Hey all,

Just wanted to drop a more in-depth update on me and my standings with this orange app. For about four years I was a Wattpad Star, a coveted position here on Wattpad as it looks good and you're presented with opportunities, e.g., Paid Stories, Wattpad Books, etc. While I was a Star I got to go to Canada and meet other Wattpad Stars and just experience another country, I was in a program where I got paid for ads in my books (I no longer get paid so it feels like a big ass scam now y'all gotta endure that. I pay for premium because I see ads when I skim my own books), I was able to promote a movie (The Glass Castle) and often was given a chance to participate in other ventures.

It sounds glamorous, and though I am grateful, it was really meh—at least for me. I never *felt* like a Star, so this past week when I resigned, I did so without any regrets. I resigned to stand in solidarity and support the other Wattpad Stars of color who felt unseen, unheard, and unimportant compared to our White counterparts. They'd reach out to Wattpad numerous times to help them find ways to make BIPOC (Black, Indigenous People of Color) feel accepted on this site with their stories compared to the heavily promoted White stories. I, myself, have reached out to Wattpad a few times before, this past February I sent an e-mail with an idea about making BIPOC stories more visible. Wattpad staff tells you your ideas are good and they're going to check into them and then nothing happens. So naturally, fed up, some Stars of color left. I chose to resign because it's hurtful seeing other POC.

     In reality, my resigning doesn't mean much. Let's be real, I'm not a big writer on this site, and I was never a big Star. I've never seen 100s of millions of reads nor even 10 million reads. I've always felt like an underdog, especially when considering the mega popular writers were White and wrote White romances that did those numbers. So I'm sure my leaving the program won't hurt Wattpad itself any, I am not a loss—I'm not tripping though, because I may be small, but I know my worth and my love for what I do with these characters of color. May not be the best or greatest writer, but there will never be another wheadee or Whitney so *shrugs*

     As far as my remaining presence here goes, I want to stay to finish off a few projects I feel I OWE you, my amazing supporters and readers. I've deleted a few books, such as:

     ** Deeper

     ** Saints & Sailors

     ** Shooting Hearts

     ** Away From the Sun

     ** Crossing Court

     ** The Trouble with Forever

     ** What's Left of Us

     ** All the Wrong Reasons

     ** The Fall From Eden

     And still to be deleted are:

     ** Chasing Caterpillars

     ** The Ups and Downs of Falling in Love

     ** The Perks of Being a Social Butterfly

     Those three just need to be rewritten and I don't care to have them up. I may delete Crash too.

     My longevity is up in the air. I know I haven't been consistent in recent years, but on my end a lot of my old fan base seems to have died off which makes posting less exciting and as fun because it can feel like no one's reading or no one cares. I had favorite readers I could identify because of their commenting, and life has gone on for them with work and school and I get it. I definitely have new favorites too, so don't get me wrong, but it can feel like my "Wheadee" days are over at times.

     I've always liked Wattpad for YOU guys because you guys made me and my stories feel important, especially with Playin' Hard and The Probabilities of Maybe. Mostly, I like that we can have conversations. I learn so much from a lot of you...'cause I'm dumb lol 🥴. I value you all because you're such amazing readers.

     I generally like posting the books I'm currently working on because I see some really love them. The Wattpad version of Playin' Hard's always been a fave for so many hence the importance and drive for me to write The Chemistry of Everything.

     I guess I said all that to say thank you for sticking by me and for those who went out and purchased my debut (some even twice 🥺) and pre-ordered my sophomore novel (bruhhhh I'ma cry when I get the hardcover copy. Like Arlington High finna be in print y'all). You guys are the best readers a lonely kid in her bedroom could've ever asked for. These past nine years have been the best, and I can't thank you enough. Especially those readers who ride with me and try out my experimental stories (Deeper, A Fine Frenzy, Her Second Life). You're all just beyond dope

     *sappy tears*

     Whitney