Webnovel.Forum

Cobyboy
If you don't mind me asking, how well do the amazon sales do? I'm not ready to publish anything there anytime soon, but I was curious how successful WebNovel writers have been on it.

SnoozySloth Pretty well I would say, some writers here do better than others. I am an intermediate writer and an unknown author. Considering its self-publishing, it is really good, the bonus is that it doesn't risk me with anything that is tied to a contract besides the agreement with Amazon.

I've already earned almost $4000 on amazon in the last 3 months now. That's without going kdp select too.

Dr_Zombie Anyway, this is a quote from @Alemillach (Author of Last Wish System) from a comment on this: https://www.webnovel.com/book/10678377306098705/31268052968461157/Alternate-World-Online/'Contract'

I am tired of seeing this type of information, so I obtained permission to clarify things about the contract because the information here is incorrect. Moreover, I asked, and Webnovel didn't send a contract to this author, so I don't know from where did he obtain such a fake contract.
The contracts needed to be read well because they are easy to misunderstand clarifying points.
1. Meaning of 200k free words. No premium until having published around 200k, the number didn't need to be exactly as it is possible to be a bit less or a bit more. After the 200k words, you can expect every contracted work to go premium at any moment. (the number can be different for each contract, but this is the standard one)
2.License. They can adapt it to any format (comic, movie, audiobook, e-book, etc.), but you are still the author and have a share of everything without any cost for you.
3. If you earn less than 200$, they accumulate it for next month and then pay it to you when you have more than 200$, you don't lose it, just get it later.
4. Payments from Premium are always the next month. For example, Premium from August is paid in September. Those three months are for other types of income besides the Premium.
5. In case you need to go to China they pay everything to you, I just come back today from Beijing, and they paid it all so I can ensure it, you can also ask Moloxiv who was also there. Moreover, they ask you if you can go; if you can't just say it. Of course, once you say that you will go, then you need to go, that is just being professional, but in any case, the travel is all paid by Webnovel.
6. They can make suggestions like every editorial in the world with the books they have. However, they are suggestions; you didn't need to follow them if you don't want.
7. If you break the contract and stop writing the novel, they can put someone else to continue, only in that case and it is to avoid novels being dropped before being finished.
8. Actually, no one is checking the drafts (published chapters), nor forcing anyone to make changes, the suggestions can be followed or not, they suggest to help the authors, but if the author didn't like, there is no need to follow the suggestion.
9. That is in case if you break the contract, breaking contracts always had consequences. If you sign, you mustn't break it. Although I doubt that they will really act in that way, they have the possibility, but sue someone is expensive and I doubt it will be good for them, maybe they will end wasting more than winning.
10. They remain the copyright if you broke the contract, the solution is not breaking it.
11. All the net income is split 50% Webnovel and 50% the author and that includes adaptations to comics, movies, e-books, audiobooks, etc. Although the author didn't need to do anything in those adaptations.
12. The net income is split in 50/50; there is no 30% in any case. Webnovel have their own artists for covers, so you don't need to hire one. As for editors, some works will get although not all (at least this is that I know)
13. Free SS are free, so they aren't money. They split 50% of the net income, but free SS are 0, so the 50% is still 0.
14. The contract should be almost the same, but the contract isn't bad as people is always saying, it is a pretty good contract, the few restrictions are perfectly normal when signing a contract and as long you didn't break the contract there wouldn't be any problems.

But, take everything with a grain of salt. You won't know the contract until webnovel gives you one. shrugs Or simply just don't sign anything and self-publish on Amazon or something... ¯_(ツ)_/¯ Nobody forces you to sign.

Someone deleted Alemillach (Author of Last Wish System) comment on there

It was there 10 minutes ago (with 17 thumb up). Now it is gone.

https://www.webnovel.com/book/10955397205219805/30746494957049581/RPG-System-In-Cultivation-World/'Contract'

Can an ORIGINAL author delete a comment to his novel?

Pegazz
Cobyboy

Any recommendations on pricing and how many words each volume should be on Amazon? My 1st book just finished its 1st volume at 30 chapters and 75k words. The earlier chapters need redone since my writing was rougher back then, but would that be long enough to publish you think? Did you guys pay someone to create covers available for commercial use?

ssound5rs Authors cant delete reviews or comments on their novels as a fact. The only ones who have the ability to do so are the admin of webnovel or the commenter. Hope this clears it up.

[unknown] Yeah i paid someone to create a new cover for me. 75k words is enough as amazon crackin down on short novels full of ads etc. Min words is like 40k to not be put into a "short story" category.

All of this could be cleared up if only webnovel were willing to make the contract public so everyone could see for themselves.

Just saying.

Pegazz
Thanks for all the info. I think I'll try publishing once I fix the early chapters of my book.

SnoozySloth You have to 'tell' your requirement to the creator. Ensure to get 'the right to use your image as a 'book cover'. Sometimes an ebook license and traditional printing license is different. It is better if you find someone who can negotiate about 'revision'.

ssound5rs Perhaps, Ale removed his own comment. Some people attacking him in that comment. I think that is a bad bullying netizen behavior, each side should show their argument to balance. Nothing is 100% perfect.

