https://writerbeware.blog/2023/01/20/bad-contract-alert-webnovel/
Just going to add this, because I saw webnovel preying on newbie authors come up in the forums again.
While all she says is true, that's a privileged standpoint, no? She is assuming many things with her critiques.
First, she assumes that you, as an author, can make your book popular without the help of an editorial. While normal editorials are still good, online publishing is king. Webnovel, as one of the industry leaders, gives you visibility as a new author.
Second, she assumes that you will not commit to the contract until the end of your novel, making all the clauses of "dropping the novel" possible. If you are not committed as an author to finishing your book in the first place, you shouldn't be searching for contracts where they pay you money.
Third, she assumes that granting the rights to the work is a bad thing because people can create "fanfiction" about your work. However, as stated clearly, you remain as the owner of the copyright of your book. This is from her own words.
The thing you don't own is the fanfics. Imagine if Naruto, One Piece, or one of those owned every single fanfic of them, and the money you might win from writing fanfiction should go to Oda or whoever the author is.
Fourth, She says the royalties are bad, but you earn 28% of what people spend on your book after taking into account everything. if someone spends 100 dollars, you win 28. That might seem low, but Webnovel is taking care of marketing a book that otherwise would've been lost in the sea of books uploaded every day online.
Fifth. the breach of contract through criticizing web novel. If you are advertised by a brand, for example, coca-cola, I want to see which contract will allow you to say "Coca-Cola is shit!" It's a normal thing that ALL contracts with a major brand will have. No company will want a person insulting their brand while they are giving them money to advertise it or be part of it.
Sixth, earnings. If your book gets popular on Webnovel, it will do well and therefore make income. If it doesn't, with or without a contract, you will win 0 dollars. I think it's logical, and you can understand it by comparing Xqc, the streamer, with a random other streamer. Xqc is popular, so he is rich; others are not, so they aren't. It's not like Xqc is doing something different that others are not doing. It's just popularity.
Seventh, "Right of priority." If you are hired by a company, the company has the right to fire you with prior notice, right? Well, the same here. Moreover, if you are working as a web developer, and your company fires you, can you reclaim all the work you've done for them? You can't; it stays as their property, the same as with Webnovel.
So, her critique all falls into. "If you are not loyal to Webnovel and breach every single one of their terms, you will face consequences of a "Exclusive" contract."
TL;DR: It's not as bad as it seems as long as you are not going to act as if you own the world and you adhere to the contract terms.
