Mickey Maler On Technical Writing and the Bitcoin Mission with Sovryn

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.

Hello Hackers!

Mickey Maler here, proud to be interviewed by my favorite online publication platform.

I am a technical writer from the Czech Republic and I like blockchain, cryptocurrencies, non-professional bodybuilding, nature, family life, and dogs!

As a technical writer, I have worked at Red Hat for 3 years now, and since April 2021, I have been contributing to Sovryn as a Sovryn Wiki team member. What is interesting about being Sovryn right now is the possibility to be a front-row witness of the Bitcoin-based DeFi adoption in El Salvador and the countries that will follow up in the coming days.

To continue with what has been started with the vision of Satoshi Nakamoto whitepaper, firstly introduced in the Bitcoin whitepaper, that’s what drives me the most these days.

If you want to know more about Bitcoin, DeFi, Sovryn, and the mission in which Bitcoin will bank the unbanked people, read the Hackernoon interview with Edan Yago here.

Interesting! What was your latest Hackernoon Top story about?

Just recently, I published the Learn the blockchain basics with Sovryn piece, in the content of which you can find nine technical chapters that uncover the blockchain basics for newcomers and starting blockchain enthusiasts.

And if you are not interested in learning right now, take a look at my Bitcoin, Ethereum, and DeFi article. It describes current Ethereum challenges and contributions and also the fact that Bitcoin can embrace everything that is operational on Ethereum by using side-chains and evolve it even further - DeFi: It's Time We Really Started Looking At Blockchains Beyond Ethereum.

Do you usually write on similar topics? If not, what do you usually write about?

Right now, I cover only technological stuff with the focus on blockchain, Bitcoin, DeFi, and Sovryn.

Great! What is your usual writing routine like (if you have one?)

Well, the writing itself is not the tough part about being a writer, but to be in the zone and state in which you can create, well, that's always the challenge for me. The most important part for me is to have an affection for the topic itself and have some enthusiasm about the project or technology I am about to write.

Most of the time, the first thing a writer needs to do is complete their research: read a lot, watch some youtube videos, write a lot of notes. Then, I am creating a map in which I am trying to capture the most important points. This is so great for planning your content creation and it helps a writer to not miss on a topic and also keep the documents short and to the point (which is my main problem since I am always creating something that reminds you of a “wall of text“ :) ).

When this part is done, it’s really great to think about it while taking a step back. Literally. I like to go for a light run in the nearby park and think about the article while running.

A lot of great ideas came in this state, so this is my recommendation for all that feel that they have the writing juice in themselves, but it just wants to come out.

Then it goes like this:

• Draft
• Frist rewrite
• Second rewrite
• Consultation with a team or a tech guru
• Application of suggestions
• Language review

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?

• Keeping the story to the point while being sure that I didn’t miss anything important.

• Make the story readable for non-experts while keeping experts engaged (unbored/not offended:) ).

  
  

What is the next thing you hope to achieve in your career?

To buy ice cream for money I will make by writing articles on Hackernoon, haha :)

Well, maybe would be good to transcend the abyss of being a “Junior“ writer at Red Hat and become a “Senior“ (already having that age :) ) at some point, but my ultimate goal would be to help Sovryn in fulfilling their mission becoming the best and most-feature-rich DeFi for Bitcoin and also start writing articles in a context that will not just inform people about blockchain and cryptocurrencies, but maybe also help them or motivate them in some way. That would be a fantastic achievement of my writing career.

Wow, that’s admirable. Now, something more casual: What is your guilty pleasure of choice?

• Writing about Ethereum :)
• Chocolate+Red Wine+PopCorn+Netflix Combo
• Skipping the Saturday-morning voluntary workout, since Friday was the Leg-Day, means that Saturday needs to be a Skip-day. :)
• When at a party with friends, trying my best not to start a freestyle rap about funny or embarrassing moments from our twenties (I lose this fight very often, free-styling only about my friends)
• Spending a portion of the money I dedicated a few weeks ago to buying gifts for friends for the wellness with my wife instead.
• Secretly buying Bitcoin and upgrading my old car while telling myself I will be putting no money into it anymore.
• Acting like the park behind our home is just for me and my doggo :)

Do you have a non-tech-related hobby? If yes, what is it?

I used to play guitar, sometimes I still do, but not that often as it was during my high school and university times. I also learned how to trade (BTC/USD pair). But most recently, the time spent with my family in nature is my biggest hobby.

What can the Hacker Noon community expect to read from you next?

Maybe another part of my Blockchain Academy :) Stay tuned!

Thanks for taking the time to join our “Meet the writer” series. It was a pleasure. Do you have any closing words?

Only my favorite quotes:

Live is an adventure or nothing.

If You Have a Will to Win, You Will Win.

Thank you for having me.

Have a good one!

Cheers!