when I first enquired about premium stories I was informed that it would only be for stories that are highly rated AND constantly updating 7 or more chapters a week however now it seems EVERY story is eligible for "premium" and thus pay to read. can someone please clarify why this is now the case and if there is any reason other than greed.
What constitutes a "premium" story
- Edited
Uhhm, let me answer this in the most detailed I can be in my limited knowledge. I may be wrong in some so if anyone could correct me, please do.
1.) WHAT IS GOING PREMIUM?
In Webnovel there two types of "stories," Translations and Original. Fanfics are under Originals in this site. Translations are Chinese novels translated by translators. These stories are guaranteed to go premium and lock most of their chapters. Originals contracted stories will inevitably go premium too, but there may be exemptions. Going Premium is basically when some chapters are locked. (I am sure you know of this already, but just making sure.)
2.) WHAT QUALIFIES A STORY TO BE PREMIUM?
First, they have to have readers. To get readers, all authors would advise you to update every day, and when you get those loyal readers, you'll have high ratings.
Second, a contract with Webnovel.
Translations are always qualified to go premium,I think. Originals that have those two things I mentioned will go premium when authors decide that the time is right.
3.) WHY GO PREMIUM?
Translators are humans. Authors are humans. Humans need to eat. Ergo, Translators and Authors need to eat. Basically, for their daily necessities. In my case, I went premium so that I can eat rice without controlling my portions and help me pay bills especially now in winter when my heater is always on, and gas is getting more expensive.
Sincerely,
A greedy author that needs to eat three times a day. I love my rice, and I want more to store fats in this cold winter days.
P.S. Have a good day! Please don't hate this greedy author. XOXOXO
Lady_Liah
The goddess has preached it all! I couldn’t have said it any better 
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At this point? Any random story can go premium just with some readers. Quality and release rate don’t matter.
Lady_Liah I don't hate translators, in fact, it is the opposite as I love their work and wish them all the best. therefore it seems my question was somewhat ambiguous so I shall reword it.
if a story only has a small number of readers and continually fails to meet its translation schedule should it still be considered "premium"?
Premium by definition is either: an object or amount that exceeds the standard or the best of a given selection.
when "premium" is normalised it ceases to exist.
what I would much rather see is those stories and thus translators/writers who do release chapters consistently be rewarded for doing so as opposed to the current thing where everyone is premium and thus it no longer means anything. I'd even be happy for a two-tiered system where there is basic pay available for everyone and a better rate for those who are actually premium.
as a direct example Throne of Magical Arcana, I have a Mansion in the Post-apocalyptic World, Gourmet of Another World and Fishing the Myriad Heavens are all premium stories that have failed to meet their translation schedule yet are still considered premium and receive the benefits.
TLDR: it is only those who fail to meet their own self imposed schedule yet still seek premium that I consider greedy the authors that provide constant content shouldn't be tarred with the same brush.
Faruel
I don't know where I should start from these comments... hummm, let me try to explain not as a reader but as a contracted writer. So you might be surprised by my bluntness.
Words can be defined subjectively by humans. For example, your premium means an object or amount that exceeds the standard or the best of a given selection. when "premium" is normalized it ceases to exist. and mine just means that there are locked chapters. Excuse me for my low thinking capacity. I try to be complicated but my simplistic view cannot be bent. For me, premium is just a word they use to make everyone know that this translation has 1.) many many loyal readers and 2.) contracted or owned by the company.
Concerning your views about rewards... What do you mean by that? Rewards- is it earnings? I don't get it?
If you are talking about earnings...
Webnovel, in my opinion, is merit base. So every premium novel who already has locked chapters receives benefits as long as people unlock it. That is a fair treatment to all. If premium novels are consistent in posting their chapters then please be at ease because they are rewarded with the amount of what they earned. I have only been premium for a month and had earned some because of loyal readers. So those premium novel that has been continuously posting their chapters are also earning more than those that premium translators/writers that do not release as much UNLESS it is not as popular.
Entering this kind of platform means that the POPULARITY of the work equals EARNINGS and REWARDS. No matter how much we original authors like to have our stories known more, it cannot be helped that translations are more popular.
GENERALLY, the rule is; If premium translators/writers do not release chapters they are the ones to suffer. Like for example; (Using authors because I have no idea with the translators but I think they are the same) Premium Writer A released 10 chapters this week while Premium Writer B release only 5. Of course, Premium Writer A would be the one who earns more UNLESS Premium Writer B has 100,000 thousand readers and Premium A only has 5,000 readers.
POPULARITY, the reason why some people in Hollywood needs to spread their legs to gain it. It earns cash. That is the world we live in today. The best way you can help lesser famous novels is to help promote and support them to the top rather than drag the ones that are already on the top.
Webnovel have features to help lesser-known writers to rise from the top. You can see it on their homepage. My book has been in there sometimes and my readers rise if I am featured, but ever since being on the top 20, it is to my disappointment that I haven't had the same exposure as before.
And the self-imposed scheduled by the translators? I do not know. Us, original authors, are encouraged to post at least two times a day. As long as they are already premium, it has already been set into stone even if they post regularly or not but we are strongly encouraged to post. If they fail to meet their posts, they are the ones that suffer because some readers are not loyal and would switch from one translation to the next. Such is the world. The only thing I can advise you to do is advertise the novels you think are best so they can gain more popularity than those that you hate.
P.S. This is an explanation is from my own side. Sorry, if it is long. I like writing long replies.
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All_Night
Release Rate actually matters because it is one of the reasons why readers support writers.
In my experience, I haven't had any social life since writing my book because I do a mass release every Saturday and Sunday just so my readers stay. Yes, I am that desperate because I need my Rice.
It hurts my heart to spend my money on my premium subscription on Grammarly just so I can provide at least better readability than before. Some authors can't afford editors that is why I can only sacrifice my savings for a new bike to subscribe to Grammarly instead. We, authors, try our best to write as best as we could, but there are always people who prefer native writers than us, amateurs. Of course, Quality is somewhat subjective to the reader.
Lady_Liah
To be fair, I think Webnovel stops promoting all premium novels as much after their first few weeks. I was promoted like crazy during that time, and now it seems to be back to normal. I never entered the top 30 and usually hover in the low 40's, so I think it's pretty even promotion to most authors =p. I imagine it'll also become less promoted in the future as more and more originals are contracted, which makes sense. Books can't really be promoted forever =p. Though maybe they do continue promoting it occasionally in the future. I feel this also makes sense, as seeing the same book on the front page constantly will eventually lead to ignoring it, whereas if it vanishes a while and reappears, then it might seem more significant to those that have seen it before.
SnoozySloth
True. shrugs
- Edited
I don't think premium is that great nor do I think its bad. It's just another way for them to make money and for us to be broke. Honest to goodness it really isn't that bad cause I still wanna read some of the stories I can't even if I have to pay for them
2 years later
Lady_Liah
SO to clarify point 2.) 'contracted or owned by the company' if they do not own my work it can not go premium?
2 years later
I just started my first book, but how do I earn money writing on webnovel
Lady_Liah please how do I earn money by writing, I just started my first book "IRIS WIT "