Tori, from CLN, had the honor of interviewing, DedSyl   DedSyl is the author of several books on Wattpad including SOTUS: Even in the past, present and future, I'll still love you, A single night and several more.

Let's proceed with the interview!What is your name or pen name that you would like to be called?

My pen name is DedSyl

It's very nice to meet you, DedSyl! You have been nominated for this interview by @InfinityLM44 because, and I quote, "she is the best WRITER" 

It's wonderful to see how much your readers enjoy your stories! What made you first pursue writing?

Nice to meet you too! I am overwhelmed to read her comment. I am happy that some like my stories and will always be grateful to them I read a story the outsiders 12-13 years ago in school. I love the book so much that I found my inspiration to bring words on paper to make readers happy just like the author of that book gave me happiness

That is some great motivation! It's always great to see authors wanting to bring a smile to their reader's faces. We definitely need them. 

Do you remember the day you published your first story? Could you share your experience with us?

Thank you. Every reader want to make their readers think about their stories and love itI don't remember it clearly because it was more than 5 years ago but I know that it's a story of the side couple Ngern and Pete in Lovesick (A Thai bl series). My English was not good that time (It's still not good enough) but I tried to write in English to reach a broader audience. It took long to gather my courage to update it. I remember that I was scared and sad that no one read it but I still had hope that it'll get better and days after days the view readers came to read it and leave their comments. I am an impatient person but you can't be impatient as a writer because your stories can disappear among thousands of other updates. You have to wait for the readers to find your story and not the other way around. That's the experience that I had back then

That is very inspiring. It is often very difficult to make it in the beginning. A person must have patience and dedication to withstand this.I can see you definitely have that! 

Aside from those two, what would you say is the most important quality in a writer, and why?

You are right! It's not easy to write and you need some aspects to withstand it. The most important quality in a writer? That's the love writers have for their stories. I always say that my stories are like my children that I need to bring to this world. I know it sounds crazy but writing a story is like a pregnancy. You will go through some symptoms during pregnancy. With that I mean you have to think what you want to write, the genre, the plot, the characters and many more. It takes time to develop a story and write it.The time to update it is like a birth where you'll be scared and think if everything will be alright. After you have updated it, you'll be scared but feel free and relieved when everything went smoothly. Still you need to take care of it, update it whenever you have time and complete it someday. I don't know if it sounds alright for me to say it but a writer has to love a story and feel the bound with their readers because you have to communicate with them to know if they like it or not.

That is a beautiful analogy! I never thought of it that way but I definitely understand what you mean! A book is often an authors baby. 

You have quite a few stories published. Is there any you feel a particular bias towards?

I know everyone thinks different about their stories but my stories are my children that I cherish. Yes I feel biased toward 2 stories. It's the bodyguard story that is incomplete but will have to pick it up soon. The 2nd story is the new one, A single Night

Would you mind telling us what caused this bias?

It's because I like action, horror, crime and suspense stories. I like strong characters who struggle with everything but never give up to achieve their dreams. The stories kept me on the edge too and I need to be careful while developing the plot so the characters won't lose the strength and focus on something else. The 2 stories are a hard challenge but that makes me love them the most

I understand that! We all love a challenge, especially when we manage to ace it! 

What would you say has been the best part about your writing journey?

Challenge is not easy to take but it's fun to keep it going to see your own strength That's definitely the part where I have to feel myself in the story while thinking and writing it. But what I love the most is the way the readers react to each update. Their comments are hilarious, motivating and give me more idea. My mood improves whenever I see the readers interact with each other and discuss about the hints I give them or when they share their opinions with me

That must definitely be a great feeling! Having a dedicated fanbase is the dream of most authors! You must feel extremely lucky to have that. 

 It sounds like your journey had been very successful, but I'm sure it wasn't always so bright. Have you faced any challenges during your career?

Yes I feel lucky to have them read my stories. It's like a win win Situation. I give them my stories to make them happy and their comments and reactions make me happy too. It wasn't so Bright before and I had to learn it from the hard side. 

An author has to read critics to improve but some readers can be harsh with their words. The first time I received some backlashes was because of my first published story in wattpad. I'll be honest about the plot. One of the main character was abducted and almost sexually abused but it didn't happen. I am somehow who likes to challenge things and talk about problematic stories that happen in real life too so I wanted to issue it and let my character overcome his fear. 

However some readers didn't agree with me and stopped reading it because it triggered their past. They wanted to show me things from their Perspective, lecture you and try to make you change the plot to please them. I get it that some know more than me but it hurt to read the bad comments. I wanted to stop writing that time but I love to write and decided to continue. I learned my lessons and I am very careful to write about something like that because not everyone is ready to talk about issues like this one.

It always happen that there are some readers who want you to change the story just like they want or are impatient with the Flow of the story. Either they want the romance to start sooner or they are tired with the way one character is behaving. You need to be patient and have courage to stick to your plot. I admit that there are some things that can be changed to avoid problems but don't change plots just because of the readers who act like they know your story better. You have your Plan and know why this character is acting like that. It's same with sex scenes. I don't want to write it too detailed but there are readers who want you to write it like it happens in real life. They forget that it's a story and you can't write everything.

Reading bad reviews is always difficult to deal with critics. They don't tend to understand what it's like to receive them. But there is nothing I love more than seeing authors tackle difficult topics and I really hope you continue to do so! Those things need to be put in the light. As long as you're happy with your story, nothing else matters. 

While we're on this topic, too many bad reviews can cause a writer to quit while too many good reviews could boost their ego too high. 

