Motzie Dapul - DreadCon Author Spotlight

This is the second annual dReadCon, and we are thrilled to have you attending.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, what books we can expect to see at dReadCon, and where we can find you on social media.

Thank you so much for having me! My name is Motzie Dapul, I'm an animator, artist, writer and horror podcaster, and an avid dark fiction and horror creator. I showrun the horror audio drama Hi Nay on the Rusty Quill Network, and I'm debuting a brand new horror short story collection at DReadcon called REMIND ME TO TELL YOU LATER, a collection of Filipino folklore horror, with stories about monsters, urban legends, and Filipino cultural touchstones. I'll also be selling the PINOY MONSTER ANTHOLOGIES, a series of queer graphic novel anthologies about romancing Filipino monsters! This series will include The Pinoy Monster Boyfriend Anthology, The Pinoy Monster Girlfriend Anthology, The Pinoy Monster Lover Anthology, and the 18+ Adults only comic The Pinoy Monster Lover Anthology After Dark. 

● How has the dark fiction or horror writing community supported you in your journey?

I just find that horror and dark fiction fans are the loveliest, most supportive people who understand how this media can help people find joy, even with the darkness of real life. All the readers and fellow horror creators I've met have always been the nicest people, and we uplift each other as we create. The fiction might be dark and scary, but the people are anything but. 

● How does engaging with fans shape the way you write horror?

Fans always give you new perspectives on your own work that help build the story into something much bigger than you initially thought, but it's also good not to lose your own voice. Regardless, fans are a net positive that encourage you to pursue your creative voice because it's easier to trust you're doing a great job when others say it too. You shouldn't be afraid to hear other perspectives besides your own. 

● What’s the biggest misconception about horror authors or dark fiction?

It always comes from people who don't understand why horror or dark fiction exists, but they think it encourages darkness, rather than seeing it as a way to transform darkness into something creative and productive and joyful. It's foolish to think nobody has darkness inside them, when everyone does. And it's always better to put it into fiction so others don't feel alone. 

● What's the strangest thing you've ever Googled while writing a novel?

Bear permits. You need a permit to hunt bears in Canada, and it's the funniest thing I ever learned while researching Canadian gun and hunting laws. 

● What trope do you secretly love, even if it’s cliché?

I love too many tropes, I have no shame. Tropes are a way to connect us to the storytelling culture of our predecessors. Enemies to lovers is definitely a fave, but only because I've enjoyed REALLY good ones. The worst ones aren't "bad", simply bland. 

● What draws you to dark fiction—fear, mystery, or the psychology of horror?

All of the above. I think the human condition is something interesting to study, and people who shy away from horror refuse to acknowledge the depths to which humans can stoop, and the heights that they can reach in times of trouble. You can find the best and worst of humanity when you're willing to accept that part of it is darkness, and true evil only manifests among those who refuse to self reflect. 

● What makes a truly unforgettable villain or monster in dark fiction?

You don't need to empathize with someone to make them a good villain, but they need to make sense in a twisted sort of way. You don't need to be convinced of their beliefs, but you need to understand why they've convinced themselves. They need to make sense, whether it's in a logical way or an emotional or narrative way. They don't need to have a tragic backstory, or secretly have a good reason for what they're doing. They just need to be who they are, and frighten others with their strength of self. And in my own personal experience, evil can be so banal as to be pathetic. It's the best kind of story that can show you a villain is as terrifying as they are pathetic. 

● Do you have any writing rituals that help you get into the mindset for writing dark fiction?

For writing in general, everyone experiences writer's block. One of my rituals for getting over it is having a writing app on your phone, or a tiny notebook on hand. If you're inspired in bed, you can write in bed. If you're inspired while walking, you can write while walking. If you're inspired in the shower, well... let's not go too wild! All that to say; don't force yourself to write only when you're in the proper place for it. Many of us creatives don't work that way, and inspiration may hit when you least expect it. Make writing accessible for yourself. As for writing dark fiction, well... I'm never as affected by what I'm writing as readers are by reading my work. So writing dark fiction, for me, is no different than writing any fiction.