Web literature turns a page with profitable storyline

From filling time to fufilling fantasies -- hers and her fans'

When Zhang Lian wrote her first novel in junior high school, using a ballpoint pen and a bound notebook, she never imagined she would become a professional writer one day. Like many other fiction writers on the Internet, the 30-year-old bumped into this online world of fantasy accidentally.

Three years ago, Zhang was working in the medical industry in her hometown of Jiaxing, Zhejing province. Her job kept her busy for six months and left her almost nothing to do for the rest of the year. To fill the time, she started writing novels on local electronic bulletin boards.

"I've been interested in writing since I was a child," she said. "At first, I just wanted to post my stories on the Web to share with people I know. Later they suggested that I write on Qidian.com, where the interface is more user-friendly for the readers."

Soon after moving to Qidian, Zhang started her first long fiction, The Evil Spirit Negotiation Expert, which runs 800,000 words. When she was about halfway through, an editor at Qidian emailed her, asking if she would like to sell the electronic copyright of the story. She agreed without hesitation and the novel was moved to the VIP section of the website, bringing her 600 yuan ($91.50) in the end.

Now, three years into the business, she is a full-time professional writer and one of the top writers on a side version of Qidian.com devoted to female readers. To maintain a readership of about 20,000 people, Zhang works six hours a day and writes 6,000 words a day on average.

Through communications on a Web messenger and micro blog, she maintains a good relationship with her readers. Some even sent her clothes after she had a baby girl last August. So far, she has published 14 novels online, and six of them -- all fantasies -- were printed.

"The Internet brought me fame and success," she said. "Before it came into existence, it would have been almost impossible for my works to be published."

Fellow Web writers told her they had found it extremely difficult to get a book published before becoming famous, because publishers receive tons of book ideas every year.

Her salary doubled after she jumped into this industry. Now Zhang makes 100,000 yuan a year, about mid-level for Web writers in general. She is satisfied with her career except for one concern - that her talent might run out after five years and she'll have to return to work in the medical field.

"Before that day comes, I'll keep entertaining the readers with my light and close-to-everyday-life writing style."