LayarHijau.com--During the 3rd Shanghai International Online Literature Week, held from Monday to Wednesday, a discussion took place. The discussion focused on global trends in online literature, centering on the theme "Starting with Good Content: The Popular Code of C Dramas."
This event brought together foreign online literature writers, Chinese academics specializing in this field, and international industry players.
Currently, C Dramas, or Chinese dramas, are as popular as J Dramas (Japanese dramas) and K Dramas (Korean dramas), said Ouyang Youquan, head of the Online Literature Research Institute at Central South University.
"C Dramas have emerged as a symbolic term, reflecting the widespread popularity of TV series and audiovisual products adapted from Chinese online novels. This also indicates the growing influence of Chinese online literature in the global market," he said, as reported by China Daily.
With engaging stories, online literature allows foreign audiences to better understand Chinese culture, he added.
Daria Kuznetsova, president of Freedom Publishing House under the Russian publishing group Eksmo, noted that many young Russians enjoy watching Chinese TV dramas and cartoons as well as reading Chinese online literature. The cultural elements in these works, such as poetry, guqin (a seven-stringed plucked instrument), painting, and calligraphy, provide a refreshing experience for Russian audiences, she stated.
US online novel writer Lenaleia remarked that Chinese online novels aimed at women are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, and "readers enjoy love stories while learning about the broader background of life in China."
Meanwhile, Indian online novelist Raj_Shah_7152 discovered "many significant events impacting humanity" in Chinese online literature and has gained a broader and deeper perspective on writing through reading these works. Guiltythree from Russia added, "I found that in China, men who excel in science are considered attractive, which is not the case in the West."
Reading Chinese online literature, much of which features rich worldviews and vibrant characters, helps individuals like Nigerian online writer Magecrafter improve their ability to write longer stories.
Duan Huaiqing, a professor of Chinese language and literature at Fudan University, mentioned that he reads online novels about immortality development because he believes this genre consistently reflects cultural pursuits and the essence of life, exploring different boundaries and striving to transcend external and internal limitations.
For modern scientific education and technological culture, online novels provide valuable supplementary reading and can incorporate various related themes, such as personal growth and education, he added.
He once mentored a student from Thailand who, after graduating, worked full-time translating Chinese online novels into Thai to support his family.
"This shows that the development of online literature over the past two decades has created a rapidly evolving landscape, not only in China but globally," he stated.
In addition to digital texts, Chinese online novels are also entering foreign markets in various forms. Yukiko Sugiyama, executive vice president of Kakao Piccoma Corp in Japan, noted that over the past 100 years, the Japanese market has been self-sufficient, making it difficult for foreign works to penetrate. However, since 2020, Webtoons—digital comics designed for vertical scrolling on digital devices—have become popular in Japan, with many hits originating from China.
Popular online literary works and their adaptations have also boosted the consumption of "Guzi," or IP-related goods associated with ACGN—animation, comics, games, and novels—such as pins, figures, keychains, and other stationery accessories.
The "Guzi" economy is thriving in 2024 and is even driving the real economy, said Tang Qiao, deputy director of the Online Literature Research Center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Two major players in 2024 are popular online novels related to "Guzi," Joy of Life and The King's Avatar, along with their adaptations.
For Yuewen Group, 2024 marks an important year for exploring the overseas "Guzi" market, said Mei Renjie, the general manager responsible for the group's foreign business, which is one of the largest online literature platforms in the world.
"Our works are known for their distinctive storylines and character depth. The 'Guzi' culture will facilitate our development of good story IPs and enhance their influence."
Yang Zhan, general manager of content operations at the group, added that engaging stories are the main attraction of Chinese online literature abroad. This appeal stems from two main aspects, he said. First, it arises from the commercialization of the paid online literature model that has developed over the past 20 years, motivating writers to improve their storytelling skills. Second, it comes from the serialized nature of online literature creation, where reader-writer interaction makes it more engaging and enjoyable, he stated.
During the international online literature week, a report released by the China Audiovisual and Digital Publishing Association revealed that in 2023, the Chinese online literature industry generated 4.35 billion yuan (approximately $597 million) from the international market, an increase of 7 percent from the previous year.
Chinese online literature is rapidly gaining attention with the potential of artificial intelligence and AI translation to enhance its global distribution.
For example, Webnovel, an international portal under the group, published around 6,000 translated novels by November, including more than 2,000 works translated by AI this year, marking a 20 percent increase from last year.
As part of the week, the Webnovel Spirity Awards 2024 honored 15 titles created by authors worldwide.
Among the winners were Two Times Rejected Luna, the Desire of All Alphas by Ghanaian author Glorious_Eagle, Mr President: You Are the Daddy of My Triplets by Pakistani author JessicaKaye911, The First Legendary Beast Master by Canadian author Aoki_Aku, and Obtaining 10x Rewards! Reincarnated into a Novel as a Side-character! by Indian author Winter-Dragon_1, all of whom received gold awards.
In overseas markets, Yuewen Group has expanded online novels into other adaptations. Nearly 70 percent of the titles that won the WSA have been adapted into print books, audiobooks, comics, TV series, and films. Among these, the audiobook adaptation of My Vampire System has been viewed 243 million times, works like Hero of Darkness have been adapted into comics, and The Billionaire's Genius Wife has been adapted into short videos.