Webnovel.Forum

KoraL Yes, I think something along the lines you suggest would work. WebNovel needs to do something for the already completed novels or ongoing novels with a thousand or more premium chapters. People just aren't going to commit the hundreds of dollars necessary for reading them.

I think the current WebNovel scheme works well for keeping up with ongoing chapters. With the current membership plus $5-$10 top-ups/month I can keep up with 4 active novels (2-3 chapters per day each). I'm willing to pay that premium for works in progress.

KoraL, have you looked at wuxiaworld's VIP program? They are one of the few other non-pirate sites out there. I subscribed to their Gold-level VIP program last week, which enables me to read chapters from 3 completed novels of my choice (I can choose novels the first of every month, either continue on with the current ones or switch) for $10/month. (Silver level is read chapters from one completed novel per month). They have separate mechanisms for funding their ongoing and completed novels. I think something similar would work here as well.

MotivatedSloth I’m not a free reader, I purchase privlaged chapters and never read on pirate sites. I wish authors would link to outside sources for payment more often. I doubt they’re even seeing a fraction of the money I spend on their stuff. I would rather support them directly.

CrispyCritter I wouldn't know, since I don't read on WxW. I had always thought they operated on a combination of ad revenue and patreon/privilege

Bliinx We get 50%, actually, so yes, it helps a lot. Plus it raises our chances of getting a webcomic (and eventually animation) adaptation if we succeed on here.

Yoki_144 I second it.Too many points for fast pass.Now one can only read 3 to 4 chapters a day.So annoying.Something must be done ASAP

Akosua_Larbi There is one thing you can do - BUY FCKING COINS. If you like the story and want the author to continue writing it/translator group to continue to translate it, you need to make it worth their time. Simple as that.

Tomoyuki Does that include the purchase of privilege (like the 2000 or so coins to access the advance chapters)? I’ve seen that authors don’t get paid that much, but always see a lot of comments on some advance chapters. 50% seems too low tbh.

Bliinx

Yes, however you're spending your paid coins (to unlock chapter, to purchase privilege service, or to send them gifts), WN authors get a royalty cut from it, on net revenues, which means they get 50% of percentage cut after costs and taxes.

You may have heard stories about WN authors not getting paid that much before. Well, of course, it has a lot to do with the attractiveness and marketability of their novels to the general WN's audience. But, there were still many authors that used to earn so little despite the many valid views their novels had been getting. This is because only around 30% of WN's users were paying users. The rest used to rely solely on free coins, and unlike paid coins, authors don't get anything from free coins. Now that free coins have been abolished (for the most of it), I've been told that authors have started to see an increase in their income.

50% royalty is an average rate for digital publishers. Traditional publishing companies offer even a lower cut because there are typical costs of bound books; printing, binding, warehousing, shipping, etc. There are exceptions but the standard hardback royalty is 10%, often rising after specified sales thresholds to 12.5% and 15%. Similarly, 7.5% is the standard paperback royalty, generally rising to 10%.

You can read more about the business of publishing here.

Cantiara even gifts see the 50% haircut? It's a wonder more authors don't set up a ko-fi.

KoraL

They probably should.

RABBITICOL You are allowed to have a Ko-Fi & etc. as long as you are not offering chapters in advance. :grin:

yaoyueyi Well, that is nice to know.