 Do you think having a big ego hurts or helps a writer?

You need to have an ego to continue your story & not change it like readers want it to please them but a big ego is not good for a writer. You'll get hurt if you have too many expectations. Love your story but keep your ego low to not get affected by bad reviews and lose something that you love to do

Those are some wise words. I definitely agree! 

 Have you ever gotten yourself into a writer's block? How did you deal with it?

I had it few times. I don't go near the Laptop when I have bad mood or writer's block to avoid writing nonsense. I listen to music, watch kdrama or videos of the pairs I am writing about to get new ideas. If it don't work then I lay down and close my eyes to feel myself in the stories and let ideas come to my mind

Relaxing or doing something you enjoy does seem to be a popular way of dealing with it. You must take a break from time to time too. 

I'm sure you met some amazing people over your journey on Wattpad. What other authors are you friends with and how do they help you become a better writer?

Yes it's important to take a break when you don't feel well or have a writer's block because your mood can affect your stories 

 I met many authors which stories I love too. We have a group chat of Sotus writers in Twitter & Line where we talk about everything there and exchange information. It helps me get to know their struggles. At first I thought that I was the only one with my struggles but it seems that there are many more who have the same experiences. It helps to know that you are not alone in this and they give me 2 or 3 advices. I'm friends with some authors in private too and I don't want to lose contact with them. I feel like I can share my emotions with them without being being judged.

Having friends with the same interest is always important! Knowing that others have the same experiences as you do really helps put things into perspective. 

Many people like associating themselves with certain mascots.As a writer, what would you choose as your spirit animal/mascot?

I agree with you. They are like my emotional strength I will choose a bunny but I like a turtle and lion too. Can I choose these three or only one?

Let's go with one.Those are all amazing choices though! Lions are my favourite animals.

Then I will choose bunny. Lions are strong too

Bunnies are also great animals! They are incredibly cute too. 

 We've talked a lot about you as an author, but I think your readers would love to more know about you as a person!Let's begin with books;What is your favourite genre to read? Are there any published authors you love in that genre?

I love bunnies, they are cute and have their strong side too My favourite Genres I like to read are action, fantasy, horror, Thriller, crime and suspense. There is one author that I love. who have combined my favourite genres in a single book. Her pen name is Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, the author of Mo Dao Zu Shi (a chinese bl novel).

I haven't heard of that book, but it certainly sounds like a combination of all of the best genres! 

 If you could ask this, or any other published author three questions about their writing, writing process or books, what would they be?

It's a good book. It's a masterpiece for me and gave me motivation to try to write a new book that I want to publish someday 

 How did they come to this plot that they turned into a masterpiece? How were the process of developing the characters? Were they confident that their book will be loved by millions of readers and even turned into many adaptions?

Those are some really interesting questions! I'm sure the answers to them would be fascinating aswell! 

 Speaking of authors and careers, was there any profession you really wanted to have as a kid?

It's one of my wish to meet them someday and have my questions answered. 

 It's either doctor because I love to save or help other people. I wanted to be a hair stylist at one point too because my 2 sisters are hair stylists

Those are some very opposing choices! But are great in their own ways though. 

 If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

I choose to help & save people instead because that's what I love to doHelpful, creative and hot tempered sometimes

Some wonderful but dangerous qualities to have! 

 The Crazy Late Nighters Community's theme is "late night" and "sleep is for the weak"What is your opinion on that? Would you consider yourself a night owl or an early bird?

That's true that's why it's different to know where I can be hot tempered and where notI am like that too.

I always stay late to write and update till it's morning. I think that you can get better idea and find your motivation to write when it's dark because everyone went to sleep and you have the room for yourself to get crazy without getting embarrassed, speak like you are the characters and get in action. I can't do that when it's morning and people are around you

That makes sense! It's so easy for people to start judging you for the things you do, simply because they don't understand it. 

I think we should get back to your writing career, I'm sure your readers want to know some more about it!Was there anything that surprised you about writing when you first started to do so?

Yes it was the choice of words you have to use and you need to develop your own writing style too. I read many books but I need to be careful to not use other author's writing style or you'll be seen as a copycat. It took me long to pick up my own writing style to keep it original. I had to think long how to write my stories to make readers feel the emotions the characters are feeling. I didn't know that it'll be this tough when I started to write stories

That can often be very difficult, I understand what you mean! 

Are there any upcoming projects readers can be excited to see coming soon?

I think you'll find your own writing style the more you are writing. Experiences help to find yourself I have a new story that I want to write but my readers need to wait for me to complete the other stories first. I need to think of my limit too

Of course! I'm sure they're excited to see what you have in store for them. 

 I think we can conclude this interview with one last question.Is there anything you'd like to say to your readers?

I hope they'll love and support the new story too when I update it 

 I want to thank them for reading my story, leaving comments and sharing some or their private life with me. I am grateful that they bear everything with me and always wait for updates even if it takes time. Even if I am not perfect in many aspects but I'll ask them to stay with me until I finish the stories and hope they'll read my future works too. They can always ask or share their ideas with me. Critics are always allowed since it'll help me to improve but please let's watch each other's words to not hurt each other

Thank you for the interview. It helped me to go back to the past und share some wonderful memories/experiences

Thank you so much for your time! It was my pleasure. 

 The Lynx pack thanks you too! We wish you all the best in your writing journey!

Thank you very much, it was a pleasure for me too. Good luck and enjoy the other interviews. Your interviews are really helpful.