinary creative director from Rome and a big fan of the popular Chinese web novel Lord of Mysteries.

Currently, Chinese online literature is crossing more boundaries and exploring a new path of going global. With a focus on "global co-creation on intellectual property", online literature writers from different nations and regions are joining hands in fostering and developing their web novel IPs, creating a new wave of the globalization of literature while promoting cultural understanding and exchanges.