The burgeoning popularity of web fiction in Asia, particularly in China, has transformed the literary landscape, yet the underlying factors driving this phenomenon remain underexplored. This study aims to systematically investigate both the linguistic features and non-textual engagement metrics that contribute to the success of Asian web novels. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through a structured online survey of 300 readers across multiple Asian countries, computational linguistic analysis of 50 top-ranked web novels, and qualitative interviews and focus groups with 70 participants. Quantitative results reveal that non-textual factors—such as hits (82%), favorites (67%), and comments (60%)—significantly predict a novel's popularity, while textual analysis identifies shorter sentence length and higher lexical diversity as key stylistic markers of successful works. Qualitative insights further demonstrate that interactive community features foster reader engagement and shape consumption patterns. Together, these findings elucidate the complex interplay between writing style, genre conventions, and platform-mediated social dynamics in shaping web fiction's appeal. This research offers valuable implications for authors, publishers, and digital platform developers seeking to optimize content creation and engagement strategies in the rapidly evolving domain of online literature.
داليا محمد مبروك (Wed,) studied this question.