Zhang's famously high productivity is also his secret to wealth. In his best year, he wrote 4 million words.

Over the years, he has followed a strict writing schedule and never fails his readers in updating the stories online.

He usually begins with a concept and develops the structure months before the writing. He skillfully paces the story according to his own understanding of readers' habits.

Zhang says his sensitiveness and curiosity have helped him find inspiration in daily life.

"A word or sentence that might well be neglected by others might spark a story in me," he says. Books and movies are other sources of inspiration.

Zhang admits that he is one of the few writers at the top of the pyramid while most online writers remain uncelebrated. However, he argues that his success can be achieved by others, as long as "they write hard enough".

The industry is still growing at a dazzling speed, and more online writers can find a bright future as the Internet continues to shape people's reading habits, he says.

以前，作家如果希望大众能读到自己的作品，他们必须去联系出版社。现在，他们只要把他们的文章放到网上，立刻会有上百万的读者。

2009年，鲍鲸鲸与男朋友分手后（那时她22岁），开始“编写”一个爱情故事，这仅仅是为了转移自己的注意力。她的故事进展得很快，所以她决定将其作为连载小说放到网络上。

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