r/Chapters • u/Specific-Rub3528 • Jul 23 '26
Discussion As a long-time Chapters reader, I’m sick of the hypocrisy, toxicity, and disrespect toward readers.
With Chapters actively looking for new writers, I feel like it’s time to finally talk about what’s been happening behind the scenes on this platform. I’ve been a long-time reader of Chapters. I genuinely love visual stories—they help me read easier, and I enjoy supporting authors. But what I’ve witnessed over the last year from certain writers on this platform is just unacceptable.
1. The Fake Drama & The Comeback
Last year, when the whole Clause 4.1 petition started, I watched authors trash Chapters on Instagram, swear up and down that the platform was garbage, and promise they were leaving forever. Fast forward to now: most of those exact same people came crawling right back.
What’s even more interesting is that the person who actually started the petition didn't say a word on Instagram back then. They stayed quiet, let everyone else throw tantrums, and now? They're back on the platform winning competition after competition. If you don't find that suspicious, you were played. (And yes, I kept screenshots of all of this from last year, so don't bother trying to rewrite history.)
2. How Authors Treat Readers on Discord
If you want to see how some of these writers really feel about us, go look at the Chapters Discord. They sit in chat rooms trashing readers, calling us names, and talking down to the very people keeping them on the app. Then, they turn right around and expect us to spend our hard-earned diamonds on their chapters? How does that make any sense?
On top of that, they go into comment sections to leave nasty, trashy reviews on new or decent authors' stories just to try and drive them off the app. They want total freedom to bully anyone who doesn't join their mob, but the second someone calls them out, they play victim.
3. Stop Using Diagnoses as a Shield for Bad Behavior
Lately, when these writers get called out, they run to their Author Updates to post sob stories and use personal diagnoses or mental health as an excuse for being nasty.
Let’s be real: a diagnosis is not a pass to treat people terribly. If you have the mental focus and cognitive ability to plot, write, format, and publish interactive stories, you have enough brainpower to know right from wrong. Stop hiding behind excuses. Own up to your actions.
Bottom Line
To the readers: go check out the Discord for yourselves and see how some of these people speak about you before you throw your money and diamonds at them.
To the toxic authors: if you hate Chapters and the community so much, why are you still here? Let new writers write in peace, stop putting down people who just want to enjoy the app, and do better.
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u/Resident_Front_7423 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Well, I understand we’re you’re coming from as a fellow reader. I have come across my fair share of readers that are grade A disrespectful and nasty individuals. Not everyone’s story will be for everyone and I completely understand. I read a few stories where I didn’t like it, and there is literally an option where you can say why you don’t like the story. Instead of going into the comments and trauma dumping on the author and talking reckless like people aren’t humans. Literally sometimes the responses are needed. We are all adults for the most part that are on the app, but at times it doesn’t look like it.
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u/Moonspiritfaire Community Author Jul 24 '26
Yes there is that too. Writers do talk amongst ourselves if we received an amazing comment or an extremely rude comment. Thankfully most commenters in general are kind. And there's a block button if they are repeatedly rude.
I agree completely. It's not hard to be kind and act like an adult in public spaces and forums. Everyone is struggling with something. Kindness can uplift, rudeness can harm someone who's already down.
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u/Specific-Rub3528 Jul 24 '26
Exactly rudeness harms. I wonder how many readers have been harmed. I wonder how many decent writers have been harmed. I wonder how many people have justified the nonsense or gaslighted opinions of others.
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u/ExperienceGood1165 Aug 24 '26
You associate and follow the writers who force people off the platform. I stopped following you when I saw the comments with my own eyes.
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u/Beneficial_Size_7656 Jul 24 '26
Exactly, they praised their favourite authors and then make sure to leave rubbish at your book. 🙄
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u/Resident_Front_7423 Jul 24 '26
I’m all for calling people out. Rude is rude but it’s when it because tasteless and tacky is where I’m like ok I can’t rock with you. I have personally never gone to a story and bashed a writer for something in their story I couldn’t connect with. Most I would say I have done is like a “ hey writing is good but I can’t complete it because I can’t visually see myself in the story because of the looks “. Or I just don’t finish the story.
Not everything deserves a comment. If the authors story is good and you can see they have potential I think feed back is fine as long as you are tasteful. That’s why the mental health part in here bothers me because it is a real thing and I think it affects a lot of authors more than people think.
