I was able to secure an interview with a friend of mine, Damien Darkside, someone I look up to and respect in this fandom. Just a warning, this interview contains some profanity and conversations of slightly sexual nature. Nothing too naughty, though!

Seventh Heaven
First up is an obvious question. What got you into the horsey fandom?

Damien Darkside
Funnily enough I was into the furry fandom before this. Specifically Pokémon. I used to read and write Pokémon fics about nine years ago, and an author named Xianyu posted a bunch of Pokémon fics and I read them. Eventually one day he wrote a fic that involved these ponies I had been seeing around 4chan at the time. I read it with some Google knowledge of what was going on. It was OC so I didn't have to know too much about the universe. Then one day my friend went "Hey have you seen these ponies about the Internet? I got the first few episodes off of Pirate Bay, wanna watch?"

From there I was hooked. Also turns out that Xianyu was also Anonymous Pegasus on Fimfic.net.

So yeah. From Pokes to Pones.

Seventh Heaven
Nice. I'm also a big Pokemon fan, but I never got into the fanfic aspect of it. MLP is really the first one I got into, and I'm sure it's the same way for many users on the site. What would you say are a couple good tips for first-time writers?

Damien Darkside
First tip is planning. You have to answer the good old questions of Who, What, Where, Why, When and How.

Who is going to be here.
Why are they here?
Where are they and where are they planning on going (if they are)
When are they going to do the THING?
What are they going to do about the THING?
How are they going to solve the conflict?

Second is to get someone to look over your stories. You can get a friend or two to read it, you can be surprised at how many things you miss when you write. If you want to, there are a few groups that cater to finding editors for authors.
No matter how well you think you proofread something, ALWAYS get someone else to read it. Especially out loud.

Lastly is to just write. I like to say bluntly that you will start and you will suck. Then you start to suck less. Then you might actually write an okay story. Eventually a story will be good. THEN you will write a great story. It took me... seven stories in three fandoms before I wrote "No Magic Required", my favourite and best work (Alternative Swearing has more views but I like NMR more). If you don’t write, you don’t get better.

Seventh Heaven
Writing is all about inspiration. Where, and how, do you find the inspiration to keep chugging along?

Damien Darkside
Ha, this is a fun one. Normally I like writing about real life in some way, and the best way to get that is to actually live. Get out, work, make friends, socialize etc.

In comedy, I pull events from real life. Alternative Swearing has a scene about a cucumber smoothie or something. That actually happened.

In romance I keep it real. Nobody in my stories instantly loves each other because they had sex. That doesn't happen in real life, and I know it is wish fufillment for a lot of people. Anyways every sex story I wrote has some element of actual things I have done, which inspire me to do to ponies. Which I don't want to brag at all, but being kinky really helps a fetish author out for a few fics!

As for other things, I come up with them at the worst of times. The best and worst time to be inspired? Somehow thinking up the whole plot to Under the Table during a massive 10 order at-once rush in a cramped and small kitchen.

I do tend to ramble, but exposing yourself to so many things helps get that one, small idea that can blossom into a fic. What if you could recall every book you read and sold them in Equestria? What if you could draw ponies perfectly as a cartoonist because they are all cartoons? What happens when you replace fake swear words with actual swear words?

As for writing? The mentality comes with habit. When I write I WANT to write it. I put on some low bass instrumentals or Deadmau5. I have a Guinness or two and just write. But you need that spark and idea to get through.

Seventh Heaven
Speaking of ideas, a lot of your stories contain topics that some people in the fandom consider touchy. Foalcon, cheating, and some other fetishes that not a lot of people really care for. What would you say helps you post these stories, even knowing that they'll inevitably be flamed?

Damien Darkside
Flames are the same as they are in real life. No matter what they are weightless, only burn you if you get too close and inevitably will burn out. Eventually a person who hates your story will go onto hate something else.

Those who like your stories though? They will keep coming back. If you are scared about what people will like or dislike then you will just put out generic and boring stories that will be passed over. However those that stand out? The ones where you choke Rarity or give Scoots the time of her life? Those are remembered and are way more fun to do

Plus all the flames die when I see that comment that says "I really don't like foalcon/cheating/kink/second person style of stories but you really made me like this!". I fucking love those comments, knowing people can enjoy my writing even if they may not like the bits inside.

