Writers used to have to approach publishers in the hope of having their work read by the public. Now they can simply post their offerings online and find an instant audience of millions. Liu Xiangrui reports.

After breaking up with her boyfriend in 2009, Bao Jingjing, then 22, started "making up" a love story simply to distract herself from her heartbreak. Her story progressed quickly, so she decided to post it online as a serial.

The story of a young girl dealing with the pang of a broken heart soon attracted many readers with its simple, humorous style.

When Bao started to write less as she reunited with her boyfriend, she was contacted by her readers who urged her to continue, as they were eager to find out what happened next.

Bao finished writing the story in three months. It became so popular online that she was soon contacted by a publisher who turned it into a best-seller.

To cap it all off, Bao's novel was later picked up by film director Teng Huatao and adapted into a movie in 2012. With an investment of only 9 million ($1.45 million), the movie Love Is Not Blind took in 350 million yuan.

Bao's story is only one of many Internet novels that have landed deals for films, TV shows and physical books.

Unlike traditional writers who toil away on their books for years in the hope of gaining recognition, many young writers like Bao have cultivated readers rapidly online and often find overnight success in the real world.

Bao admits that the success was unexpected.