Hating Work, Enjoying Blogging--Wanwan

With a quirky but cute appearance to match her twentysomething-style leaps of logic, Wanwan has become one of Taiwan's top bloggers. More than a few bored office workers sneak in a visit to her comic blog on the Wretch blog site (www.wretch.cc/blog/cwwany) during the course of the daily grind. The emoticons that she designed for MSN Messenger are humorous animated depictions of the moods of office life, like busy, tired, depressed, annoyed, and bored. They have spread all over the Internet, and now many people use them every day to express themselves online.

In 2005 she published her first book, I Hate to Work, But Enjoying My Life, which went on to sell more than 100,000 copies. Kingstone Books named her one of its Outstanding People in Publishing. The website she started as a hobby has brought her fame and fortune, but it was only by chance that she discovered the world of blogging.

Wanwan first came across Wretch's blogging features while checking out some writings by the online author Giddens on the site. A graduate of Fu-Shin Vocational School's design program, she always kept a diary in which she'd write and doodle about whatever came to mind. In her blog, she also describes events from her daily life from a humorous angle, whether it's jobseeking, going to work, commuting, having fun, or personal relationships. Her blog gained popularity through word of mouth, and suddenly publishers were expressing interest in her work.

When a blogger puts out a book, many have doubts about whether online popularity can carry over into the bookstores and make for a bestseller. That was especially the case with Wanwan--much of the material in her book had previously appeared on the web for free, so there was a question as to whether people would pay money to buy it in book form.

The publisher that put out Wanwan's book, Revolution-Star, is a one-man operation run by Huang Chun-lung. Huang and Wanwan wanted to make the book version special, so they tried to have some ironic fun when designing its format. For example, the book is called I Hate to Work, But Enjoying My Life, but they put that title on a removable cover. Underneath it is a fake title--I Love This Company and Want to Work Every Day! That way, people could keep it on their desks at work without getting in trouble with the boss.

I Hate to Work sold more than 100,000 copies in Taiwan, and what's more, the publishing rights were sold for China, South Korea, and Thailand--for a small Taiwanese press, that's quite an achievement. The overnight sensation Wanwan was sought out for endorsement deals by various companies, such as Family Mart, who turned her MSN emoticons into promotional gift magnets. A travel company sent her to Palau and had her put together a comic book about her experiences. Wanwan will publish her second book, Zzz, Go Chill Somewhere Else, later this year. It will also feature a fake cover to fool bosses, and will include a "voice-changer" that office employees can use to call in sick. There is also a "Work-Ditching Map of the Greater Taipei Area" and a guide to a "work-ditching secret code" such as "1738," which sounds something like "let's get out of here" in Mandarin, and "6896," which sounds like "the boss is gone." It's full of the sort of offbeat humor that has made Wanwan's blog a hit on the Internet. In addition to the book, an album themed around her cartoons is being released. It looks like the "Wanwan phenomenon" that started online won't be dying down anytime soon.

Wanwan admits that she's not used to the feeling of being famous. Her blog, which started out as a simple hobby, is now a hot website that attracts 150,000 hits a day. Many online fans try to buddy up to her too quickly, wanting to exchange MSN Messenger screen names or saying things like "Hey Wanwan, your book is so expensive--how about giving it to me for NT$50?" She doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Though her works have been packaged for sale as books, Wanwan still subscribes to the blogger ideal of sharing. At the top of her webpage, there is a message: "Thanks to everyone for using my drawings, but please do not alter them or use them for commercial purposes." She believes that she only found fame through the blogging trend. "People sharing my pictures just means they are that popular," she says, so she has no reason to object. Some unscrupulous businesspeople, however, have taken notice of her popularity and made bootleg products. Copyright-infringing dolls have even shown up in night-market claw vending machines. "That's the price of fame," she sighs.

With all of her engagements, Wanwan has quit her old day job and is learning to make her living as a professional cartoonist. She feels that her sudden fame is like a gift that fell from the sky, but she doesn't make too many plans for the future. The blog trend will pass, she says, but, "While it's here, why not go with it?" She's going to grab the opportunity and keep her quirky eye on the world around her.

Wanwan's simple, humorous cartoons about daily life are a hit with students and kids. A series of MSN Messenger emoticons (right) designed by Wanwan spread all over the Internet.

Wanwan's latest book, Zzz, Go Chill Somewhere Else, teaches office workers how to get respite from the daily grind.

Wanwan's simple, humorous cartoons about daily life are a hit with students and kids. A series of MSN Messenger emoticons designed by Wanwan spread all over the Internet.