If someone gets a little too fiesty, just use the block. I do warn people to delete and block super sparingly. Criticism should stay, pure bullshit should leave. Knowing the difference is the key to improving.

Seventh Heaven
I agree. If you can't take any form of criticism, it's going to be tough for you to better yourself as a writer. But what about the authors that let their fame on the site go to their head? What would you say to them, if you were given the floor and total free speech?

Damien Darkside
If they are acting all entitled? I'd tell them to shut the fuck up. They write pony porn and hell, they might even be good. The thing that will kill their popularity will be their attitude. You can stay in a room with a kind man for hours. You will stay in a room with an asshole for minutes. Remember the Fine Bros that let their fame get to their heads? They literally lost almost a third of their subscribers because they thought they were bigger than they are.

Anyways, remember everyone that everybody you meet on the way up will see you on the way down.

Seventh Heaven
Totally true. Now, I notice earlier that you said "No Magic Required" was your favorite work. What makes it your favorite?

Damien Darkside
First it was the most fun to write. I loved everything about it. Usually I hate the intros but this one just poured out of my fingers. Mainly I liked how real the fic was too. How would a pony and a human date? Each has different customs, how do you know what to do? Both acted like adults in that base respect. They didn't know at all, so they dropped all the normal fluffy bullshit in most fics and just said "I have no idea how to court you"

Then it worked out. Also I totally got to do a fucking Game Grumps reference. Also Austin Powers. Come on everybody loved and hated the Austin Powers line. Just... Everything about that fic was just fun to do. And in the end if you aren't having fun than it isn't worth it.

Seventh Heaven
Once again, totally true. Having fun is the best part of writing, I've always thought. As far as stories go, many people see you as a clop author. Is that what you would consider yourself, or would you rather be known for the stuff that isn't porn?

Damien Darkside
Oh I am not going to deny I am, and should be known for putting penises is vaginas or butts. Even if I do like popping out a T fic every blue moon. Know what you are once you become an author. If you do porn, then do it. If you are really great at multi-chapter novellas, don't be sad if your oneshots don't take off. I like to be known as that author who is funny, does streams and is really good at getting folks off.

Seventh Heaven
Well you're definitely funny. Just a couple more questions for you. Where did you get your screen name?

Damien Darkside
Well there was this pretty cool kid in school when I was in the sixth grade named Damien. In was an awkward kid who was bullied that the time. When I switched schools and went into high school I wanted to be well-liked by everyone like Damien was. So I did. Sure I wasn't extremely popular but I was seen as a leader of a larger group. It was great and I always liked the name. The Darkside part funnily enough not from Star Wars or being edgy as fuck. It is really from Pink Floyd's Darkside of the Moon. I really love Pink Floyd so I just slapped the two together. Damien Darkside.

Seventh Heaven
That's as good a reason as any for a name. My name actually came when I had bought Halo: CE and an original Xbox back the day it came out almost 15 years ago now. I couldn't think of one, but then I saw the movie Seven. You know the one. "WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!". Anyways, one last question, and then I'll let you say whatever you want as a sort of outro. What is it like being named Damien and just now hitting 666 followers? Are you truly the lord and savior of all thing evil?

Damien Darkside
Satan is viewed as tempting humanity with the Seven Deadly sins. I like to think that it isn't evil at all, just human desires that you have to supply as well as do in moderation. So if I am the supplier of your lust, sloth, greed, envy, wrath, and gluttony, then I take pride in that! I will always be the Lord and Saviour of having a good time however you choose to have it.

Besides, if people fear me because of my name, then they are gonna be scared as fuck to know I wrote a story about choking a pony to almost a coma because it makes her gush like a goddamn waterfall.

Seventh Heaven
That story was pretty great. And, I lied. You mentioned earlier privately that you thought I might ask something that you wanted to address. What was it?

Damien Darkside
Ah yeah the first time author thing.

Get fucking involved in the community. Seriously just by posting on forums and getting to know people can do wonders for you. Just make sure you aren't a colossal douchecanoe.

We all started from zero. Every single one of us. However some of the funnest stuff is not writing but being with others. I have a tiny Twitch channel to be connected with people. Through that I was able to get in contact with a guy who brought in so many authors I wanted to chat with like Flutterpriest, Flammenwerfer, Rob, and this faggot called Seventh Heaven. So reach out and talk to people. You never know who knows who.

I hope you guys enjoyed this look inside the mind of one of the better clop authors on the site!