I've been trying to avoid this for quite a while now... But I've finally made myself do this.

*sigh*

After lots of thinking, I've decided to retire from Wattpad. This decision is especially painful since I'm in the middle of a story which I see a lot of potential in, but unfortunately, I simply do not have the drive to finish it.

I'm sure you all have lots of questions, and I will answer any that you have that I don't answer in this, but there is one thing that I want to make clear. I'm not quitting because of a decline in emotional state. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I can see my path to success slowly appearing in front of me and I am quite happy with what I am doing.

I think that this can be summarized best by a simple fact about me as a person: I don't read, but I play video games. In other words, I don't really have the same kind of motivation that I do with writing as I do with video games. I know it seems silly to abandon one medium completely in favor of another, but I have reasoning behind it. I have a lot of creative energy, and a year and a half ago when I started my journey here I didn't have anywhere for that energy to go. Now, however, I have a game development team to work with and have a large (maybe even massive) project to work on. Splitting my creative energy and time into a secondary medium that I don't feel like I belong in or want to be in that much simply hurts my productivity in both mediums.

Just because I'm retiring, however, does not mean I'm dropping off the face of Wattpad entirely. I won't be writing anymore, but I'll keep the app installed and will probably pop in on your guys' stuff sometimes, because even if I don't care about writing, I do care about the writers here (which is a strange thing to say since I've never actually met any of you, but you know what I mean). If you guys want I can pop in here every once in a while and let you know about my game development shenanigans, but I'll only do that if you guys want it. You guys can feel free to PM or Kik me anytime too, and I really mean that. 

It does pain me to leave though, because I feel like I'm going to just lose all the connections I've made here and the progress too. I know this isn't true, but it's still hard not to think that way. But alas, I must move towards the future!

Let's reflect quickly on all that happened in my time here.

1. I met some good friends who I have mentioned over and over in these things (you know who you are)

2. I crafted a messy but fun story of Insomnia Wake that inspired a few friends. This might one day become a game of mine because I still refuse to let go of this world, but who knows. A certain few friends think that it would make a good open world game, and they'd be right... but dang, those types of games take sooooooo much work XD Even the amount of art that it would require boggles my mind.

3. I wrote WSGABATA, which got fourth in the Pokemon Watties Action/Adventure category and spreaded shenanigans to my widest audience. I still think that I was lacking in the romance and conclusion, but I am proud of the adventure and craziness that came out of it.

4. I got fan art from the above two? Somehow? Not just photoshopped things, but also hand-drawn pieces that made me very happy to see.

5. Wrote Words Aren't Enough in the span of a few days, only to have it win the Misc. category of the Pokemon Watties. I am really happy with how this short piece turned out honestly. I think it was a good representation of how Pokemon can impact people and was a heartwarming tale. Even my family members read this completely through and liked it!

6. I wrote a lot of random crap in this book. It was cringy, but I think it was just the sort of wacky that people liked (most of the time) and I did enjoy writing it when I was in the moment.

7. I started Heart of Ghost. Leaving this unfinished will probably be my biggest regret about leaving here in the long run. DestinedFate I'm sorry that I couldn't finish it for you, I know how much you were enjoying it. In the end though, it is a Pokemon fanfiction that would be restricted to this site and its audience, and won't be as rewarding as making games will be to me. If anyone actually cares to know my plans for this story, I can tell you and show you my design document (that has no organization) if you really want to know. Oh, and by the way (LogicalCabbage and Doppelgengar especially), all the major characters names were references to previous works:

Saffron -> Elron

Floyd -> Flora

Floyd + Saffron -> Floron

Irving -> Ira

Irving + Saffron -> Ironshipping (if that ever caught on)

Trixie and Richie -> Maxie and Archie

Darius -> Daron

Your minds should be blown now :P There were a lot more of those planned too.

8. A lot of other stuff that is and isn't coming to mind right away but I won't think too hard about because I want to get this over with.

I would also like to tell you all that my plans for the future have changed a bit since I first started here. I have now decided that I am going to work hard and try my hardest to make game development my actual career, not just my hobby. I'm going to keep software engineering as a (more profitable) backup career of course, but I'm going to try to pursue my passion and my dream to the best of my ability. I think that I have a shot at success at least, especially after winning/almost winning a few competitions as a freshman :P

You know how artist's works are more valuable after they pass away? Maybe my silly fanfics will become more popular now that I'm leaving. Just kidding :P

Anyways,

So long and thanks for all the fish.

Your friend Kyle.

P.S. This is what I'm referencing

https://youtu.be/bG6b3V2MNxQ