Meet Pia Briccocola – a web content developer, specializing in technical writing. She has written articles for several websites and has completed two electronic books. After graduating from Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USA in Biological Sciences, she worked in IT, Finance and Healthcare for over twenty years. She has her own writing consultancy based at home in Kolkata. Her interests include photography, traveling and surfing the Net.
Please tell us about yourself.
I am a web content developer specializing in technical writing. I was born in Kolkata, India in 1963 and graduated from Mount Holyoke College, USA in 1986. After working in IT, Finance and Healthcare for over twenty years in India and abroad, I settled in Kolkata. I have my own writing consultancy based at home and a four year old son named Leo.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing on and off since I was 10 years old, mainly poetry, short stories and essays! Seriously, I have working as a paid professional writer since November 2007.
How did you start writing?
I started writing in May 2005 in London, England while taking a correspondence course in Creative Writing. My first piece of writing was an ambitious full-length fiction novel called ‘The Puppet King’ which is yet to be published. After that, I dabbled in poetry writing and got a poem named ‘Signs along the way’ published in Decanto magazine in the U.K. in Dec 2007. I switched to writing exclusively for websites in November 2007 and have written many blogs and technical articles since then.
What do you love about writing?
I love writing because I can express many different facets of myself, my life, interests, experiences and knowledge through my writing.
What is your favorite piece of writing? Tell us about it.
My favorite piece of writing is a poem I wrote called ‘Signs along the Way’ which was published in Decanto magazine in the U.K. in December 2007. It was about omens and how we can interpret them to guide us along the way of our lives.
Who are your favorite writers and what are your favorite books?
My favorite writers at the moment are Paulo Coelho and his book ‘The Alchemist’ and J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter books.
What kind of writing do you hate? Any turn-offs?
I hate writing that sticks to stereotypical themes and portrays people as stereotypes. I don’t like writing that is racist and chauvinist and that focuses too much on tradition.
Did you face any challenges in your writing career? Tell us how you dealt with them.
I faced many challenges in my writing career in pretty much everything, right from breaking into the field to choosing a laptop and setting up my own home based writing consultancy. Added to which, I am a single mother, living on my own in Kolkata which is still quite traditional in its mindset! I dealt with everything as it came along. I had quite a lot of support from other established writers and various friends who helped me a lot. Sreelata Menon, a freelance writer, supplied me with a list of paying websites and got me started.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What do you do about it?
I don’t get writer’s block unless I am writing fiction or articles on general topics.
Technical writers are usually provided with specific outlines or details of topics so they are much easier to write. If I encounter writer’s block, I surf the Net for ideas or contact a friend for inspiration.
What is the best feedback you received about your work?
The best feedback I received about my work is when I was selected for this Chillibreeze interview! Seriously, I never expected to feature in any newsletter.
Who is your biggest critic?
My biggest critic is myself! My son Leo, though only four years old, is also very particular about everything I do and gets very cross when his Mama does silly things.
What do you think makes Chillibreeze writers different?
Chillibreeze writers are excellent professionals. They are creative and very modern in their approach. The projects are at an international standard and the virtual way of working is ideal for people with time constraints.
How do you see the internet changing the way writing works?
The Internet has definitely changed the way writing works. It has made things much faster and easier and extended a writer’s reach all over the world! Search engines make online research possible. The whole virtual way of working is much more flexible and time-saving.
What has writing taught you about life?
Writing has taught me that those who persevere will succeed in life! I had to struggle hard to find my feet as a professional writer but the eventual fulfillment and success was worth it.
What inspires you to write?
I am inspired to write because I want to succeed as a professional in my own right. I love reading and I want to master writing as a craft, all its technical aspects as well as creative ones. It’s a good way to express oneself.
What would your autobiography/biography be called?
My autobiography would be called ‘The Persistent Battle’!
What is your dream as a writer? Any publications you’d like to see your work in?
My dream as a writer is to be formally recognized by my peers and my friends as a professional writer who has arrived. Then perhaps my awful neighbours will believe that the mysterious woman next door, who stays inside her flat all day, is really a writer and not an escaped criminal or worse! I would like to be see my fiction novel ‘The Puppet King’ published by a real publisher.
What kind of mistakes do you think new writers usually make?
New writers usually make the mistake of assuming that they will be able to make it as a writer quite fast, which may not be the case. They may get discouraged by a lack of good projects or be turned off by the irregular income. They may also try to write about topics they are unfamiliar with, which is more difficult.
Do you have any advice for writers who are starting out on their careers?
My advice to writers who are starting out on their careers is to think about what kind of writing they want to specialize in and what is more suitable for their backgrounds and experience. They can also experiment with different genres if they have time. Having a list of websites and companies that employ writers and pay well is important. The first break will build up confidence and once the writer has a portfolio of paid work, it is easier to proceed on new projects. An on-going long-term client project usually affords more financial security than one-time projects.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself?
Well, I was hoping to avoid being married altogether, but I ended up marrying an Italian and having a child at forty! I am now divorced and living on my own in Kolkata with my four year old son Leo, who loves reading, writing and computers, like me. Life is still quite a struggle for the two of us. Each day brings new challenges but things are interesting and fun as well.
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