Web novel

A web novel, also known as an online novel (オンライン小説) or web fiction, is a written work of literature available primarily or solely on the internet. A common type of web novel is the web serial novel. The term comes from old serial stories that were once published regularly in newspapers and magazines. The forms of publishing on the internet can vary from regular SNS such as Twitter to web sites designed to facilitate writing and publishing in a simplified form with tables of contents and some images.

Unlike most modern books, web novels are often not published as a whole. Instead, it is released on the Internet in installments or chapters as they are finished, although published compilations and anthologies are not unknown. The web serial form dominates in the category of fan fiction, as writing a serial takes less specialized software and often less time than an ebook.

Popular web novels will often get picked up by traditional publishers usually becoming light novels, especially in Asia.

The most well-known and successful web novel distribution website in Japan is Shōsetsuka ni Narō.

Web novels adapted to other media

 * The Apothecary Diaries - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, a manga, and then an anime
 * Ascendance of a Bookworm - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, a manga, and then an anime (2 seasons)
 * The Girl Who Ate a Death God - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel
 * The Girl Who Bore the Flame Ring - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel
 * In Another World With My Smartphone - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel and then an anime
 * Infinite Dendrogram - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel and then an anime
 * In the Land of Leadale - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel and then an anime
 * The Irregular at Magic High School - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, manga, and then an anime (2+ seasons)
 * Isekai Cheat Magician - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, a manga, and then an anime
 * I Want to Eat Your Pancreas - Japanese web novel adapted to a novel, manga, live-action film, and then an anime film
 * Journal of the Mysterious Creatures - Chinese web novel adapted into an ONA
 * Knight's & Magic - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, a manga, and then an anime
 * KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, a manga, and then an anime (2+ seasons)
 * Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, a manga, and then an anime
 * Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint - Korean web novel adapted into a webtoon
 * Restaurant to Another World - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel and then an anime (2 seasons)
 * The Rising of the Shield Hero - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel and then an anime (2 seasons)
 * So I’m a Spider, So What? - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, a manga, and then an anime
 * Solo Leveling - Korean web novel adapted into a webtoon
 * That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, a manga, and then an anime (2+ seasons)
 * Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy - Japanese web novel adapted to a light novel, a manga, and then an anime