So let’s start! Tell us a bit about yourself. For example, name, profession, and personal interests.
My name is Stephanie (I also go by Stevie). I’m a copywriter and editor, having worked for digital brands and financial education platforms in the past — but now I write about crypto full time. I love learning about blockchain and FinTech, and I’m an avid reader and collector (read: hoarder) of books.
Interesting! What was your latest Hackernoon Top story about?
This story mentions Edgar Allan Poe’s passion for cryptograms back in the day and how his unique brand of thinking and writing shows an early taste of the innovative spirit that drives so many Bitcoiners, crypto enthusiasts, and cypherpunks.
Do you usually write on similar topics? If not, what do you usually write about?
I mostly write about crypto, but the themes vary. In our Womxn in Crypto newsletter, my colleague Maria and I try to keep our content educational and relevant for both the novice and the pro. As a freelancer, I’m interested in digging into anything that’s blockchain-relevant and interesting or odd. I’m a big fan of books, so a lot of my writing cracks a window into the ways cryptocurrency and literature collide. This is the type of thing you might see most from me on Hacker Noon.
Great! What is your usual writing routine like (if you have one?)
I am all over the place with the when and where of my writing routine…but generally, I don’t get cranking on anything until around noon :). Always stretch and snack first. I allocate a lot of my time to researching the topic at hand, and once I’ve done that I will create an outline or general map of what I want to say. Then I can dive in and start writing. I always have to read it over a few times — and a little peer review is always nice!
I keep lots of notebooks and a big dry erase board for brainstorming and keeping track of all the topics I want to write about. Sometimes an idea will take weeks or months to come to fruition…so it’s nice to have a place to make sure those ideas don’t get lost.
Being a writer in tech can be a challenge. It’s not often our main role, but an addition to another one. What is the biggest challenge you have when it comes to writing?
I have a hard time going in cold and writing an entire piece without stopping to edit along the way. Maybe this is due to my experience working as a copywriter and editor for different companies and brands — I tend to self censor a lot. It’s helpful to notice errors throughout the process since it probably cuts down on editing time when all is said and done, but sometimes I wish I was better at just putting my thoughts down without backtracking.
What is the next thing you hope to achieve in your career?
First, I’d love to keep contributing to Hacker Noon and stay active with the bright community here. I also want to publish more creative pieces in physical form as well as on decentralized platforms — and continue to experiment with filming/multimedia.
It’d be great to explore the variety of formats and homes that exist for writers. I’m fascinated by DAOs and would love to create or join more decentralized collectives that showcase the work of all kinds of creatives while educating others on tech, finance, and blockchain.
Wow, that’s admirable. Now, something more casual: What is your guilty pleasure of choice?
Books. I buy them, I keep them, sometimes I read them.
Also talking. I’m addicted to having meaningful conversations with good people that color outside the lines and challenge the way I think.
Do you have a non-tech-related hobby? If yes, what is it?
I love to dance. Yoga, too. And I know it’s a trope to say I like long walks but it is what it is.
I also enjoy the lyrical side of life; I’m part of an amazing collective of poets and artists led by @alchemistpoetry on IG. He goes live every single day with incredible poetry and insightful guests. We partake in world building on discord every weekend and it’s one of the most inspiring experiences I’ve been part of in a while.
Reading is another favorite pastime. This year, I joined a crypto book club started by my friends Fabian and Jack, which is posted to HODLcast on YouTube. I also started my own channel, Books and Bitcoin, where I review reads and talk coins.
(Some of these answers were tech-related, but leisurely all the same.)
What can the Hacker Noon community expect to read from you next?
A speculative piece about Satoshi that includes an extension of my previous piece on Poe. Beyond that? Hopefully some editorial, lifestyle, and educational articles for you to enjoy.
Thanks for taking time to join our “Meet the writer” series. It was a pleasure. Do you have any closing words?
Be good to yourself. Be good to others.
Note: I just want to disclose that I own the NFT depicted in the header image used for this article. It is a Crypto.Chicks NFT. Also, I’m not a financial professional and nothing within this post is financial advice.