[unknown] PS: I have suggested a rotating banner for Webnovel's contracted work (translation and original). You can make app ads with different novels. Readers also would enjoy seeing novel illustration. Webnovel also could introduce more novels to its own readers perhaps making them paying for SS. This only cost in-house designer time.

A good step. Finally saw 'The Mech Touch' on rotating banner. I think it will be either Kevin or Anjee first. Nevertheless, congratulation to Exlor.

ssound5rs My reply is in Alternative World Online

JavaSprings I noted that it would happen in the employers country (China (HK is close enough)) . To actually enforce legal obligations and have a legal battle, the person who signed the contract would have to go to China/HK. If the signee refuses to comply (ignores the employer), the employer would have to go to the country of whoever signed the contract and attempt to seek restitution through the legal system of the signees country. Whether legal action is pursued or not, the contract would be considered broken at that point, and no real action can be taken from outside the signees country. This wouldn't really affect the signee as long as they stay out of China and avoid dealings in the future. This, however, would be considered bad faith on the signees part, if they ignore agreements to settle legal action as stated in the contract.

MasterRabbink This is better than the slave contract rumor, where it was rumored future novels has to be 'contracted' to WN.

Saw something in NU. Please consider this post as a cancellation of that sentence that I wrote above! The rest, I think still stand. Some parts seems more clear and acceptable, some part become 'needed' more legal consultation.

They dare to say author got their own copyright ?
Should change that to "you got your copyright as long as you become our obedient slave. when you revolt we get your copyright and we will take back all you gain from it. any derivative work rights will be ours even if you want to make damn sequel/prequel/spin off. if by any chance you get your own rights back, we still wont pay you any dimes."

2.6 For the avoidance of doubt, Party A has the full right to create independently, or designate a third party to create, other works incorporating elements of the Work (such as creating sequels, prequels, continuations, expansions or to peers works) based on the characters, plots, props, concepts and backgrounds of the Work; the copyright to such New Works shall exclusively belong to Party A, and Party A may deal with such New Works as it wishes without any permission from Party B.

3.1 In consideration of the undertakings of Party A contained in this Agreement and subject to the payment by Party A of the remuneration to Party B pursuant to Clause 6, Party B hereby grants to Party A and its Affiliates, and Party A and its Affiliates accept, a worldwide, exclusive (to the exclusion of any and all third parties including Party B ), perpetual, irrevocable, freely transferable and sublicensable license of the entire copyright subsisting in the Work, including, without limitation:

(i) the New Works Rights;
(ii) the Audio Adaptation Rights;
(iii) the English Paperback Publication Rights;
(iv) the Distribution Rights; together with
any and all intellectual property rights in and to the Works for any purpose, including, without limitation, for promotion, marketing, sales and any other forms of commercial or economic exploitation.

3.4 For the avoidance of doubt, in view of the license of the New Works Rights pursuant to Clause 3.1, Party A has the full right to create, or designate a third party to create, other works incorporating elements of the Work (such as creating sequels, prequels, continuations, expansions or to peers works) based on the characters, plots, props, concepts and backgrounds of the Work; the copyright to such New Works shall exclusively belong to Party A, and Party A may deal with such New Works as it wishes without any necessity for any permission or consent from Party B.

3.6 After the expiration of the copyright protection period of the copyrights subsisting in the Work, Party B agrees that Party A may still retain and publish the contents of the Work on Party A's Web Channel(s), but, on or after such expiration, Party A is not entitled to charge any fees for the sales of the Work. Party B agrees that, if for any reason any part of the licence granted herein has expired or the Agreement has been terminated, Party A and the operators of the relevant platforms shall have the right to continue to publish the contents of the Work to customers who have purchased and paid for the Work (including but not limited to readers on Party A's Web Channel(s) and related websites authorized by Party A).

3.7 For the avoidance of doubt, any reference in this Clause 3 to any rights granted by Party B to Party A for the publication, reproduction and/or adaption of the Work:
3.7.1 includes not only publication, reproduction and/or adaption of the Work itself, but also any interim drafts or previous versions of the Work;

3.7.2 includes Party A's right to adapt the Work into any media or any form.

9.2 If Party B is in breach of Clause 3 of this Agreement, Party A may take such measures as is necessary and appropriate to protect its own rights and interests, including but not limited to the termination of royalties payments and the termination of the Agreement; moreover, Party B shall return all income obtained from Party A from the performance of this Agreement and compensate Party A for all losses suffered in that connection, including but not limited to any expenses incurred by Party A such as notary fees, attorney fees, accreditation fees, litigation fees, and travel fees.

profiterole When did they say the copyright is yours once you become a contracted author? Before signing a contract, the copyright is yours. Simple as that.

CKtalon
Are there any additional details on contracts anywhere? Such as the minimum requirements to be offered one? I think a lot of us that are interested in contracts would like to know what to aim for. If a contract was offered, would the notice come via email or through a WebNovel notification?

If Amazon wasn't around you all would be in for a rude awakening on what Authors really make and what rights they retain.

WN contract is more lenient than if you were to take a book to a publisher or screen play to hollywood.