Plagiarism is a Crime

I didn’t expect to write a post like this, but I think it is important to discuss what plagiarism is and why it is wrong.

This morning, I woke up to a message from another author. She reached out after discovering that her own work had been stolen, translated, and reposted on Wattpad without her permission. While looking into it, she noticed a broader pattern and contacted the other affected writers so they could be aware of what was happening.

In total, there were eighteen stories involved, and one of those stories was mine.

The Legend of Moonflower had been copied word for word. The only changes made were the names of the characters and the language it was translated into.

The work was labeled as an “adaptation.” My name was not included, and I was never asked for permission.

Translating a story into another language does not make it a new work. Changing names does not make it original. A translation is still a derivative version of the same story, and an adaptation still requires both attribution and consent.

Separately, this “adaptation” was also advertised on TikTok.

In that post, my book title was used while another name was presented as the author. I will be sharing an image of that post, not to incite harassment, but to clearly document how my work was represented publicly. Context and accuracy matters.

Since being alerted to this, the Wattpad account in question has been removed and the stories have been taken down. I’m relieved that the content is no longer publicly available. At the same time, experience in creative spaces has shown that removals don’t always mean the behavior stops. It can simply move elsewhere or resurface under a different account.

This is why I’m choosing to document what happened. Not to speculate or escalate, but to create a clear record of authorship and to encourage awareness within the writing community.

This isn’t about semantics or misunderstanding. It’s about authorship.

Writing is not content to be lifted, renamed, translated, and promoted without permission.

It is hours spent researching, imagining, and building entire worlds. It is drafts written late at night, scenes rewritten again and again, and every choice of plot, character, and setting carefully considered. It is the emotional risk of putting your voice into the world and trusting that it will be met with respect.

It is time, labor, and vulnerability.

When a story is reposted without credit or consent, even under the label of “adaptation”, the original author is erased.

I’m choosing not to name the individual here. This post isn’t about public shaming or creating online drama. It’s about reclaiming my work, setting a boundary, and standing in solidarity with other writers who were affected.

To writers and creators:
If someone’s work inspires you, credit them by name. If you want to translate or adapt a story, ask first. And if you want to tell a story, tell your own.

My story is mine, and that hasn’t changed.

To my dear readers: for now, I’ll only be posting here. I need some time to think about what I want to do with my Wattpad and AO3 accounts.

Thank you to the author who spoke up and alerted the rest of us. Looking out for one another still matters.

❤️JJ