INTERVIEW - Decent Money
When did you start writing?
I wrote my first story in high school (over 25 years ago). I never finished it and my dad accidentally deleted it from his old computer, but I've always been a day dreamer, world-building and coming up with stories.
What attracted you to the cypherpunk and sci-fi genre?
Sci-fi is on the frontier of ideas, and I find that more interesting than other genres.
Tell us more about your writing style.
I'm not particularly strong with character development or good dialogue, but I enjoy building worlds and using stories to explore ideas.
What do you like to read? Who are your idols?
Mix of all sorts of stuff, but mostly fantasy and sci-fi. Sometimes sci without the fi, or historical reference books too.
Authors that have influenced me the most as a reader and now writer are Roald Dahl, J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Pratchett (Discworld), Greg Egan, Stephen King (Dark Tower series), Isaac Asimov (Foundation), Andy Weir (Martian, Hail Mary), Kim Stanley Robinson (Mars series), James S.A. Corey (Expanse), Douglas Adams, Frank Herbert.
How did you discover 21F? Why did you submit?
I saw the call go out from the Konsensus account on X. Always wanted to finish a story and put it out into the world, rather than just for my own entertainment. Daydreamed what I'd write about, and already had some Bitcoin-related story ideas floating around. Was able to put various ideas together in a patchwork and realised i had something that could work. Then committed to submitting something.
What's the future of cypherpunk and bitcoin fiction?
Not sure, but I hope to help build it. It's like we're waiting for each page of reality to be turned so we know what needs to be written about next.
What advice do you have for other writers in the space?
Short stories are a great place to start. It's satisfying and encouraging to write something to completion and get it out there.
Write your best ideas on your phone. Just the built-in note taking app is enough. Many ideas will get shelved and I'll forget about them, but then months or years later another idea combines with it really well. I have 65 notes just for stories. Many will never see the light of day, but might get rolled into another story that does.
What are you working on now?
Action-oriented full-length novel that's all about Bitcoin without ever mentioning Bitcoin.
Also working on a article that reviews the history and speculates about the future of society's relationship with Bitcoin.
Where can people find you online?
Any final words?
Stay humble, stack sats and words.
