A web serial novel is a written work of literature that is available largely in a digital format. Web indicates the world wide web hence this type of literary work is almost solely available on the internet. I say, almost solely because there are recent breakthroughs of hugely popular web serial novels that are printed but this is still very thin in chances. It takes a lot of following and demand before the audience as well as the author would finally decide to make a physical copy of the web novel series. This aspect will be covered as we move along in this article.
With the new publishing method, which has already become a multibillion-dollar industry, writers have been sharing stories with readers online since the beginning of the internet. Websites created locations for authors to submit their stories, find an audience, and perfect their skills across the internet. Writing a web serial is one of the most simple and accessible ways to write, an example of this is the amazing web serial novel entitled “Worm” by John McCrae. Anyone with an internet connection can publish a web serial novel if they deem it to be. In fact, there are numerous web serial novels available than actual published novels.
A Walk Through WSN Origin
Web Serial Novel also known as web-based fiction extends back to the early days of the World Wide Web, including the hugely famous The Spot in 1995–1997, a story conveyed through characters’ diary entries and audience interaction. The Spot inspired numerous comparable sites, including Ferndale and East Village, albeit these were not as successful or lasted as long. A large chunk of these early ventures no longer exists.
Web fiction is written works of literature that are only or largely available on the internet. The web serial is a popular kind of web fiction. The name derives from old serial stories that were once frequently published in newspapers and periodicals.
Unlike most modern books, a work of digital fiction is not always released in its entirety. It is instead distributed on the internet in installments or chapters as they are completed. In the field of fan fiction, the web serial form dominates since it requires less specialized tools and often takes less time to write than an eBook.
Web fiction has grown in popularity since 2008. As a result, more fans of web serials have decided to create their own, further spreading the form and increasing the amount of serious, original works. Some serials use media formats to offer features not feasible in traditional publications, such as clickable maps, pop-up character profiles, tag sorting, and video.
Publication Formats
Web serials are created using content management systems like Drupal, WordPress, or Joomla, which may incorporate blogs directly into the site and have a plethora of custom add-ons such as for integrating social networking services such as Twitter or Facebook most incorporate a web serial novel audiobook which is one of the fun ways to entertain yourself during long road trips or listen into while doing other stuff like cooking.
Because of its vast user base and integrated communities, LiveJournal is also a popular venue for web serials. Some web serials are published directly on LiveJournal, while others have LJ communities for reader discussion and feedback.
The RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feed is a distribution tool that is integrated into practically all media, allowing subscribers to get updates on the latest chapters or episodes via an RSS reader or other media.
The internet forum is another popular format. A free forum service, such as ProBoards or Ezboard, might be used to construct a board for a web serial, or the web serial could be a part of a bigger board to benefit from its traffic. Forums can also be embedded into the main site of a web series to encourage community participation.
The Business Side
Web serials are generally less expensive to run than webcomics, however, the returns are not significantly higher, if at all. Most authors must cover the fees out of their own wallets, albeit the substantially lower bandwidth burden of text rather than images may help to reduce costs. Hosting and advertising costs are still as much of a worry for unorganized online serial authors as they are for webcomic artists.
Donations are a major source of funding for web serials, sometimes through services like PayPal, but one of the most important ways to monetize Web serials is through advertising on blogs, which allows writers to display banners or purchase them on other sites and blogs. This can help authors recuperate many of the expenditures connected with creating an online novel. These are occasionally sufficient to cover the minimum hosting costs, and some of the more popular web serials can survive on contributions or money of this type.
A few web serial authors have begun gathering their work and publishing it in book form for offline consumption. Self-publishing is important in this genre, and platforms like CafePress and Lulu.com are frequently utilized for anthology distribution and sales. With the introduction and acceptance of the eBook, writers have been productive, with “bound collections” available as downloads in formats such as pdf, Smashwords, and Mobipocket.
A Contrast between a Web Novel and a Light Novel?
The primary distinction between a web novel and a light novel is that web novels are exclusively available in digital format, whereas light novels may be available in both digital and physical versions. If you obtain the light version of a novel and the web version of a novel, you might not notice much of a difference. Light novels are often published and appear more professional. The author usually writes, edits, and publishes web novels. Because of the editorial process that light novels go through, you may notice that they feel a little cleaner. Manga, for example, is a Japanese graphic novel format aimed mostly at adult readers.
Because light novels are published by companies rather than individuals, they will garner more public notice. This improves the likelihood of a light novel being adapted into a television show or film. The publishing business contributes significantly to the quality of a light novel. Light novels contain fewer errors, more professional artwork, fewer story holes, and are more cohesive than the usual web novel.
When writing online novels, there are fewer rules than when writing light novels. While light novels are typically around 50,000 words long, web novels can be any length. Some are quite brief, while others appear to go on forever. Some web novel authors understand how to use the lawless area of web novel writing to their advantage, allowing them to write in ways they would not normally. There is greater variety in content and quality, but you will have to sift through a lot of bad stories.
In summary, many youngsters nowadays enjoy reading web books, which are exclusively available online. They are particularly fond of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean web novels. Some of the most popular have even been translated into English for non-Chinese speakers to read, and such stories are now popular in other countries. There are slightly some efforts to publish web serial novels, but it is very thin now in contrast to light novels. There is also a huge need to sift good stories from the bad and this poses several negative impacts on young readers who have almost unlimited access to the internet.