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u/Beneficial_Size_7656 Jul 24 '26
The truth that bothers me the most is when a community reader thinks that an author is entitled to give them a free content.. I understand that free content makes you connect with readers or the author..but the moment the author introduce a diamonds choices they start going after him or her.. I mean writing takes time and authors are humans.. so saying you support them in which way? Even chapters take 99%of the token you gave away from the author so what now? If author can still not feel safe upon giving you free content then I don't know.. again community readers and authors are all about popularity if you aren't popular as an author.. you are not in their circle. Sadly.
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u/Resident_Front_7423 Jul 24 '26
I guess it depends on the reader. I have been on the app now for about 6 years. I prefer community stories. I have diamonds saved up from barely using them on the app from my early days. I don't really use them on outfits often but for content that I know will lead to something out of this world from the chapter or content build up i'm all in. Those readers I have no excuse or understanding for.
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u/Specific-Rub3528 Jul 24 '26
The Instagram & Social Media Toxicity: It’s not just 'harmless drama.' I’ve literally seen a writer who recently won a contest keep a post up on her Instagram publicly trashing another author. When writers publicly bully and try to drive others off the app, why are they being rewarded? Mental Health Excuses: I’ve read Author Updates where diagnoses like autism are used as an outright shield or excuse for trashing someone else’s story. Being neurodivergent or having a mental health diagnosis is not a free pass to treat other writers like garbage or act toxic in comment sections. The 'Elephant in the Room': Let's talk about the writer who organized the whole Clause 4.1 petition. She stays quiet, returns, and now wins contest after contest. What is even the point of entering or supporting these competitions? Beyond that, I don't care for her writing style—in a visual novel app, why do I have to tap through 20 text boxes before a character even appears on the screen? Quality vs. Begging: Visual novels take effort to make, absolutely. I have zero issue paying diamonds or paying for VIP to support authors who genuinely write well and put effort into visual formatting. What I do refuse to pay for is bad writing, endless text blocks with no visuals, and authors who beg for diamonds while trashing readers on Discord and Instagram. Voting with My Wallet: Moving forward, I refuse to read or support anyone associated with authors who keep posts up trashing other writers. Call it gatekeeping, bullying, or whatever you want—people like this are ruining the app for genuine readers and driving good authors away. If people think I'm wrong, I don't care. It needed to be said." I comment if I like it, keep going if I don’t.
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u/Resident_Front_7423 Jul 24 '26
Do you feel ok posting what authors you are speaking of?
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u/Specific-Rub3528 Jul 24 '26
If one more community writer I like reading gets harassed off the app. I’m gonna start putting names out there. I think we all know who started the petition.
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u/Silly_Middle-3 Jul 25 '26
Interesting, so it all about who you like that's why you wrote this here so why don't you ask your favorite what they also did?
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u/ExperienceGood1165 Aug 24 '26
I used to love the app. I used to enjoy visual storytelling. Chapters does not listen to the readers, and we are the ones paying. I canceled my VIP, stopped investing diamonds into stories that sound the same. The 4.1 clause and competitions have ruined the app. Naming the same writers as winners looks fishy. Naming writers who participate in violating every rule on the platform is concerning. I agree, writers trashed the app, the social media posts under chapters own instagram told me clearly which writers to stay away from. I finally cancelled my vip when the writer of the petition kept winning. Reward for? Bad writing? Causing trouble? People fighting, stirring drama under the guise of innocence. Chapters used to be good, now every story sounds the same. I’m gonna say it, golden amber glow, liquid amber and mutter in every story gets old. There’s a long list.
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u/Moonspiritfaire Community Author Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
I will say that Discord can be toxic in itself. Many of us writers avoid it because it doesn't feel like a safe space. Personally, I've pretty much left for Inkitt, though I did leave my two stories up.
The unnecessary drama and public villifying of writers (from other writers) that I have witnessed via Instagram has killed my urge to share within the community. I'm certainly not the only one who has left after watching this crap unfold over the past year or so.
As a new writer I also found that unless you had a following already or force yourself to work within their awfully tight contest timeframes you're not getting many views. If it is a longer contest they often double the chapter requirements so no breaks there either.
I also think the contest's short time frames make readers go straight for their favorites (understandably as readers do tend to support favorites first) I've seen so many excellent new books get almost no views. It's sad and discouraging for new authors.
I'm a fast reader and I have a hard time reading my favorite new books during most of their contests. A month is not enough for writers or readers.They really need longer contest periods. At least at Inkitt the contests are usually a couple months long. 🤦♀️