This story is a part of Hacker Noon's Meet the Writer series of interviews. The series is intended for tech professionals contributing the most insightful Hacker Noon stories to share more about their writing habits, ideas, and professional background (and maybe a hobby or two). If you too would like to start contributing to Hacker Noon, you can do so here.
So let’s start! Tell us a bit about yourself. For example, name, profession, and personal interests.
My name is K. Leigh. I’m a 34 year old sometimes-freelancer, forever-artist, current-indie-author living in RI with my partner and our furry cat-son Rolly. I build websites, play video games, and mess with 3D animation for fun. I may or may not be obsessed with the cyberpunk genre.
Interesting! What was your latest Hackernoon Top story about?
My latest Hackernoon Top Story was about how to avoid the eventual dystopian tech meltdown with practical tips about dodging cybersec disasters. If we’re talking the latest story, which I’m unsure is a Top of the Pops or not, it’s all things “squinting at the Metaverse”.
Do you usually write on similar topics? If not, what do you usually write about?
Honestly? I was a marketing content machine for many years. That was my bread and butter: writing directed at Startup fam about how to do the various (cool, good, swag) things I know how to do (for no real reason than curiosity), or giving people free tips and resources. That’s just not where I’m at right now. Generally it’s been LGBTQ+ topics, the craft of writing fiction, and my perpetual obsession with cyberpunk. I’ve penned three novels in the genre just last year, and a third with touches of it. I can’t put it down.
Great! What is your usual writing routine like (if you have one?)
I drink a lot of green tea, crack open Spotify, plug in a jam that just won’t quit and go to work. Sometimes, I’m not feeling it, so much brainstorming and various naps happen. Other times, I need to dance around to Garbage (the 90s band) until my mojo returns. My writing routine is fairly usual: if I’m not inspired, nothing happens. But if I am? I can finish a novel in a month or an article in 2 hours.
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?
My biggest challenge when it comes to writing is time. As we all know, time is our most finite resource. I’ve only just recently had the ability to delegate indie-author-things in a meaningful way. Before that, I had to do things myself. Social graphics, copywriting, videos, covers—you name it, I do it with style. But all of that takes time, even if I’m speedy. There are just so few hours in the day to explore all the things I love, you know?
What is the next thing you hope to achieve in your career?
Well, the first step would be finally becoming an independent artist. I have a roadmap and a runway, but I’m also quite impatient. The next thing after that? World domination. I’m already making plans for a 3D anime pilot when I can free the time up. I sincerely want to create a media dynasty inspired by the 90s anime of yore.
Wow, that’s admirable. Now, something more casual: What is your guilty pleasure of choice?
I don’t personally consider anything a guilty pleasure, but I’d guess it’d have to be shoe shopping. It’s thankfully not a problem, considering I’m militant about deals, but I can’t even wear half these things anyways. I very much like the idea of high heels as weapons.
Do you have a non-tech-related hobby? If yes, what is it?
I honestly think all my hobbies intersect with tech. I make art digitally, create videos digitally, make music digitally, dabble in Unity and even my narratives are centered in technology. I guess if we want to get specific with the definition of tech, it’d then have to be anime. I will binge watch whatever like nobody’s business.
What can the Hacker Noon community expect to read from you next?
I’m not sure what the Hacker Noon community can expect to read from me. I’m infrequent because my topics are broad. One day, it’s politics. The next, it’s media literacy. After that, I review a video game. I don’t know that it all lives here, so I do my best to pick the articles that fit.
Thanks for taking time to join our “Meet the writer” series. It was a pleasure. Do you have any closing words?
With great knowledge comes great responsibility. Always remember that.