Do you remember a time when everyone seemed to wish for a life straight out of a Wattpad story? Young readers would imagine themselves living in luxury, studying at prestigious schools, finding their perfect circle of friends, and, of course, meeting their own “prince charming.”
The Wattpad era has since cemented itself in the hearts and lives of its readers, offering them a glimpse of a seemingly perfect life filled with romance, friendship, and endless possibilities.
Beyond the fictional worlds that captivated millions of readers are the authors who brought these stories to life, pouring their hearts into creating characters and narratives that would leave a lasting mark on an entire generation.
But what happens when these authors leave a platform they once considered a safe place, all because of their own readers?
Over-the-top criticism
There is no story without an author to bring it to life.
Recently, the Wattpad community has seen authors step away from the platform and put their writing on hold. In some cases, their decisions have been driven not by a loss of passion for storytelling, but by the very readers who once supported their work.
Several authors have announced hiatuses or retirements from writing to prioritize their mental health, citing harsh comments and readers’ growing demands for updates and new chapters.
One of them is Inksteady, the author behind popular Wattpad titles such as the ‘College Series.’ She has been on hiatus for several months, with her last story update posted in February 2026.
Although she has not made an official announcement explaining her absence, readers assumed it is because of the harsh criticisms thrown at her. Since then, they have continued to wait for her return.
More recently, another prominent Wattpad author announced her decision to step away from writing. Alluring WP, known for her ‘Seniors Series’, expressed her exhaustion, not with writing itself, but with the community surrounding it.
“I have decided to step away from writing as I continue going to therapy. For the past months, I’ve held in so many emotions just to keep the peace among my readers, and it’s become exhausting,” she said in a post.
Throughout her years as a writer, Alluring WP said she had learned to welcome criticism and feedback that could help her grow both as a writer and as a person. However, she clarified that her decision to step away was not simply a response to criticism.
“For months, I wasn’t able to share any personal artworks and I had a hard time updating because it might be mocked or ridiculed. And even as I’m typing this, the fear of getting mocked is just getting stronger,” she said.
She also called on readers to extend the same understanding to authors that they encourage others to show toward people struggling with their emotions.
“I hope we can also allow authors to express their feelings. We often encourage people to reach out instead of keeping everything to themselves; I hope we can extend that same kindness to authors. We need help, too,” she added.
For Alluring WP, stepping away from writing is a necessary step toward prioritizing her mental well-being and healing.
Kindness is free
Authors stepping away from the platform have left readers wondering what happened to the community that was once considered their safe space.
In response, readers have reminded their fellow fans to be kind to authors. They pointed out that authors share their stories and creativity for free, so readers should not demand too much from them and should learn to respect their decisions. While criticism is a normal part of writing, readers should also remember that giving constructive feedback does not mean resorting to harsh words or hurtful comments.
“Authors are human beings, too. Behind every story are countless hours of effort, creativity, and emotions that writers pour into their work. Criticism is a natural part of being a writer, but it should never be an excuse to belittle someone or make them feel that their hard work is worthless. Readers are allowed to have preferences, but respect should always remain,” one user wrote.
“Let us remember that there is a real person behind every pen name, a heart behind every story, and a reason why every author chooses to share their imagination with us. We can disagree, criticize, and express our preferences without being unkind. Be a reader who inspires an author to keep creating, not a reason they feel the need to stop.♡”
At the heart of every Wattpad story is an author who chooses to share a piece of their imagination with the world. Kindness is free, and these authors deserve it just as much as the stories they freely share with their readers.
These stories may be fictional, but the people behind them are real. They have feelings, too, and deserve to be understood.
After all, no story should come at the expense of the person who writes it.
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